elk troubles yyc january learning plan€¦ · improve your listening skills for all listening...

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Learning English with CBC

Calgary

Monthly feature story:

Elk Troubles

January 2014 Lesson plans created by Sara Gnida and Justine Light

http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/learning‐english/ www.alberta.ca


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Feature Story Objectives

Elk Troubles

CLB competency outcomes Listening: Reading: Speaking: Writing:

L: Identify facts, opinions, and attitudes in extended presentations. R: Demonstrate comprehension of a two or three page moderately complex extended description, report, or narrative on a familiar topic S: Recognize and use sociolinguistic norms for expressing opinions. W: Demonstrate good control over common sentence patterns for giving instructions.

Language skills

Vocabulary: Use vocabulary words in context

Grammar: Use a variety of sentence structures to convey meaning

Speaking strategies: Identify and use strategies for softening opinions

Language Activities (in order of appearance in materials)

Answering discussion questions about a short background text Completing pre‐listening activities to build vocabulary and prepare learners for audio Listening to the audio to identify facts and details and make inferences Listening to audio to identify and record numbers Noticing and using speaking strategies to soften opinions Completing pre‐ reading vocabulary activity Identifying details and making inferences in a reading activity Identifying purpose and scanning for details in a reading activity Identifying a variety of sentence patterns used to convey negative instructions Using an expanded repertoire of sentence patterns in written instructions


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Introduction

Background Reading:

In the listening, you will hear about elk, the military, ranchers, and hunters. Read the following brief descriptions, and then predict. What do you think the listening will be about? What do you think is the connection between each of these groups?

Elk: The most common large animals found in Alberta parks, and the second largest deer. Like other ungulates (deer, cows, horses, pigs), they have hooves. They eat grasses, leaves, twigs, and bark. Their predators are wolves, bears, and cougars. Outside of the parks, elk are sometimes hunted, or raised for meat and other products (e.g., elk velvet).

The military: Canadian Forces Base Suffield: The largest military training area in Canada is in Suffield, Southern Alberta. In 2003, 458 square kilometers of the grasslands on the base were set aside as the Suffield National Wildlife Area. This wildlife area is under the authority of the base commander.

Ranchers: Ranchers are people who raise grazing livestock (e.g., cattle or sheep) on a ranch (i.e., a large farm). Southern Alberta, with extensive grasslands, is an ideal spot for cattle ranching.

Hunters: Hunting generally involves killing wildlife, usually for recreation or food. Hunting is not allowed in parks in Alberta. Outside of parks, it is sometimes allowed, but it is regulated and controlled. Hunting can be an important part of “wildlife management,” to make sure that populations of certain animals are kept under control, especially in situations where there are no natural predators.

Food for thought

What is your attitude towards hunting wild animals? Can you think of a situation in our

modern world where it might be necessary to hunt a specific type of animal?


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The Audio

Ranchers near CFB Suffield say elk in the area are reproducing like rabbits. The elk were introduced onto the base by the military in the late 90s. But since the original introduction, the elk population has grown out of control. In the podcast, you will listen to the Eyeopener's Karen Moxley as she interviews people she meets on the base and surrounding ranches.

CBC file photos (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/military‐s‐elk‐population‐boom‐a‐bust‐for‐alberta‐ranchers‐1.2440812)

Before you listen:

Have you ever seen an elk? Why might a cattle rancher not be happy about elk on his property?

SPEAKER TITLE: SUFFIELD ELK TROUBLES Karen So whereabouts on your property are you having trouble with the elk? Jeff Lewendowski

Right here on this home section‐‐ if you look off to the southeast here, and off to the east is the cornfield...

Karen Jeff Lewendowski is a third generation rancher on this land near Jenner Alberta. Today, he's weaning calves and branding some new cows. But like always he's keeping an eye on his fences. He's watching for elk.


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Pre‐listening vocabulary

The words below are from the audio. The definitions are next to the words. Read the definitions then complete the sentences.

Use the vocabulary words above to complete the following sentences. Note: You may have to change the verb forms. (Answers can be found in the appendix.)

WORD DEFINITION

Herd (noun) A group of animals of the same species that live and graze (i.e., eat grass) together.

Military (adjective, noun) Related to soldiers or armed forces. The Canadian military is called the Canadian Forces. “CFB” refers to Canadian Forces Base, a Canadian military base.

Fence (noun) A structure which is used to keep people or animals in or out of an area. It is often made of wood, or wood posts and wire.

Remove (verb) To take something/somebody away from some place.

Assume (verb) To believe that something is true without proof.

Definitely (adverb) This word indicates that there is no doubt that something is true; certainly.

Consuming (adjective) Taking up all of someone’s time or energy or interest.

Doing its job (expression) Doing what something (or someone) is supposed to do. Fulfilling one’s responsibility.

Turn a blind eye (expression) To ignore something. To not pay attention to something.

Predators (noun) Animals, such as wolves or cougars, that kill and eat other animals.

Prey (noun) Animals that are killed and eaten by predators (e.g., mice)

Imbalance (noun) A lack of balance or harmony.

Reside (verb) To live in a specific place.

Release (noun) The act of setting someone/something free.

Predict (verb) To say or guess what is going to happen.

Issue (verb) To produce and distribute something.

Purview (noun) The authority, power, or right to do something.

