Should we allow wolves to resettle in Vermont?
A WebQuest for Educators in Vermont	by Joyce L. Morris, Research Assistant Professor The University of Vermont Technology and Inquiry-based Learning e-mail:Joyce.Morris@uvm.edu

Process

Vermont's motto is Freedom and Unity. These seem like contrary terms for if one is united they must give up certain freedoms.  Resettling of wolves in Vermont is a good example of an issue that requires a demonstration of Freedom and Unity. To examine different perspectives of this issue, you are each to assume one of these roles in your group and argue that point of view. You need to make clear and concise arguments and each of you will probably have to compromise to develop a reasonable group solution. Roles: 1.  You are a poorly underpaid teacher living in a rural part of Vermont and during hunting season you spend your weekends hunting to provide sufficent meat for your family of five.  You know that wolves eat deer and you are concerned that you will find many less deer each hunting season if we allow wolves to reestablish themselves in You are also concerned that you might be attacked by wolves or they may eat your catch when you are preparing it for your freezer. They may even attack your children and pet dogs. You were taught to hunt as a child by your father and he was taught by his father.  Hunting is a part of your culture and a time to get into the outdoors with your buddies. Sometimes your wife accompanies you as well as your two sons and daughter. Will your children be safe playing around your house? 2.  Although you grew up fairly poor and lived in a trailer with your parents and 3 siblings in rural Vermont, you worked very hard  and saved your money living frugaly. You invested your money in some old houses that you restored with your wife and now own several bed and breakfasts in Vermont. Tourism to the state however has not been doing that well and you are interested in promoting tourism so more people will come to Vermont and stay at your inns.  You have read that in the states where wolves have been introduced, many tourists will come to see these packs. You hope ecotourism will encourage people to stay and your bed and breakfasts. 3. You are a dairy farmer that works very hard to eek out a living from your holsteins to produce milk and cheese for the Cabot Cooperative. As it is the price of milk has not kept up with the price of inflation and it costs more to heat your barn and run your equipment. You've read that sometimes wolves will eat cattle and you fear that wolves may eat some of yours while they are grazing.  You also own a few sheep and fear they will  be preyed upon also by wolves. Your farm has been in your family for decades and you work 14 hours a day to keep it productive so that you can afford to maintain it. How will the resettlement of wolves in Vermont effect you? 4. You are a environmentalist that lives in the country and enjoys the beauties of nature and walking through forests with your family. You would like to see the natural balance of nature restored. You fear that when humans try to "control" nature and the impact is often unpredictable and detrimental to the natural balance. You know wolves once lived in Vermont until they were hunted to extinction in the state and have seen videos of wolves being trapped and suffering so that their pelts could be removed. You've also seen people shooting wolves from helicopters. How can you convince others to allow wolves to resettle in Vermont? 5. You are a lawyer that lives in Montpelier and a native to Vermont. You are interested in the legal issues that the resettlement of wolves to Vermont will stir up. You hope someday to be elected to the Vermont senate and want to make sure that what ever stand you take, your position will not cause you to lose the election so you want to throughly understand the issues involved and also the sentiment of your potential voters.  Are people living in rural areas more effected than people in towns? Might pets be eaten by wolves?  What stand will you take?

Introduction  ||   Task ||   Process  ||   Resources  ||   Evaluation  ||   Conclusions   ||  Credits   ||  Teacher's Page