Girl Scouts improve Ranch animal safety

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Nearly every morning Willis Elementary School student Marissa Boccarossa rides along Hidden River Trail to school each day, she sees deer quietly grazing beside the roadway.

In recent months, especially, keeping the deer and other animals safe has become a top priority for Boccarossa and her three friends — Emily LaPlaca, Anne Robinson and Anissa Sanchez — all members of Girl Scout Troop 740. The girls last month sent a letter to Lakewood Ranch Town Hall asking for two wildlife crossing signs to be installed along the roadway.

Town Hall officials agreed. The signs the girls requested should be installed sometime this week.

“When Town Hall received the request from Troop 740 regarding wildlife signage in Hidden River Trail, it immediately resonated with staff,” Town Hall’s Executive Director Eva Rey said. “Residents often comment on the majestic wildlife that can be seen in this area, but they are also concerned for animal safety due to the traffic and the curvatures of the road.”

Rey said Town Hall staff coordinated the request with Manatee County to obtain the approved signage.

“I am thrilled that these young ladies were able to learn a very important civics lesson as a result of their project, and I hope that they continue to interact with their local government on future issues and requests,” Rey said. “Sometimes, even the smallest voice can make a difference.”

The girls said they couldn’t be more excited that their idea is coming to fruition and that it will help keep the animals safe.

“We were jumping up and down,” said Sanchez of hearing the news the signs would be installed. “It feels good (to help). Everybody gets to see (the signs) and will slow down.”

Boccarossa agreed.

“We see deer there almost every day,” she said. “We saw an otter, too. We wanted to help the community in someway.”

Girl Scout Troop 740 leader Jolene LaPlaca said the girls have been working on the project for about six months, first looking around the community to identify a service project and then working together to craft the letter to Town Hall.

The project, she added, is the girls’ last step in achieving the Girl Scouts’ coveted Bronze Award, considered a “leadership adventure” and the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

THE REQUEST
An excerpt from the letter Girl Scout Troop 740 members wrote to Town Hall:

“Animals are running all over the place on Hidden River Trail. The animals we see are deer, otters, turtles, birds, gators, squirrels, sand hill cranes and more. The problem is that people don’t watch where they’re going and the road is very twisty. We need to put up wildlife crossing signs. We have seen squirrels and turtles hit by cars and have had some close encounters with deer as well. We thought we could put up two signs facing opposite directions so everyone will drive cautiously. The signs can be designed to fit in to the beautiful landscape on the Trail. We hope you feel the same way we do after reading this letter.”