The tip of the iceberg A small part of a much bigger problem


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1. Even though it was almost two meters high, the barbed‐wire ___________________ did not keep the deer from eating the lettuce in her garden.

2. Her photography hobby was ______________________. It took up all of her spare time.

3. He _____________________ in Calgary. However, he often travels to Fort MacMurray for work.

4. The Canadian ______________________ has three branches: army, navy, and air force.

5. Over 1000 lottery tickets were ___________________ last year. 6. The furnace just isn’t _____________________________________. It is not keeping

the house warm. 7. The party will ______________________ be fun. You should _______________

come. (Note: same word for both blanks) 8. Mice are often easy _______________ for small predators such as cats, foxes, and

coyotes. 9. The residents felt that they were being ignored. The condo association ___________

_____________________________to their complaints. 10. The size of the _____________ of sheep was growing. There were more and more

animals every year. 11. When they heard there was a gas leak, the teachers ______________________ the

students from the school. 12. The _________________of rabbits into the wild by early settlers to Australia caused

surprising problems. 13. The settlers __________________ that introducing rabbits to the area would be a

good thing. However, the rabbits multiplied very quickly and have caused serious environmental problems.

14. Because the rabbits in Australia had no natural _______________________, they multiplied very quickly.

15. The lack of predators for the rabbits in Australia caused an _____________________ in the ecosystem.

16. The three gang members arrested today are just the _________________________. Hundreds, maybe thousands, are involved in criminal activity across the country.

17. No one could have ______________________ that releasing rabbits into the wild would cause so much environmental damage.

18. The governor’s ________________ was limited. He couldn’t decide to set the prisoner free.


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Listening for meaning

Read the questions below. Then listen to the podcast and answer the questions. (Answers can be found in the appendix.)

1. Why did the military replace wild horses with wild elk on the CFB Suffield base? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

2. Check off the 5 problems that Jeff Lewendowski has to deal with: Damage to fences Elk eating his oats Finding candy for the elk Wasted time

Hunters Crop damage Danger to his pets Damage to gophers

3. Who does Brad Osadich infer1 is responsible for the elk problem, and why? ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

4. Delaney Boyd (military base biologist) mentions three reasons for the elk problem. Complete the last reason:

People underestimated how fast the herd would grow No one made a plan to manage the herd ______________________________________________________________

5. Why does Delaney Boyd not think the problem is entirely the military’s

responsibility? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

6. True or False: Dale Eslinger, previously with the Alberta Government, thinks the military base could not have avoided the problem.

7. Complete the two steps Eslinger thinks the military should take: 1. Decide on an ____________________________for the herd. 2. Let _____________________ take care of the rest.

8. What does Delaney Boyd mean when she says “we are still only just on the tip of the iceberg of dealing with the population problem”?

_____________________________________________________________________

1 Note: he doesn’t directly state this. But he hints or infers this.


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Listening strategies – Identifying and recording numbers

The goal of the listening strategies section of the monthly feature lesson is to help you to improve your listening skills for all listening situations– not just this audio.

Numbers and statistics are often used to catch attention and support ideas and arguments. It is important to be able to understand and write down numbers correctly and quickly. In this story, numbers are used to emphasize the extent of the problem caused by the large herd of elk on Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield. The surprising numbers make this story particularly interesting. In the following activity, you will listen for and record specific numbers. Before you listen, read through the descriptors so you know what numbers you are listening for. (The first has been done for you. Answers can be found in the appendix.)

Descriptors Number

1. The number of generations of Lewendowski’s who have been ranchers on the land near Jenner, Alberta: 3

2. The number of elk that come through Jeff Lewendowski’s fences every day:

3. The number of elk originally released on CFB Suffield in the late 90’s:

4. The maximum number of elk in the herd, according to the military:

5. The number of elk on CFB Suffield today:

6. The amount of time Jeff Lewendowski spends dealing with the elk problem (hunters, fences, crop damage):

7. The number of gophers Jeff would rather have than the elk:

8. The number of elk that will be in the herd by 2020 if it continues to grow at the same rate:

9. The years the elk were first released on CFB Suffield:

10. The number of “tags” Alberta has issued this year (i.e., the number of elk that can be hunted)

11. How much the herd grows each year in percent:

12. The number of elk born each year (i.e., number of elk added to the herd each year):

13. The length of the hunting season:

14. The number of elk that have been “harvested” this season:

15. The number of elk that Jeff Lewendowski thinks would be okay:


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Building Speaking Skills: Noticing and using speaking strategies to soften opinions

The speakers in the podcast have definite opinions. However, they use the following strategies to communicate those opinions in a way that they feel will sound reasonable and not be viewed as too argumentative or harsh:

Softeners: These are words and phrases that are added to make an opinion sound more reasonable, or to keep someone from sounding too harsh or argumentative. For instance, they might use words like “a bit” or “maybe” when expressing an opinion: “It’s maybe a bit too soon to try this.” Speakers use these softeners to make themselves sound less angry and opinionated, perhaps more friendly, in the hopes that they will be listened to.

Owning an opinion: Sometimes people say “in my opinion” or “I think” to indicate that it is reasonable to expect that someone might have another opinion. In other words, they recognize that what they are saying is not an indisputable fact, but is debatable.

