Monday, June 20, 2016

Stomach Bug

A few weeks ago I encountered a man who was friends with my dad. I learned he was recently diagnosed with having a form of cancer in his stomach, a strange side effect that came from a build up of bacteria in his organs.

While this problem may not seem to relate to nature, I think it is relevant when discussing how he got the bacteria. When he was younger, he lived in an extremely poor area of Houston, and often times had to resort to digging through trash to find an adequate amount of food for him and his family. The doctors believe that years of doing this is what caused him to ingest the deadly bacteria. This problem isn't restricted to that of people, we see if frequently with animals as well.

When animals lose their habitat, they usually are forced into civilian areas and are starved for a new source of food. Sharks come closer to shore, bears start licking grills clean, and birds find table scraps for their young. To some it may seem like a natural part of life, but in reality it is far from it. My dad's friend is an example of the harm that overpopulation and urban sprawl does to not only humans, but animals as well.

Again, this particular situation may not be directly related to Environmental Science, the themes do reflect an issue that is ever present in any natural setting.

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