BRIGHTON — Students may have been aware of the many species of wildlife on the Brighton Reservation, but thanks to a wildlife workshop presented by the Departments of Conservation and Environmental Resources, now they know which ones are protected, threatened and endangered.

The assembly was attended by all K-8 students and began with Brighton community culture advisor Johnnie Jones talking about growing up Seminole.

“We are supposed to take care of the land and the animals,” Jones said. “The bald eagle is sacred to us, but you can’t ever look it in the eye. It is the biggest bird we have, and it flies high and watches over everything.”

Jones told the students that he learned about the animals when he was home schooled “the Indian way” and they teach it today at the Brighton culture center.

“We are responsible for all the species on the reservations to make sure they are here for the future,” said Craig Van Der Heiden, director, Department of Conservation.

Karli Eckel, ERD environmental science manager, went through a photo presentation of protected, threatened and endangered species on the Seminole reservations. Protected species include osprey, red shouldered hawk, great blue heron, sandhill crane turkey vulture, black vulture, northern cardinal and bald eagle.

Threatened species are Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, West Indian manatee, wood stork, red cockaded woodpecker, loggerhead sea turtle, Florida scrub jay, Audubon’s crested caracara and leatherback sea turtle. Endangered species include the Kemp Ridley turtle, key deer, Florida bonneted bat, Everglades snail kite, Florida grasshopper sparrow and Florida panther.

Eckel asked the students if they knew of any extinct species. Many hands went up and students mentioned dinosaurs.

“We are here to make sure these animals don’t go extinct,” Eckel said. “It’s important to make sure the manatee doesn’t go the way of the dinosaur.”

Sergio Gonzalez, DOC fish and wildlife manager told the students that invasive species who are not from Florida, such as the Burmese python, throw off the balance of nature. He also talked about hunting and fishing on the reservations.

“There is a Seminole wildlife code of ethics for hunting and fishing,” Gonzalez said. “Tribal members may hunt and fish only for personal use for themselves and their families. Don’t take more than you need, use as much of the animal as possible and respect the wildlife.”