Euphemisms: A euphemism is an indirect or gentle expression that is used instead of a word that is too direct. For instance, instead of “died,” people often use “passed away.”

Questions, or neutral/rising intonation: Using a question, or using neutral or rising intonation (instead of falling intonation) can soften a statement. For instance, instead of directly saying “It’s too late”, a speaker might say “It’s a bit late, isn’t it?”or even just “it’s a bit late…” (with neutral or rising intonation, instead of falling intonation). This makes the statement sound less opinionated or certain.

In the textbox below, softeners, opinion statements, euphemisms, and question forms have been removed from statements from the podcast. Read the statements aloud. Notice the direct tone. Can you guess where some of the strategies listed above were originally used?

They’re a pest. I would rather have 7000 gophers than 7000 elk, because those elk do a lot more damage.

The elk are becoming a threat to our livelihood. They are worrisome. If we could manage them or if they would have been managed properly from the start it would be great to have them. We've been ignored. Military's business is military. They're not taking any of this seriously at this point.

There was an underestimate of how much these types of ungulate herds can grow. …I have been heavily involved with elk on CFB Suffield since their releases in 97 and 98. …A starting target is to cut the population in half. ...The military needs to decide on an acceptable size for the herd – and let hunters kill the rest.

Because when we put it in perspective. We’re dealing with a herd of 5000 animals. It's increasing at 20 to 25% per year. We're going up by 800 to a thousand animals every year. And that is not going to be dealt with by only killing 300 animals in the year. It’s not a solution. …Only 52 elk have been killed.

Seven hundred head, or a thousand head would be okay. But the size of the herd is out of control.


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Listen to the podcast again. Can you hear the softeners, opinion statements, euphemisms, and questions? Can you hear the softened, more reasonable tone?

Practice reading the statements below. Circle the three euphemisms. Underline the “owned opinions”. Highlight the softeners and questions/rising intonation. (Answers can be found in the appendix)

As far as I’m concerned, they’re a pest. I would almost rather have 7000 gophers than 7000 elk, because those elk do a lot more damage....

So the elk are becoming a threat, I guess, to our livelihood. But, they are worrisome, right? If we could manage them or if they would have been managed properly from the start it would be great to have them. It’s just that we've been ignored. I guess military's business is military. They're not really taking any of this too terribly serious at this point.

I think at the time there was a bit of an, perhaps, an underestimate of how much these types of ungulate herds can grow. I have been fairly heavily involved with elk on CFB Suffield since their releases in 97 and 98. We thought perhaps a starting target would probably be to cut the population in half. The military needs to decide on an acceptable size for the herd‐‐ and let hunters take care of the rest.

Because when we put it in perspective, if we’re dealing with a herd of you know, even 5000 animals... And if it's increasing at 20 to 25% per year... I mean, we're going up by 800 to a thousand animals every year. And that is not going to be dealt with by only taking down 300 animals in the year. So, it's part of the solution, but it's not the whole solution,

Only 52 elk have been harvested.

A few...I don't mind... I wouldn’t mind 700 head, or a thousand head. but it's getting to the size of a herd that it's just out of control.

To think about or discuss: When are these speaking strategies appropriate or not appropriate? Would you use them in an email to your boss? Would you use them in a persuasive essay? Do you use similar softening strategies in your first language when expressing opinions? What might happen if you don’t use softening strategies?

Hold two discussions on a controversial issue (e.g., Is hunting ethical or not? OR Who is responsible for and what should be done about the elk problem on CFB Suffield?)

1. Formal debate, or heated discussion. Don’t use strategies for softening opinions. SWITCH PARTNERS

2. Friendly discussion. Use some of the strategies discussed above so you sound friendly, and your opinions sound reasonable.


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Reading Activity

Pre‐reading vocabulary

The following vocabulary activity will help you to understand the reading below. Match each word to its correct definition.

The first one is done for you. (Answers can be found in the appendix.)

1. garbage (noun) D A. to go near to something

2. considerate (adjective)

B. the act of eating or drinking or using energy

3. to dispose of (verb) C. official rules made by some authority

4. consumption of (noun)

D. trash; waste that is thrown away

5. to observe (verb) E. thinking of other’s wishes and feelings; being courteous

6. regulations (noun) F. to get rid of something; to throw something away

7. to approach (verb) G. to bother, disturb; to make it difficult for someone to do something, or to continue doing something

8. ___area (noun) ___location

H. able to be seen; related to seeing or sight

9. maximum (noun) I. buildings, equipment, for a specific purpose

10. facilities (noun) J. connected to the movement of large numbers of birds, animals, people

11. to enforce (verb) K. a variety of a type of things; an area of land used for a particular purpose.

12. to hinder (verb) to disrupt (verb)

L. to recognize what something is; to be able to say what something is

13. visible (adjective) visual (adjective)

M. a place or region, often used for a special purpose (e.g., for viewing, swimming, wintering).

14. to identify (verb) N. to make sure a rule or regulation is followed

15. migratory (adjective)

O. the most, longest, fastest, highest possible

16. range (noun) P. to watch something/somebody


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Reading Activity:

Explore Alberta Parks 2013 The following excerpt is from: Explore Alberta Parks 2013 ‐ http://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/library.aspx Reproduced with permission.

Watching Wildlife Responsibly When you are watching for wildlife, please use courtesy and common sense.

