Returning to the junkyard

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Created by:
Natalie Nixson, Olivia Larbi, and
Janina Peck
Last year, we stumbled upon an old
junkyard while taking information for
our (future) project. We decided to use
this for our project and eventually
decided to try to clean it up.
Is the junkyard a habitat for animals or
is it still just a problem for Harford
Glen even after the cleanup?
How has the stewardship of Harford
Glen impacted its environment?
Do you think we should get rid of the junkyard?
Name
Beliefs / Values
Mrs. Teal
“Personally, that is a hard question to
answer. Herps love junk. It would be good
for the herps but bad for the environment.”
Mrs. Ruth
“When the school system created the
junkyard they were unaware that it was a
great hazard to the environment. I believe
that it should be removed because it is bad
for the soil and the safety of the kids.”
Olivia Blondheim (counselor)
“We should try to do minimal damage to
the area. If we had to bring in trucks, it
wouldn’t be worth it to
damage the surrounding environment. If
we could remove the junk without harming
the environment, it would be worth it to
remove so that new life could grow where
it once was.”
Do you think we should get rid of the junkyard?
Name
Beliefs/Values
Darcy
“Yes, it could be harmful to the
animals but the herps need it. Maybe
if you just clean up what you can, it
would be good for both herps and
mammals.”
Zoey
“No! The herps need it for shelter! Just
get rid of all the glass and sharp
things, it would help mammals, but
still be there for the herps.”
Bradley
“Try your best to get the small things
out. If you were to clean off the deer
trail then the deer wouldn’t step on
any glass. Keep the big stuff so you
don’t have to bring in any trucks.”
To what extent has the cleanup of the
old junkyard in Harford Glen
affected the population of “herps”
and mammals making their home in
and around the junkyard?
Our research question was:
To what extent does the presence of an old
junkyard in the forest of Harford Glen
affect the biodiversity?
Our inferences:
 The mammals might have moved into the area
where the junkyard is if it did not exist because
there are plentiful trees surrounding the area,
more future habitats for herps and mammals to
live, and it’s near a field and a stream.
 The junkyard is not a safe area for mammals,
herps, and children because of the glass and
the rusty metal.






Conclusion:
According to our data, there were no mammals or signs of
mammals in or by the junkyard
American Toads were one of the most common herps found and
the only herp we found in the junkyard.
No signs of biodiversity of herpetofauna
Recommendations:
Don’t put trash or unwanted items in the forest.
Action plan:
Put signs that warn people about the hazards of the junkyard and
place them around the junkyard. Also, we roped off the junkyard
area.
Give Patti Jo Beard, assistant supervisor of facilities of HCPS a
tour of the junkyard.
MAMMALIA (MAMMALS)
Warm-blooded
vertebrates that
don’t lay eggs.
HERPETOFAUNA (HERPS)
Cold-blooded
vertebrates that
lay eggs.
(Reptiles and
amphibians)
You Are Here
Junkyard
Key:
Triangle- Mammals
Circles- Herps
Crosses- Junk Piles
Area: 4,365.273656 Square Meters
Perimeter: 260.903233 Meters
All of us agree that we will probably find a
greater population of herps. Although we think
that we will not find an increase of mammals.
How Many?
2
1 1
6
5
Fowlers Toad
American Toad
Eastern Garter
Snake
Snapping turtle
Gray Treefrog
How Many?
1
1
2
Deer
Fox
Squirrel
Number of signs/animals
16
14
12
10
8
Number of
signs/animals
6
4
2
0
Mammals
Herps
We have found an increase of both
mammal and herp population in the
junkyard from last year.
We think that the population of animals in
the junkyard increased when we
removed the glass from the junkyard.
Continuing to clean up the junkyard will
encourage more animals to live there.




Get rid of the junkyard!
Place natural hiding places for herps.
Continue to rope it off until it is completely
clear.
Hang signs to warn people until the junkyard
is gone.
We would like to thank:
 Ms. Airing
 Mr. Burley
 Mr. Eakes
 Mr. Cromwell
 Mr. Smith
 Ms. Murray
 Ms.Teal
 The Experts
 Our Parents
 Bradley Pierce, Zoey Rubinoff, Darcy Baynes &
 Miss. Olivia Blondheim
 Miss. Juliane Caughron
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