North Cascades

Threatened and Endangered Species

ENDANGERD SPECIES AND THE CASE OF THE SHRINKING HABITAT

Background National parks and wilderness areas regulate development within their boundaries. But despite this protection, the mammals and birds within the park may not be fully protected from extinction. Wildlife will migrate or travel to wherever they need to in order to locate enough food, water, shelter, and space to survive. For example, animals that are not adapted to surviving the cold (hibernating, growing thick fur) migrate from the winter cold to warmer climates. When wildlife wander beyond the boundaries of protected land, they lose their protection too. Outside of North Cascades National Park Service Complex, many species are more vulnerable to the dangers presented by people. Procedure Using the pieces of rope, make two large circles on the ground. Each circle should be big enough for the whole class to stand inside. Explain to the students that they will be acting like migrating birds in this game. One circle represents the birds' summer habitat while the other represents their winter habitat. The peregrine falcon and golden eagles migrate to points south. When you give the signal for the season to change by saying something like "it's fall (or spring) now," you are signaling the students to "fly" to the other circle. During the first round, which represents the first year of the game, there is no change in the size of their habitat. In the second year the habitat shrinks. To do this, you will need to make the circles smaller after each season. As the students are standing in the circle of their winter home, make their summer home smaller. While you do this, ask them what real life things could cause this to happen (development, resource extraction, pollution that makes the area uninhabitable). After you've done this, explain that not every bird will fit inside, and the ones which do not make it need to take a seat on the side and watch until the end. Remind them that there should be no pushing. Before starting the third round, ask the students what effects a shrinking habitat has on the birds (lack of food could make them hungry and weak; lack of shelter could make them sick and more vulnerable to predation; or pollution could make them sick). At this point, assign half of the students still standing to be weaker, disadvantaged birds. Handicap these weak "birds" by having some hop on one leg, designate some to crawl, and blindfold one or two, depending on how many students you have left.

SUBJECTS Science, Social studies OBJECTIVES Students will be able to describe the inter-connections between species Student will be able to discuss the reasons for, and effects of, extinction VOCABULARY Threatened species, Endangered species, Candidate species, Extinction, Migration, Habitat MATERIALS 2 pieces of rope, each piece being large enough to form a circle in which the whole class can comfortably fit. SIZE / SETTING / DURATION Whole class Large open area or playing field 1 hour

Discussion
At the end of this round, have the students discuss which participants were able to successfully migrate and why. Continue this game until only two birds can fit in each circle.

Evaluation
Have the students sit in a circle. Ask the students what designation we give to species that have only a few remaining members? (We call them endangered.)

Ask what is the word used to describe a species whose population is completely gone. (We call them extinct.)

In the activity just played, two animals were left. Ask what circumstances would lead them to becoming extinct. What circumstances might enable a population to increase and become healthy?

Ask the students to name as many endangered and extinct species as they can. What can we do to help the surviving species? Among the answers raised may be "plant trees," "set up bird feeders at home/school," "raise money to buy some of the rainforest," "to use less energy," and "be less wasteful."