Some ethics for the field include:

Keep to designated trails, viewing platforms and blinds.

Be considerate of wildlife. Observe animals from a distance that does not cause them any distress. Avoid nesting sites and respect resting periods. Try not to surprise wildlife and never chase or flush wild animals.

Don’t approach or pick up baby animals. Your actions may expose them to predators or prevent their parents from returning to care for them. Even though not visible, the mother is likely close by.

Pets can harm wildlife and hinder viewing opportunities. They should be under your control at all times or left at home, tethered in your campsite or, under suitable conditions, in your vehicle.

Be considerate of the environment. Leave viewing sites, including the plants and animals, undamaged by your visits. Be sure your garbage is properly disposed of or carried out to where you can dispose of it.

Be considerate of others. While friendly sharing of information and observations can be part of the wildlife watching experience, avoid disrupting the wildlife viewing activities of others in the area.

Wildlife Viewing Tips Find out best viewing locations and best time of year to see them. Early morning and late afternoon are often best for many birds and mammals.

Spring and fall are particularly good seasons to observe migratory birds; many just pass through Alberta between wintering areas and summer breeding ranges. Look for tracks, nests, cavities, droppings, and bits of fur or feathers.

Use binoculars and spotting scopes to get that close‐up, detailed look. Field guides can be very helpful especially when identifying smaller mammals and the many bird species.

Patience and quiet: Move slowly and quietly, or even stop for several minutes at a time, to help wildlife to be more accepting of your presence. Wear clothes that make little noise when walking.

Reduce your visibility: Use vegetation, topography, or your vehicle as visual screens. Wear clothes with dull darker colours and irregular patterns.

Use all your senses: The full range of sights, sounds and smells around you can help in locating and identifying some of the more secretive species.


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Regulations To protect lands, habitats and wildlife, and to keep our parks safe for visitors, regulations are necessary. Here are a few of the important rules we enforce so that everyone can have a safe and happy holiday. • Be good neighbours. Help protect one another’s property • Make sure your camping gear and valuables are securely stored • Report acts of vandalism • Day use areas are open from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. • In campgrounds, the maximum stay is 16 consecutive nights and checkout time is 2:00 p.m. • Quiet hours are 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. • Everyone enjoys the peace and tranquility of our parks; please avoid making excessive noise, including excessive use of generators • Consumption of liquor is allowed only in your registered campsite • For your safety and to protect wildlife do not approach, feed or harass wild animals • Never take food and other articles that could attract wildlife into your tent or tent trailer; use the park garbage bins to dispose of garbage • Gathering dead wood from around the campground for firewood is not allowed. It is also illegal to remove, deface, injure or destroy plants, fossils and rocks • Protect your pet, wildlife and other campers by keeping your pet on a leash; pets are not allowed on public beaches, in public swimming areas and in public buildings. Please pick up after your pet • Be considerate of swimmers and boaters; please obey all signs at boat launches and on lakes • For more information about boating regulations, contact Transport Canada at 1–866–

995–9737 or www.tc.gc.ca/eng/ marinesafety/debs‐obs‐menu‐1362.htm • Make sure you have an Alberta fishing license if you will be fishing during your stay. Details are available from Fish and Wildlife offices or at albertafishingguide.com • Operation of off‐highway vehicles (OHVs) is not permitted in most provincial parks. For more information and the complete parks regulations brochure, please visit albertaparks.ca.

Etiquette and Safety Park Neighbours We all go to our favourite park to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Be considerate of others – keep the volume down on radios and other electronics, and run your generator only when necessary. Make sure your dog is on a leash and comfortable, and it is not barking and disturbing people and wildlife. Campfire Safety • Campfires are permitted only in facilities provided. Never leave your campfire unattended • Make sure your campfire is completely out before you leave your campsite. Hiking • Use well‐defined trails • Walk single file to avoid widening trails • Don’t create your own pathways around muddy or rough sections of trail; this makes multiple paths and worsens the problem • Avoid low wet areas and if that isn’t possible, take care to minimize disturbance of vegetation • Keep litter in your pockets or bring along a bag to put it in. As you hike pick up litter that may have been left along the trail. Cycling Stay alert! You could startle bears or other wildlife as you move quickly and quietly along the trails. When coming up behind other trail users and when approaching blind corners, use your bell to warn others of your presence.


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Reading for meaning

Now scan through the text to find out if the following statements are true or false based on the

information in the text. Note: the statements do not follow the same order as the reading text. Use

the headings to help you find the information. Check the column that is correct.

Statement True False

1. A good way to view wild animals is to make a loud noise to startle them so they come out of hiding.

2. Drink alcohol only in your own campsite.

3. All visitors to the park are permitted to fish.

4. Birds and wild animals will be attracted to bright coloured clothes.

5. Bring your dog with you – its sense of smell can help you locate wildlife to view.

6. If you find an abandoned baby animal or bird, you should keep it warm and call the Wildlife Rescue Society.

7. It is dangerous to keep your garbage in your pockets when hiking. Instead, bury it.

8. Store your food and garbage safely in your tent or tent trailer.

9. To avoid startling wildlife and fellow campers, don’t ring your bicycle bell when you go around corners.

10. Walking slowly and stopping for a few minutes will improve your chances of seeing wildlife.

11. You are permitted to have a campfire on the river bank, but you must make sure to put it out when you leave.

12. You are welcome to pick up dead wood around the campground for firewood.

(Answers can be found in the appendix )


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Reading Strategies: Understanding purpose; scanning

This reading has lists of suggestions and regulations for wildlife viewing in Alberta Parks. Understanding the purpose of a regulation or rule makes it easier to accept – rules that seem purposeless are harder to accept. The table below lists 5 purposes for the different regulations and suggestions in the reading. Scan through the reading and write down 2‐3 more suggestions/regulations in each category.

