Animal Teamwork at the Kitchen Foldout Desk

Two Reports at the Kitchen Foldout Desk

On a rainy afternoon, Anika opens a wildlife binder at the kitchen foldout desk. She studies reports about ants and musk oxen. She plans to add an argument page to the binder. Her page will explain whether being in a group can help animals survive. First, she examines what observers recorded.

An outdoor video follows ants near their nest. One ant grips a large food crumb and pulls. The crumb moves a short distance, then stops. Several ants reach the crumb. They grip different edges and pull it along the ground toward the nest. At a narrow opening, some ants change their grip. The crumb turns and passes through. Other ants enter the nest carrying smaller bits of food by themselves.

A second report describes musk oxen, large plant-eating animals with horns. Wolves approach a group that includes adults and calves. The adults gather close together, with their horns facing outward. The calves stand behind the adults, nearer the middle. When a wolf moves around the group, nearby adults turn to face it. The wolf stays outside the ring of adults. Later, the wolves move away without catching a calf.