"Sorry to see you go." "Made by a kid but not just for kids!" The Extinction of Pencil Bugs - From Then to Now
Copyright 2005-2013 Pencil Bugs Plus All rights reserved. In 2005, quite by accident, a little creature was discovered by a nine-year-old boy named Jason O'Neill. The small, round creature was colorful and very playful. It loved to sit on top of Jason's pencil as he did his homework and wrap its black, fuzzy body around the pencil. Before long, Jason found more and more of these cute creatures in all different colors. He appropriately called them Pencil Bugs. Over the next five years, Jason shared his Pencil Bugs with people all over the world. He found thousands and thousands of them. It seemed like there was an endless quantity. The numbers dwindled down to a few hundred. Jason tried everything he could do to keep them alive but it was no use. Little by little, it was clear. Pencil Bugs were in danger. In December 2010, Jason made one last attempt to preserve their species for the future. He put several hundred of them in protective captivity but by the end of 2011, they were officially extinct. Sad as it was, Jason was happy that his cute, little creatures found their way into the hearts and homes of so many people around the world for as long as they did. Although the actual Pencil Bugs are not in existence anymore, Jason continues to share his story and inspire kids and adults alike through his book, interviews, and speaking engagements. Pencil Bugs became such a big part of Jason's life that you just never know what else those little creatures may inspire him to do. The real story: Pencil Bugs became extinct because no manufacturer was able to mass produce them at the right price and quality we expect. However, as time went on, Jason noticed their numbers started to decline and there were fewer and fewer Pencil Bugs. No matter what he tried, Jason could not get them to reproduce like he used to. He worried that they might become extinct. First book TedxRedmond Conference Presentation at Temecula Valley Charter School, Temecula, California Presentation at California School for the Deaf, Riverside, California Please visit my Media page to read lots of articles, watch videos or listen to radio interviews. TedxYouth San Diego |