Purpose Suggestions and regulations for viewing wildlife To protect wildlife

• Observe animals from a distance.

•

•

•

To preserve the environment

• Keep to designated trails, viewing platforms and blinds.

•

•

•

To ensure personal safety

• Never take food and other articles that could attract wildlife into your

tent or tent trailer.

•

•

•

To ensure people get along with each other

• Avoid disrupting the wildlife viewing activities of others in the area

•

•

•

To enjoy wildlife viewing

• Use binoculars and field guides.

•

•

•

(Answers can be found in the appendix)


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Grammar Activity – Sentence variety

One sign of a good writer is the ability to use a variety of sentences structures.

The reading included many statements of things that campers should not do. They could all have been written as they are below in the left column:

List of Don’t’s from the article: Original sentence pattern:

Don’t surprise wildlife.

Try not to surprise...

Don’t chase or flush wild animals.

Don’t approach or pick up baby animals.

Don’t disrupt the wildlife viewing activities of others.

Don’t make excessive noise, including excessive use of generators.

Don’t consume liquor outside of your registered campsite.

Don’t approach, feed or harass wild animals.

Don’t take food and other articles that could attract wildlife into your tent or tent trailer

Don’t gather dead wood from around the campground for firewood.

Don’t remove, deface, injure or destroy plants, fossils and rocks.

Don’t let your pets go on public beaches, in public swimming areas and in public buildings.

Don’t leave your campfire unattended.

However, the list of “don’ts” above sounds unfriendly and is boring to read. In the article, only two of the above instructions are written using “don’t” or “do not.” The rest are written using other sentence patterns. Skim back through the article and notice the wide variety of sentence patterns used to present the same meaning. Write down key words from the original sentence patterns. Underline any changes to the verb or word forms. The first one has been done for you. (Answers are in the appendix.).


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Writing Activity – Varying sentences when writing instructions

Write a list of “don’ts” on a subject that you are knowledgeable about (e.g., staying safe in a city you’ve lived in, driving safely, using a knife, swimming pool regulations, etc.). You may want to imagine a particular audience – e.g., your teenager! Then re‐write your “don’ts”, using a variety of sentence patterns. Try to use some of the patterns from the article you read. Be careful to use the correct verb forms. (A sample can be found in the appendix)

List of Don’t’s for… Re‐written list, using a variety of sentence patterns

Have someone read your two lists. Which list do they prefer?


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Links

Links to the community

For more information about Elk:

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn‐np/ab/banff/natcul/animaux‐animals/mammifieres‐mammals/wapiti.aspx

http://www.albertaelk.com/

http://www.albertaelkcommission.com/

For more information about camping in Alberta:

http://travelalberta.com/Things%20to%20Do/Outdoor%20Adventure/Camping.aspx

http://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/visit‐our‐parks/camping.aspx

Links for language learning

The following website has articles, short stories, novels, and songs. You can read the texts,

or you can listen to them at a slower speed or a faster speed. To improve your intonation,

rhythm, and stress, you might try shadow reading2 the script along with the slower speed

recording.

http://esl‐bits.net/

2 Shadow reading is a technique for improving your pronunciation. When you shadow read, you speak the passage at the same time as the speaker, trying to sound exactly like the speaker. Stress the words s/he stresses, reduce the words s/he reduces, pause where s/he pauses, and link where s/he links. Follow the same intonation pattern.


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Appendix ‐ Answer Keys

Pre‐listening vocabulary

1. Even though it was almost two meters high, the barbed‐wire fence did not keep the deer from eating the lettuce in her garden.

2. Her photography hobby was consuming. It took up all of her spare time. 3. He resides in Calgary. However, he often travels to Fort MacMurray for work. 4. The Canadian military has three branches: army, navy, and air force. 5. Over 1000 lottery tickets were issued last year. 6. The furnace just isn’t doing its job. It is not keeping the house warm. 7. The party will definitely be fun. You should definitely come. (same word) 8. Mice are often easy prey for small predators such as cats, foxes, and coyotes. 9. The residents felt that they were being ignored. The condo association turned a

blind eye to their complaints. 10. The size of their herd of sheep was growing. There were more and more animals

every year. 11. When they heard there was a gas leak, the teachers removed the students from the

school. 12. The release of rabbits into the wild by early settlers to Australia caused surprising

problems. 13. The settlers assumed that introducing rabbits to the area would be a good thing.

However, the rabbits multiplied very quickly and have caused serious environmental problems.

14. Because the rabbits in Australia had no natural predators, they multiplied very quickly.

15. The lack of predators for the rabbits in Australia caused an imbalance in the ecosystem.

16. The three gang members arrested today are just the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds, maybe thousands, are involved in criminal activity across the country.

