Last updated: August 8, 2025
Lesson Plan
Wildlife in your Backyard
In the final lesson in Living with Wildlife, students will dive into ways that humans and wildlife can safely coexist! They will also get creative in thinking about ways to limit interactions!
NPS Graphic
- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Science,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- State Standards:
- SC.7.L.17.2
SC.7.L.17.3
SC.7.E.6.6
LA.7.2.2.3
LA.7.6.2.2
Essential Question
How can people and wildlife live safely with one another?
Objective
In this activity, students will:
1. Discuss issues they or others have had with wildlife.
2. Research a local animal.
3. Describe how to keep pets, livestock and people safe from potential dangers.
4. Describe how to keep wild animals safe from people.
5. Build a model enclosure or receptacle that would effectively prevent wildlife from entering OR create a poster display to showcasing safe practices for living with wildlife.
Background
Floridians have adapted to live with a number of natural hazards including hurricanes, lightning, floods, fire and exotic species such as fire ants. Wildlife abounds in this state and can also be potentially dangerous to people and property if we are not educated on how to live in harmony with our native animals.
People’s attitudes towards wildlife are shaped by media and popular culture, personal interactions with wildlife, and education. Fear of many animal species is natural, but without proper education, fear can foster a negative attitude towards wildlife and lead to inappropriate behavior when wildlife is encountered.
In Southwest Florida, many people live on the fringes of urban and rural areas where wildlife is prevalent. Interactions with wildlife occur daily, and it is important that we take steps to ensure the safety of people, their belongings and wildlife.
Some larger, predatory wildlife species like the Florida panther and the Florida black bear can potentially pose a direct threat to people. While there has never been a documented attack of a Florida panther on a human and less than a handful of incidents involving bears, it is still important that we understand the behavior of these animals and how to react if we encounter them. If you encounter a panther or bear and are too close, slowly back away, maintaining eye contact. If the animal shows aggressive behavior towards you, make yourself seem big and loud by waving arms, throwing objects, and yelling. If attacked, fight back.
Most negative wildlife interactions do not involve direct threats to people, but instead occur because people have left food items or domestic animals within the reach of wildlife.
Goats, sheep, calves, pigs, donkeys, chickens and other domestic animals and pets that are left outside, especially overnight, are relatively easy prey compared to wild animals and can attract the interest of predators like Florida panthers, bobcats, and coyotes. These wild predators of Florida are extremely agile and can find their way into improper enclosures. Florida panthers, in particular, can jump very high fences. It is not uncommon for domestic animals to be harmed or killed by wild predators like panthers. This is known as depredation.
Depredation can foster negative attitudes and misunderstanding of wildlife species. The good news is that depredations are completely avoidable if domestic animals are properly enclosed or brought inside at night. Proper enclosures include a roof, fencing all the way up to the roof, and fencing that penetrates beneath ground level to prevent burrowing animals from entering. Properly enclosed domestic animals will discourage wild predators from repeatedly coming back for easy prey, which is a long term benefit. Nighttime, dawn and dusk is when our wild predators like Florida panthers are most active. Therefore, it is of particular importance that all domestic animals are enclosed during these times. You may also want to consider other discouragements like electric fencing or motion-sensor lighting to scare off predators.
Omnivores like bears, raccoons and opossums can also be problematic for land owners. These animals are attracted to garbage, bird seed, and pet food and will breach bins, pins, and fences to find these items. These problems are also avoidable if you use animal-proof containers for garbage and keep pet foods out of the reach of these omnivores. Garbage should be kept in a garage, shed or animal-proof container and be put out no earlier than the morning of pick up. Pet food should be served indoors or in an enclosure and should be cleaned up immediately after the meal. Bird feeders should hang out of the reach of all mammals far from tree branches and other structures. Grills should be cleaned or locked away when not in use.
By following these simple principles, land owners can prevent problems with our local wildlife. Remember that wild animals that are fed tend to lose their fear of humans, which makes them more dangerous to us. Additionally, these animals often have to be relocated or even destroyed to alleviate the danger. Keeping our wildlife wild is the most humane course of action we can take.
If you observe any problem animals that may pose a threat to people, please report them to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Preparation
Prepare copies of the Research Sheet, make animal assignment cards, and gather a selection of craft supplies.
Materials
Each pair of students will need:
• One Backyard Wildlife worksheet
• Access to internet/library research materials
• Popsicle sticks, mesh or screen, wire, string, scissors, glue, cardboard to build a model OR
• Poster paper and pencils/markers.
Materials
Download Proper Pen Building Diagram
Procedure
1. Introduce this lesson by asking students if they can recall any interactions with local wildlife that they or someone they know has had. Was the situation handled appropriately? What could have been done before, during or after the interaction to decrease the risk to people or pets? Discuss the local wildlife with which we share space and ask the students to share their attitudes and fears regarding these animals.
2. Introduce local wildlife issues including depredations and problems with animals finding garbage containers. Discuss how this shapes how people feel about local wildlife.
3. Explain that it is natural for people to have fears about wildlife, but that there are simple ways to keep yourself and your animals safe. In this activity, students will research an animal: Florida panther, Florida black bear, bobcat, coyote, opossum, or raccoon and find out what threat the animal could cause to people or property. Hand out one Animal Assignment card to each student or have students draw at random which animal they will study. They will research ways to avoid threats and negative interactions with the animal species.
4. When students have completed their research, they will find a partner student who researched the same animal and discuss their findings. Partners will discuss recommendations to keep people and their animal safe. (For this and the following activity, grouping students in 3’s would also work.)
5. Partners will then decide either to create an informative poster with words and illustrations showcasing safe practices for living with that species OR to create a 3-D model of a proper enclosure or waste receptacle that will alleviate issues with their animal.
6. Partners will present their creations to the class, providing recommendations for their animal species.
Vocabulary
Domestic animals, predator, omnivore, humane, proper enclosure, animal-proof, depredation