and Farming

Livestock Depredation

Introduction: National Science The purpose of this activity is for students to understand the potential Content Standards: problems of raising livestock, and the role of wolves in livestock depredation. Unifying Concepts and Processes This activity should be used after playing WolfQuest. • Evidence, Models and Explanations

Life Science Objectives: • Regulation and At the end of this activity, the student will: behavior 1. Understand that predation on livestock is an issue with effects on both livestock owners and wolves. Science in Personal 2. Evaluate livestock management strategies and Social 3. See how their actions affect wildlife. Perspective 4. List some problems of raising livestock near predators. • Natural hazards • Risks and benefits

Vocabulary: Depredation Procedure: Predator Game: Prey • Students will take the role of farmers raising cattle and sheep in an area with predators. Students will need to make Links: decisions about managing their farms so that they can remain profitable.

Materials: • Each player will start with $5,000 (use play money and have

• game board one person be the banker, or have students keep track on

• game cards their money on a piece of paper)

• one die for each • For each round have the players roll one die and move their

group of 4 -6 game piece the corresponding number of spaces. (Jolly

students Ranchers work great for game pieces!)

• Play money for • To start the game, have each person roll the die and the

each player or highest number goes first and then in a clock wise rotation.

paper and pencil • The game is over once all the players have passed the

• One game piece livestock sale and have collected $2000 for the sale of their

per player (Candy calves and lambs for the year. (The first to pass the sale can

or paper pieces) continue around the board, or may use the time to total their

money.) At that time each player needs to add up the total

money that they have.

Each farmer must have at least $5000 to break even and to • survive the following year.

Alternative endings: the player with the most money wins

• Continue around the board more than one time

Procedure:

Set up:

Create enough game boards and game cards so you have one board and cards for every 4-6 students.

Hint: Copy the game cards onto different colored paper.

(Facts on green, Management on white, and Predator

problems on blue)

OR Label the backs of the cards by types. (F for Facts,

M for Management, and P for Predator problems)

Game cards: Landing on M (Management) When a player lands on M, another player (to the left) picks up a card from the Management deck and reads the card to the player. • Some cards ask a question regarding the purchase of material or help, depending on the decision the player needs to do what the card asks. o If money is needed, the player either gives the money to the bank or subtracts that amount from their total. • Some cards directly tell the player what to do.

Landing on F (Facts) When a player lands on F, another player (to the left) picks up a card from the Fact deck and reads the card to the player. If the player gets the answer to the question correct, the player earns the money listed on the card. (Either from the bank or added to their total)

Landing on P (Predator Problems) When a player lands on P, another player (to the left) picks up a card from the Predator Problem deck. • Most cards cost the player money unless they have purchased some help to ward off predators. Players need to follow the instructions on the card. • If the player has purchased a deterrent from predators, the player may “cash” in their card in place of doing what the predator problem card says.

This activity was adapted from Gray Wolf/Gray Matter, International Wolf Center

Game Cards: Management

Would you like to purchase You have a dead cow to Do you want to buy a guard electric fencing to protect your dispose of. Do you: dog to protect your livestock? livestock?

A. Bury or burn cow, pay Yes: Pay $500 Yes: Pay $4000 $1,500 Hold card for next Hold card for the next 2 B. Dispose of at edge of predator problem predator problems farm, draw predator No: Discard card to bottom of No: Discard card to bottom of problem card deck deck

Will you graze your livestock Drought causes hay on public land? Disease strikes your herd. shortages, your weaker livestock die. Yes: Pay $500 for permits Lose $1000 in lost livestock and draw predator card and medical fees Lose $500 No: Pay $2000 in extra feed

Department of Agriculture Heavy summer storms wash reimburse you for livestock out a bridge and down several Property taxes are due loss due to wolves trees.

Pay $500 Receive $300 Lose next turn, cleaning up

damage

Do you agree to participate in Do you want to use flags tied research on non-lethal to fences to help frighten methods of deterrent? If, through management, you wolves away? Biologists will research have used any form of methods to keep wolves away. deterrent against predators, Yes: Pay $100 for materials, receive $1000 in appreciation hold card, next predator Yes: Roll die for your work protecting problem reduced by 50% 1-3=it worked, save card for wolves No: Discard card to bottom of next predator problem deck 4-6=sorry, it didn’t work, discard card Do you want to try a low-cost method of protecting your Do you want to hire more cows? Drive around farm at workers to guard livestock? night to deter wolves from approaching. Rough winter kills livestock. Yes: Pay $1500, hold card for next two predator problems Yes: Hold card for predator Lose $2000 No: Discard card to bottom of problem, but lose next turn deck due to loss of sleep No: discard card to bottom of deck

Game Cards: Predator Problems

You notice wolf signs on A kills some Wolves kill a calf. the edge of your sheep. property.

Lose $300 for the loss of Lose $500 for the loss of the calf Pay $1000 for extra help the sheep patrolling your farm Feral (wild) dogs chase Bear kill a cow and your cows, causing them kill a calf. injures two more. to trample fencing.

Lose $300 for the loss of Lose $1000 plus $250 in Pay $500 for repairs and the calf. medical bills lose your next turn while you make repairs You notice wolf signs on Four cows disappear Wolves kill the deer that the edge of your overnight. have been eating your property. hay crop.

Lose your next turn while Pay $1000 for extra help you search for them. Gain $500 patrolling your farm. Feral (wild) dogs chase You notice wolf signs on your cows, causing them Coyotes kill some sheep. the edge of your to trample fencing. property.

Lose $500 for the loss of Pay $500 for repairs and the sheep Pay $1000 for extra help lose your next turn while patrolling your farm. you make repairs.

Game Cards: Facts

$200 $500 $200 Per correct Per correct $1000 answer Q: Describe how to answer tell the difference Q: What is the Q: What animals between a wolf and Q: Why do wolves scientific name for besides wolves kill a coyote. howl? a Wolf? livestock? A: Coyotes are A: Communicate A: Canis lupus A: Coyotes, foxes, smaller and have with pack, mark mink, weasels, more pointed territory, excited, dogs, bears, etc. features find lost wolf, etc. $200 Per correct $300 $1000 $500 answer

Q: Name a wild Q: What is one Q: Name three Q: Name some wolf food source for problem with colors wolves can adaptations that wolves compensation to be. make them good farmers for

hunters depredation? A: Deer, , A: Gray, brown, beaver, , A: Excellent sense tan, black, white, A: It may be difficult caribou, bison, of smell, eyesight, etc. to verify rabbit, etc. hearing, high intelligence, jaws, long legs, etc. $1000 $500

$1500 $500 Q: What Q: What percentage of farms organization Q: Approximately True or false in wolf territory tend supplies funds to how many wolves Q: Is it common to experience wolf pay when depredation? currently live for wolves to kill depredation a. 2 percent Minnesota? people? occurs? b. 3-10 percent c. 45 percent A: about 2200 A: False A: Department of A: a. 2 percent Agriculture $500 $500 $500 Q: Which have $1000 killed more people

in the U.S.? Q: Way don’t all Q: Name one Q: What are a. deer wolves eat cattle? folktale or story that wolves? b. wolves involves a wolf? a. carnivores c. bears A: Prefer wild b. herbivores A: Deer have killed A: Little Red Riding food, scared more people in the c. omnivores Hood, The Three away, not hungry, woods and on the Little Pigs, Peter not taught to hunt roads because of A: a. carnivores and the Wolf, etc. cattle, etc. hunting and car accidents

M P F M F M P P F P P

F M

M M

M P

F F

P M

M F

F M

M P M Sta Sal M rt e F P F F