17. No one could have predicted that releasing rabbits into the wild would cause so much environmental damage.

18. The governor’s purview was limited. He couldn’t decide to set the prisoner free.

Listening for meaning

Read the questions below. Then listen to the podcast and answer the questions.

1. Why did the military replace wild horses with wild elk on the CFB Suffield base?

Horses were causing damage/They thought elk would fit the ecosystem better.


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2. Check off the problems that Jeff Lewendowski has to deal with:

Damage to fences

Elk eating his oats

Finding candy for the elk Wasted time

Hunters

Crop damage

Danger to his pets

Damage to gophers

3. Who does Brad Osadich infer is responsible for the elk problem, and why?

Note: you have to infer the answer. He does not directly state it.

The military, because + one of the following answers:

‐they did not manage the elk population from the beginning

‐they ignored concerns.

‐they did not take it seriously.

4. Delaney Boyd (military base biologist) mentions three reasons for the elk problem.

Complete the last reason:

People underestimated how fast the herd would grow

No one made a plan to manage the herd

Not enough predators/an imbalance of predators and prey/an imbalance

in the ecosystem.

5. Why does Delaney Boyd not think the problem is entirely the military’s

responsibility?

Any of the following answers: The elk are wild, they range beyond their

boundaries/ The military does not have the purview (i.e., the right) to solve the

problem themselves/ The province (Alberta) must be involved.

6. True or False: Dale Eslinger, previously with the Alberta Government, thinks the

military base could not have avoided the problem. (Actually, he thinks they could

have avoided the problem if they had managed the elk from the beginning)

7. Complete the two steps Eslinger thinks the military should take:

1. Decide on an acceptable size for the herd.


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2. Let hunters take care of the rest.

8. What does Delaney Boyd mean when she says that they are only on the “tip of the

iceberg” when dealing with the population problem?

She means that the problem is much larger than they think. Allowing hunters to

kill 300 elk will not solve the problem. Killing 300 elk is not nearly enough.

Listening strategies – Identifying and recording numbers

Number

1. How many generations of Lewendowski’s have been ranchers on the land near Jenner, Alberta?

3

2. The number of elk that come through Jeff Lewendowski’s fences every day:

12‐45

3. The number of elk originally released on CFB Suffield in the late 90’s: 220

4. The maximum number of elk in the herd, according to the military: 800

5. The number of elk on CFB Suffield today: 5000‐6000

6. The amount of time Jeff Lewendowski spends dealing with the elk problem (hunters, fences, crop damage):

20‐25%

7. The number of gophers Jeff would rather have than the elk: 7000

8. The number of elk that will be in the herd by 2020 if it continues to grow at the same rate:

25,000

9. The years the elk were first released on CFB Suffield: 1997 and 1998

10. The number of “tags” Alberta has issued this year (i.e., the number of elk that can be hunted)

300

11. How much the herd grows each year in percent: 20‐25%

12. The number of elk born each year (i.e., number of elk added to the herd each year):

800‐1000

13. The length of the hunting season: 3 weeks


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14. The number of elk that have been “harvested” this season: 52

15. The number of elk that Jeff Lewendowski thinks would be okay: 700‐1000

Building Speaking Skills

As far as I’m concerned, they’re a pest. I would almost rather have 7000 gophers

than 7000 elk, because those elk do a lot more damage....

So the elk are becoming a threat, I guess, to our livelihood. But, they are worrisome,

right? If we could manage them or if they would have been managed properly from

the start it would be great to have them. It’s just that we've been ignored. I guess

military's business is military. They're not really taking any of this too terribly

serious at this point.

I think at the time there was a bit of an, perhaps, an underestimate of how much

these types of ungulate herds can grow.

I have been fairly heavily involved with elk on CFB Suffield since their releases in

97 and 98. We thought perhaps a starting target would probably be to cut the

population in half. ...The military needs to decide on an acceptable size for the herd--

and let hunters take care of the rest.

Because when we put it in perspective, if we’re dealing with a herd of you know,

even 5000 animals... And if it's increasing at 20 to 25% per year... I mean, we're

going up by 800 to a thousand animals every year. And that is not going to be dealt

with by only taking down 300 animals in the year. So, it's part of the solution, but

it's not the whole solution,

Only 52 elk have been harvested.

A few...I don't mind... I wouldn’t mind 700 head, or a thousand head. but it's

getting to the size of a herd that it's just out of control.


23

Reading Activity

Pre‐reading vocabulary

1. garbage (noun) D A. to go near to something

2. considerate (adjective) E B. the act of eating or drinking or using energy

3. to dispose of (verb) F C. official rules made by some authority

4. consumption of (noun) B D. waste that is thrown away; trash

5. to observe (verb) P E. thinking of other’s wishes and feelings; being courteous

6. regulations (noun) C F. to get rid of something; to throw something away

7. to approach (verb) A G. to bother, disturb; to make it difficult for someone to do something, or to continue doing something

8. ___area (noun) ___location

M H. able to be seen; related to seeing or sight

9. maximum (noun) O I. buildings, equipment, for a specific purpose

10. facilities (noun) I J. connected to the movement of large numbers of birds, animals, people

11. to enforce (verb) N K. a variety of a type of things; an area of land used for a particular purpose.

