Native Americans lived in the Indiana Dunes region for thousands of years. Even though they affected the natural resources in this area, their impact and technologies were not significant enough to cause the depletion of the native species. Metal traps obtained from Joseph Bailly and the importance of furs as a trade good started a decline in animal populations.
After Joseph Bailly’s arrival, more European immigrants came to this region and cleared land for farms. Animal populations declined because of habitat loss and hunting. Some, such as the passenger pigeon, became extinct, while others like the bison, otter, beaver, bear, bobcat, and turkey disappeared from NW Indiana.
Since Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was created in 1966, park rangers have tried to help plants and animals that are in danger of extinction. One effort is to provide the endangered Karner blue butterfly with the appropriate prairie habitat it needs. A second goal, is to help reintroduce animals that have disappeared into the park. Beavers and possibly turkeys have moved into the park on their own. Rangers have discussed bringing back bobcat and otters.
Conclusion for This Activity: The purpose of this activity is for students to come to the conclusion that, in combination with habitat loss, poaching and collecting can lead to extinction. The following questions will help wrap up this activity.
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What did this activity show you? |
They may suggest that all plants and animals should be protected from picking or hunting.
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Would you like to have turkeys come back to the park? |
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Would you like to see wolves live in this area? |
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If you feel different about these two animals could you explain why? |
Their
answers might be turkeys are OK but they fear wolves. There are no documented cases where
a wolf has killed a human in North America, and we have only three cases where someone has
been injured. Fear of wolves comes from fairy tales. However, we do not have enough land
for wolves. They would travel outside the protected areas of the park, which would be a
problem.
Without
bears, wolves, and otters can this park be totally natural?
No, without predators many animals like deer, opossum and raccoons become overpopulated and have a negative effect on the forest.
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Could park rangers bring bears and wolves back to this area? |
No, explain how some animals such as a bear need a habitat space larger than 16,000 acres. This is a problem the park may never be able to remedy.
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Since beavers have returned to the park what changes to the community do you think they make? |
Possible answers include; their ponds will provide more wetland habitat and help aquatic animals. By cutting down trees more sunlight will reach the forest floor and allow different plants to grow. They will have an impact on the population of plants they prefer to eat. If you like to canoe the Little Calumet River it will be harder since more trees are down across the river. They might become food for coyotes.
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Now that you
know picking flowers can remove important seeds and collecting insects or other animals can lead to animals disappearing, do you think you will act differently when you come to a park? |
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In what way? |
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