The Big Five … with Terran McGinnis, Defending the Endangered Species Act

Wednesday, Aprill 22, Defenders of Wildlife will fly-in Terran McGinnis, an environmental advocate based in St. Augustine, to meet with Representative Randy Fine (R-FL) on Capitol Hill. Terran will be raising concerns about Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR)’s ESA Amendments Act of 2025 — one of the worst-ever attempts to gut the Endangered Species Act, a bedrock conservation policy responsible for saving nearly all species protected under the law from extinction with hundreds more on the path to recovery.

1. Tell readers about yourself and why you love Florida.

• My name is Terran McGinnis and I am the founder of Wild Lessons and the Project Coordinator for the Marineland Right Whale Project. I moved to Florida in 2001 and have worked in Flagler County for all but 4 of those years. I love Florida because of the easy access to nature we have here. Northeast Florida and specifically St. Johns and Flagler Counties are communities people flock to because of their natural beauty and the wildlife. Where else can you watch sea turtles nesting in the summer, right whales nursing calves in the winter, birds migrating in the spring, and dolphins year round? It’s a nature lover’s paradise. The peace that can be found on our beaches, along our marshes, in our forests, and under our waves is my favorite part of life here in Florida.

2. You are known locally for your passion for history and education. How does this tie into what you are doing now with Wild Lessons. 

• Wild Lessons provides environmental education programming to the Northeast Florida community. I founded this company with a mission to connect people with nature and to spark an interest in wildlife and wildlands. Life gets busy and before we know it, we can go days, weeks, months without spending quality time outdoors. My programming is designed to encourage people to take an hour now and then to fall back in love with the natural reasons they love living here. Guided beach walks and sailboat trips are beautiful ways to enjoy some fresh air while learning about our wild neighbors. Formal presentations at community centers, libraries, schools, and churches allow me to tell the most magical, inspiring, empowering stories about animals, conservation, and Florida’s historical connection to it all. Everything I’ve done up to this point in the fields of education and history have led me to this point.

3. Explain the ESA Amendments Act of 2025 from your perspective and what it will change. 

• The ESA Amendments Act of 2025 would take the single most powerful tool we have to protect species whose survival is on the brink (the Endangered Species Act of 1973) and strip it of its strength. The ESA is built upon proven methods for assessing species populations and determining what is needed to support their continued survival. It provides logical, rational, science-based steps for ensuring that we don’t lose iconic Florida wildlife like sea turtles, North Atlantic right whales, manatees, Florida panthers, gopher tortoises, and so many more. What would life in Florida be like without these animals?

4. What do you hope to accomplish with your trip to Washington DC? 

• In Washington D.C. I am hoping to speak with fellow Floridians about the beauty of our state, the fragility of our wildlife, and the power of the Endangered Species Act to preserve our species. While I understand that not everyone finds the same joy in wildlife and wildlands that I do, I do believe that everyone agrees that the majority of our tourists and residents have chosen to come here for the natural beauty. Failing to save the ESA in its current form will lead to a loss of wildlife, a loss of tourism, a loss of revenue, and ultimately the loss of Florida’s reputation for beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, and a peaceful way of life. I hope that this resonates with our Representatives and Senators and causes them to think twice when H.R. 1897 is up for vote.

5. How can readers help?