12. to hinder (verb) to disrupt (verb)

G L. to recognize what something is; to be able to say what something is

13. visible; visual

H M. a place or region, often used for a special purpose (e.g., for viewing, swimming, wintering).

14. to identify (verb) L N. to make sure a rule or regulation is followed

15. migratory (adjective) J O. the most, longest, fastest, highest possible

16. range K P. to watch something/somebody


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Reading for meaning

Statement True False

1. A good way to view wild animals is to make a loud noise to startle them so they come out of hiding.

X Try not to surprise wildlife; don’t chase or flush wild animals.

2. Drink alcohol only in your own campsite.

X

3. All visitors to the park are permitted to fish.

X Need a permit to fish.

4. Birds and wild animals will be attracted to bright coloured clothes.

X Wear dull darker colours and irregular patterns

5. Bring your dog with you – its sense of smell can help you locate wildlife to view.

X Pets can harm wildlife and hinder viewing opportunities.

6. If you find an abandoned baby animal or bird, you should keep it warm and call the Wildlife Rescue Society.

X Don’t approach or pick up baby animals.

7. It is dangerous to keep your garbage in your pockets when hiking. Instead, bury it.

X Keep litter in your pockets or bring a bag to put it in.

8. Store your food and garbage safely in your tent or tent trailer.

X Never take food and garbage into your tent

9. To avoid startling wildlife and fellow campers, ring your bicycle bell when you go around corners.

X

10. Walking slowly and stopping for a few minutes will improve your chances of seeing wildlife.

X

11. You are permitted to have a campfire on the river bank, but you must make sure to put it out when you leave.

X Only in facilities provided.

12. You are welcome to pick up dead wood around the campground for firewood.

X This is not allowed.


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Reading Strategies: Understanding purpose; scanning

Suggestions and regulations for viewing wildlife in Alberta parks Purposes Examples At least two in each category. To protect wildlife

Observe animals from a distance. Avoid nesting sites and respect resting periods. Never chase or flush wild animals. Don’t pick up baby animals. Keep your pets on a leash.

To preserve the environment or the facilities

Keep to designated trails, viewing platforms and blinds. Be sure your garbage is properly disposed of or carried out. Report acts of vandalism Don’t gather wood from around the campfire for firewood. Don’t remove, deface, injure or destroy plants, fossils or rocks. Operation of OHVs is not permitted. Use well‐defined trails Walk single file to avoid widening trails Don’t create your own pathways. Avoid low wet areas. Keep litter in your pockets. Pick up litter that may have been left along the trail.

To ensure personal safety

Never take food and other articles that could attract wildlife into your tent or tent trailer. Do not approach, feed or harass wild animals. Use park garbage bins to dispose of garbage. Keep your pet on a leash Be considerate of swimmers and boaters. Never leave your campfire unattended. Make sure it is completely out before you leave your campsite. When cycling, use a bell to warn others (and wildlife) of your presence.

To ensure people get along with each other

Avoid disrupting the wildlife viewing activities of others in the area. Help protect each other’s property. Avoid making excessive noise, excessive use of generators. Drink Liquor only in your own campsite. Pick up after your pet. Keep volume down on radios and other electronics. Run your generator only when necessary. Make sure your dog is on a leash, not barking or disturbing people.

To enjoy wildlife viewing

Use binoculars and field guides. Find out the best times and locations to view wildlife. Look for tracks, nests, droppings… Move slowly and quietly, stop for several minutes at a time.


26

Wear clothes that make little noise when walking. Wear dark coloured clothes.

Grammar Activity – Sentence variety

List of Don’t’s from the article: Original sentence pattern:

Don’t surprise wildlife. Try not to surprise...

Don’t chase or flush wild animals. Never chase...

Don’t approach or pick up baby animals. Don’t approach...

Don’t disrupt the wildlife viewing activities of others.

Avoid disrupting...

Don’t make excessive noise, including excessive use of generators

Please avoid making...

Don’t consume liquor outside of your registered campsite

Consumption of liquor is allowed only in...

Don’t approach, feed or harass wild animals Do not approach... Don’t take food and other articles that could attract wildlife into your tent or tent trailer

Never take...

Don’t gather dead wood from around the campground for firewood.

Gathering...is not allowed.

Do not remove, deface, injure or destroy plants, fossils and rocks

It is also illegal to remove....

Don’t let your pets go on public beaches, in public swimming areas and in public buildings.

Pets are not allowed on...

Don’t leave your campfire unattended Never leave...


27

Writing Activity – Varying sentences when writing instructions

Sample List of Don’t’s for

SWIMMING POOL REGULATIONS

Re‐written list, using a variety of sentence patterns

Don’t run on the pool deck.

Don’t dive in the shallow end of the pool.

Don’t engage in horseplay. Don’t shove people into the pool.

Don’t let young children play in the pool without adult supervision.

Don’t wear outdoor shoes into the pool area.

Don’t go deeper than you can safely manage.

Don’t spit in the pool.

Don’t enter the pool if you have an open wound or rashes.

Don’t enter the pool before you shower off.

Running on the pool deck is not permitted.

Never dive in the shallow end of the pool.

Avoid horseplay. Never shove other people into the pool.

Young children should never play in the pool without adult supervision.

Outdoor shoes are not allowed in the pool area.

Please avoid going deeper than you can safely manage.

Spitting in the pool is not permitted.

