A guest entry by Justin, age 10

It is getting harder for me to breathe. Since people have come to Missouri they have been causing problems for my fellow frogs and I. When I go into the water to absorb oxygen and stay moist, it hurts my skin because there are chemicals in the water. If this keeps up my great great great great great grandchildren may be mutated or have a horrible life.

There is a lot of important information about my family, friends and I. We have many adaptations. Some adaptations would be that we have hind legs and front legs to hop, long tongues to catch flies with, and webbed feet so we can swim. We are also wet so we won’t die and can live. Otherwise we will be history!

There is also a lot of change in plant and animal life. There are less trees for me to live in. Also, there is less food for me to eat.

Ground water has made the ponds, lakes and streams bigger by backing up underneath them. If the ground water is poluted, it will further pollute my habitat.

Changes in Missouri’s geography would be the amount of water. If there is less water, there will be fewer ponds for me to live in. Help me! My habitat is being destroyed!

Since humans came to Missouri, they have not only destroyed my habitat, but they have also brought disease. Bacteria are one bad thing humans have brought. Some kinds of bacteria can kill us. In addition, humans have polluted the air, soil and water by throwing their garbage on the ground, dumping their drinks in the water, and releasing gases from factories into the atmosphere.

Frogs are not the only animals affected by humans and Missouri’s changes. Other animals are affected as well. For example, one animal that is affected by the changes in Missouri would be fish. Another animal that is affected is the Sea Turtle. These animals are affected because there is pollution in the water.

At the rate my habitat is being destroyed, my fellow frogs will die out. We will only live to see the year 2015 if this keeps up. Help find a way to make us live a longer time on earth.

To help us survive, humans should stop littering and polluting the environment. Humans should also get better filters for their factories so there will be less pollution. In addition, there should not be as many factories. Another thing humans should do is put their trash in the trashcan and recycle what they can. People should not litter in order for us to survive. They should try reusing things and not waste what they use. They should put trash in dumps away from the water. To prevent disease people should get better medicine. Please help me, the Northern Leopard Frog, survive.