At Home for Earth Day: Endangered Species Guess Who
When a habitat changes, it can affect the species that live there. These changes can occur naturally—like the meteor that hit Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs—but they can also be made by people. All over the world, as the human population grows, we move into areas that other animals live in, and we don’t always do this in sustainable ways. Forests are clear-cut to make room for farmland and cities, habitats of vulnerable species are mined for oil and metals, and oceans and rivers are over-fished.
Loss of habitat is one of the biggest causes of species extinction. Other reasons include over hunting and poaching, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. That’s a lot and it might seem like too much for an individual person to take on, but helping endangered species can start with educating ourselves about which plants and animals need our help.
Learning about and increasing awareness of endangered species is one of the easiest ways to help. In the 1950s, for instance, the United States’ bald eagle population dropped to just over 400 nesting pairs due to use of DDT. Bald eagles were on the brink of extinction when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published in 1962. Carson’s book brought the effect of DDT to the forefront of people’s minds, and many credit it for the environmental movement that led to the banning of DDT. Without the wide use of the pesticide, the eagle population was able to bounce back, with nearly 15,000 nesting pairs of eagles in the continental U.S. today (but in Alaska alone, there are an estimated 30,000 eagles).
Let’s bring some endangered species to the front of our minds by using the printables below to make your own game of “Guess Who.”
Endangered Species Guess Who
Materials:
Cardstock in two different colors, two sheets of each
Glue stick
Scissors
Craft knife (make sure you have adult supervision when using this!)
Pencil
Ruler
Printouts from below (2 copies of the game board, 1 copy of species card on cardstock) (all images from World Wildlife Fund and U.S. Fish and Game’s websites)
Instructions:
1. On one of each colored pieces of cardstock, draw 24 rectangles, 4 rows of 6. The rectangles should be 1.25 inches wide and 1.75 inches tall.
2. Cut out three sides of each rectangle to form a flap as shown below:
3. Cut apart one of the printed out game boards, and, in a random order, glue to one side of the flaps of one of the colored pieces of cardstock. Repeat with the other print out and other piece of cardstock with flaps, placing the species in a different, random order.
4. With the remaining pieces of cardstock, glue to the matching colored cardstock with the species, being careful not to glue down the flaps. Flip up all the flaps.
5. Cut apart the species cards. Notice that each card tells the conservation status of each animal. For an extra educational element, research some of the endangered species to learn more about their habitats, their behaviors, and why their population is in danger.
Guess Who is a two person game, and to play, ask your partner yes/no questions to figure out their species, such as “Is your species a mammal?” or “Does you species fly?”
What else can you do to help?
Learning about endangered species is great, and if you want to help in other ways you could try these ideas.
Try to buy sustainable products when you can. A lot of habitat loss occurs due to farming and mining to produce to new items. You can help decrease the need for this by buying recycled products, gently used items from thrift stores, and looking for symbols that show an item was sustainably produced.
Grow native plants. Local animals rely on local plants. By planting native flowers in your garden or in a pot on your porch, you can provide food and shelter for pollinators and help keep out invasive species, which can threaten biodiversity.
Visit a wildlife refuge or park (when it’s safe to do so). Wildlife refuges often ask for donations or have a parking fee when you visit, and these dollars go right back into the site. Scientist say the best way to support endangered species is protect the land they live on, and that’s just what protected lands do. If you’re old enough, you can even volunteer your time at your local nature center.
Drive the speed limit. Many animals live near developed areas, and roads can split up their habitat. Buy slowing down in the car and keeping an eye out for wildlife, you can make it easier for animals to safely cross.
Support organization that help protect endangered species. If it’s an option for you, you can donate to charities and foundations that are devoted to protecting wildlife. Many zoos and aquariums also help support wildlife populations.
