Transcript Jellystone National Park Problem Outline

Jellystone National Park
Case Study
Mrs. Dagher
6th Grade Science
Bryant Middle School
Background
• Have you ever heard of
the story about the big,
bad wolf and the three
little pigs? Wolves aren’t
always bad. In
Yellowstone National
Park, wolves were
brought into the park to
help restore the species.
Background:
• Before 1994, there were fewer
than 500 wolves in the wild in the
United States. Scientists and
park rangers worked together to
bring back this species to
Yellowstone National Park. The
scientists and park rangers
captured 31 wolves from Canada
and released them in Yellowstone
National Park. By 2004, there
were over 170 wolves in the park.
Background:
• The wolves have helped
to hunt down the
overpopulated elk
species in the park. As
a result, other species
began to increase their
populations including
grass, aspen trees,
ravens, eagles, coyotes,
bears, and rabbits.
The Problem:
• As park rangers at Jellystone
National Park (which is very
close to Yellowstone National
Park), your team have noticed
that there has been a decline in
the wolf population. As a result,
the elk population has increased
dramatically. Much of the grass
in the park has been eaten by
the elk. Other herbivores such
as deer and rabbits have found
little food and their populations
have decreased.
The Problem:
• Ravens, eagles, and coyotes
have been able to prey on some
of the starving, diseased, or
dead deer and rabbits in the
park. As a result, the raven,
eagle, and coyote population has
begun to increase. Also, some
of the ravens, eagles, and
coyotes have become sick by
eating some of the diseased
rabbits and deer, which means
that their population may start to
decrease soon.
Two Possible Solutions:
• You have read about the
success that has happened in
Yellowstone National Park, but it
was very costly to implement this
type of plan and your park does
not have much money available.
You have also thought about
allowing hunters to use the park
to hunt the elk population, but
are worried that the hunters may
accidentally injure or kill a tourist.
The Task:
• Winter is approaching
quickly and you will need to
make a decision soon so
that the wolf population has
a chance to adapt or so that
the hunters have a chance
to hunt before it becomes
too cold! You will need to
submit a proposal to the
park director soon so that
you can help to bring
balance to this ecosystem.
The Task
•
1: Title: Jellystone National Park Report
•
2: A. Should we reintroduce wolves to Jellystone
National Park or allow people to hunt the elk
population?
•
B. Describe why we should reintroduce wolves to
Jellystone National Park or allow the hunting of
the elk.
•
Sentence Stems
•
1. I believe that we should reintroduce wolves into
Jellystone park because…explain
•
2. I think that we should be able to hunt the
elk…explain
•
You may use your book on p. 12-13 for additional
support.
Sentence stems
OR
•
Describe why we should allow elk hunting.
•
3: A. What can be done to cover the cost of
reintroducing the wolves?
•
OR
•
B. What can be done to protect the tourists from the
hunters?