Avoid entering the pool if you have an open wound or rashes.

Entering the pool without showering off is not permitted.


28

Appendix – Transcript

SPEAKER TITLE: SUFFIELD ELK TROUBLES

00:00 Karen sfx (cows mooing). So whereabouts on your property are you having trouble with the elk?

00:07 Jeff Lewendowski

Right here on this home section‐‐ if you look off to the South East here, and off to the East is the cornfield, um, and they...

00:18 Karen Jeff Lewendowski is a third generation rancher on this land near Jenner Alberta. Today, he's weaning calves, and branding some new cows. But like always he's keeping an eye on his fences. He's watching for elk.


And of course they tear the fence down as they come in. Typically there is anywhere from a dozen to 45 head each day they come in.

00:45 Karen Lewendowdki's ranch borders the CFB Suffield Military Base. In the late 90s, the military removed wild horses from the land ‐‐ concerned about the damage they were causing. They assumed elk would be a better fit for the ecosystem. So they brought in 220... and promised ranchers the herd would never grow beyond 800 head. Today, there are 5‐6,000 elk at CFB Suffield.


We also seed some oats, and that's just candy to them. they love that oat... I spend 20‐25% of my time dealing with the elk problem. Dealing with hunters, dealing with fences, dealing with crop damage and it's definitely consuming. As far as I’m concerned, they’re a pest. I would almost rather have 7000 gophers than 7000 elk, because those elk do a lot more damage.

01:43 Karen (car door closes, car starts...car stereo sound...//transition to lunch sounds...offers of stew...) Just up the road, it's lunchtime at the Osadich ranch.

01:45 Brad Osadich So the elk, is becoming a threat, I guess, to our livelihood.

01:50 Karen Brad Osadich is a rancher, and also a local councilor for the area. Osadich remembers the early days ‐ when it was a novelty to see the elk. But that charm has worn off.

2:01 Brad Osadich But, they are worrisome, right? If we could manage them or if they would have been managed properly from the start it would be great to have them. It’s just that we've been ignored. I guess military's business is military. And the rest of it, they're not really taking any of this too terribly serious at this point, so...


29

2:22 Delaney Boyd (Radio calls sfx//map shuffling//sound‐up) We’re looking at having 25 thousand, close to 25 thousand elk by 2020 at the rate we’re going.

2:32 Karen Delaney Boyd is the base biologist at CFB Suffield. Boyd says, the growth of the herd caught everyone by surprise.

2:39 Delaney Boyd I think at the time there was a bit of an, perhaps, an underestimate of how much these types of ungulate herds can grow. How quickly. So they didn't put a plan in place at that time about how it was going to be managed once it got to this level. So because we don't have the full compliment of predators and prey, we end up with an imbalance.

3:00 Karen And there's questions...over who's responsible for the animals

3:03 Delaney Boyd These are not DND elk. They are not Department of National Defence animals. They just happen to reside on this landscape. But they are wild animals that range beyond our boundaries. I mean, the responsibility question is a tough one...It’s not something we can just turn a blind eye to, but we have to work with Alberta because we, too, do not have the purview to go in and solve the problem ourselves.

3:22 Dale Eslinger (Scene change‐‐ dale asking "Can i get you a cup of coffee?) ("Can i get you a coffee?? How do you take it?? sfx pouring coffee)... My name is Dale Eslinger and I'm a retired senior wildlife biologist with the alberta government and I have been fairly heavily involved with elk on CFB Suffield since their releases in 97 and 98.

3:45 Karen Eslinger says this overpopulation could have been predicted. And he encouraged the base to control the herd from the start.

3:52 Dale Eslinger this situation if the elk did take to the area, which I was personally sure they would, ‐‐ it would escalate into the kind of situation we have now.

4:04 Karen What do you think a healthy population would be?

4:08 Dale Eslinger We thought perhaps a starting target would probably be to cut the population in half.

4:16 Karen Now, Eslinger says, the base faces a tough choice. It needs to decide on an acceptable size for the herd‐‐ and let hunters take care of the rest. (hunter map sound) (Back to base) For the second year in a row...CFB Suffield is allowing hunters onto the base to shoot elk. The province has issued 300 tags this year. But even the base biologist admits that's not enough.

4:43 Delaney We are still only just on the tip of the iceberg of dealing with the population problem. Because when we put it in perspective, if we’re dealing with a herd of you know,


30

even 5000 animals...And if it's increasing at 20 to 25% per year... I mean, we're going up by 800 to a thousand animals every year. And that is not going to be dealt with by only taking down 300 animals in the year. So, it's part of the solution, but it's not the whole solution, and that’s where the management...

5:12 Karen Now in the second week of a 3‐week hunting season, Only 52 elk have been harvested. That’s 52 out of 5 or 6 thousand. (hunting sfx...shots fired...etc.) Until the elk population is reined in at CFB Suffield‐‐ ranchers like Jeff Lewendowski will continue to mend fences and re‐seed crops, hoping one day these creatures will once again just be a novelty on the land.


A few...I don't mind... I wouldn’t mind 700 head, or a thousand head. but it's getting to the size of a herd that it's just out of control. (sighing)

5:50 Karen For the EyeOpener, I'm Karen Moxley.

elk troubles yyc january learning plan€¦ · improve your listening skills for all listening...

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