Yours, Mine, or Everyone’s?
A Study in Values

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Age/Grade Appropriate

Grades 7 through 10

Objectives:

Use simulation to encourage rational discussion of issues related to National Parks

Location

Classroom

Background

The National Parks are designated as areas where our natural treasures are set apart and protected. However, maintaining such treasures has many implications outside of Park boundaries.  Air quality in a wilderness, for example, is affected by the conditions in areas around it; animals nourished in a Park cannot always be confined to its borders; park management has considerable economic impact on neighboring communities.
In recent years, there have been many instances in which conflicts have developed between Park interests and the interests of citizens on Park borders.  The reintroduction of wolves and the outlawing of snowmobiles seemed especially threatening to residents near Yellowstone. The restriction of logging and oil drilling saved pristine forests at the cost of local jobs.  In the Badlands, we have other challenges demanding other decisions.
The issues raised in the following scenarios represent real problems which students will soon have to face as they become active participants in our national life.

Materials

Pencil, paper and an open mind

Vocabulary

Varied

Method

Discussion and simulation

Procedure

Groups of students are set up to discuss and then report back on the following four scenarios.  They should be encouraged to not only discuss the issues but to think of themselves as representatives of particular groups (rangers, ranchers, city dwellers) approaching the problems with their own special needs and capacities.

Scenario I:
PROBLEM:   Badlands National Park is home to a herd of 400-600 Bison, Bison bison.  The herds are kept at manageable numbers by removal of excess animals.  However docile in appearance, these animals are dangerous.  Unfortunately, several of the larger males have been escaping and trampling nearby farmlands and their owners are tired of these enormous creatures entering their fields, destroying land and endangering lives.

You and your staff at the Park are responsible for solving the problem of the wandering bison. 

    1. How will you manage your resources (the bison) at the Park?
    2. How will you deal with the surrounding landowners?

Answer these and tell the rest of the group how you will handle this problem and future similar problems of park resources

Scenario II:
PROBLEM:   Black footed ferrets, Mustela nigripes, are the most endangered land mammals in North America.  These animals have been declining in numbers for the past several years.  Wildlife biologists have begun captive breeding programs in efforts to save these weasel-like creatures from extinction.  A small population has been reintroduced into the Sage Creek Wilderness Area at Badlands National Park. 

Great news! These animals have started repopulating the area and the park biologists are excited.  However, several instances of poaching (illegally killing of endangered or non-game animals) have occurred in the park.  Not only is it a federal offense to kill these animals, but such activity is against the Park’s regulations as well.

You, as a back-country patrol ranger, and your Park staff are responsible in finding and persecuting these law breaking individuals, BUT also responsible for stopping further ferret deaths.

Using all possible resources of the park, how would you go about accomplishing these tasks?

What future regulations or enforcement techniques could you employ to protect the ferrets and other illegally hunted animals within your Park’s boundaries?

Scenario III:
PROBLEM:   Numerous birds travel through Badlands National Park in route of their winter/summer grounds.  These migratory birds reside in the park for short times, but our land and water are important resources for them.  There is concern here about a new piece of road.  It runs through a wetland/marsh that is home to numerous species of fishes and aquatic insects that these migratory birds feast on during their stay. 

Bird scientists, known as ornithologists, have noticed a decline in the biodiversity of birds visiting the area wetland since the road has been installed.

This road lies in the jurisdiction of Rapid City and Badlands National Park.  Scientific members of both groups have been discussing the decline in bird populations.  City officials feel that the decline is due to El Nino and various "natural" causes, or that the birds have simply changed their minds about their flight patterns and do not cross over this area any longer.  However, the ornithologists believe that the new road has affected the quality of the water. The effects on the water has decreased the biodiversity (abundance and variety of species) of the marsh making the aquatic area unsuitable for migratory birds.

Here’s the Park’s problem:   You are a wildlife biologist for the Park. Prepare a well reasoned argument to support your idea of the declining water quality just by what you know about migratory birds.

Here’s Rapid City’s problem:   Support the city officials in their assumptions that the birds have simply "changed their minds" about their flight patterns.

What can the two agencies do to fix this problem?  Since the water cannot be divided and managed separately, both agencies must agree on a common management plan.

Scenario IV:
PROBLEM:   Badlands National Park is home to hundreds of coyotes.  These dog-like animals are meat eaters preying on small or weak animals as an easy meal.  As part of the park, coyotes are protected within its boundaries. Coyotes have free reign throughout the park and the surrounding lands and have not caused major problems until recently.  A new family has just purchased a piece of property that was formerly overgrown and not impacted by human activity. This new family has had numerous problems with their cattle wondering off and being killed within park boundaries.  The rancher has solely blamed the Park for irresponsibility in keeping the coyotes captive. Yet the property owner has not put up adequate fencing to protect his cows from the coyotes or the passing cars.  Therefore several cows have been reportedly hit by passing cars.

Numerous problems are represented in this scenario:

First, do you support the rancher or do you find him at fault for these actions?  Why do you feel this way?

How would you handle the coyotes within the Park?  Outside the Park?

What rights do the coyotes have?  Rancher?  Cattle?

Are the coyotes at fault by killing cattle and calves that pass onto park land?

Also, describe the rancher in terms of his responsibility as a cattle owner.  Should his cattle have this free reign to wonder in the park and into the street?

Knowing this, how would your group handle reports of coyotes running freely throughout the surrounding privately owned park lands?

As Park employees, how would you handle an encounter with this particular rancher when he accuses you of not properly handling park resources?

Extension

Use the topics above as the basis of a formal debate with teams doing extensive research on topics.
Use the discussions above as the introduction to a unit on ecology.
Bring in rangers and ranchers to debate the topics before the class.
Have the students write or email individual rangers or ranchers for their ideas.

Resources

The Return of the Bison. VCR. Wild West Series.  Will be of interest to students as a rather dramatic story of the Bison, but it does not deal with current conflicts.
Miller. Brian, Richard P. Reading, Steve Forrest. Prairie Night:   Black-Footed Ferrets and the Recovery of Endangered Species. Published by the Smithsonian Institute.
Visit our web site’s discussion of Critical Park Issues (http://www.nps.gov/badl/exp/issues.htm)
www.nps.gov/archive/badl/teacher/values.htm,   last updated:   Monday, 16-Sep-2002 18:47:46 Eastern Daylight Time Home Page NPS home