CRITTER COMMANDER BADGE

Dung Beetle Roll Challenge

Lesson 10.4 — Dung Beetles

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Kitimu says: "Dung beetles are some of the strongest creatures on Earth — they can roll a ball of dung 10 times their own weight, BACKWARDS! Think you can do that? Time to find out how tough these little champions really are. Let's go, Cub!"

🎒 What You Need

Mud or clay

Rough outdoor ground

A stopwatch or phone timer

A tape measure or 5 big steps

📋 How To Do It

Make your dung ball: Using mud or clay, roll a ball about the size of a tennis ball. Pack it tightly — it needs to hold together while you push it. This is your "dung ball" (don't worry, it's just mud!).
Mark your track: Measure out 5 metres on rough, uneven ground — just like a real dung beetle would face. Use sticks or stones to mark the start and finish lines. The bumpier the ground, the more realistic!
Get into position: Kneel down at the start line. Place your mud ball in front of you. Now turn around so your BACK faces the finish line. You must push the ball BACKWARDS using only your hands behind you — just like a dung beetle pushes with its back legs!
Roll! Start your timer and push your mud ball backwards across the 5 metres of rough ground. No peeking over your shoulder — dung beetles navigate by the stars and the sun, not by looking where they're going!
Record and reflect: Write down your time. Now think about this: a real dung beetle is only 2-3cm long and does this over much longer distances, in the dark, while other beetles try to steal its ball. How do you feel about dung beetles now?

Ranger Tip: Dung beetles use the Milky Way to navigate in a straight line at night — they are the only known insects that use the stars! They also recycle nutrients back into the soil, making them essential for healthy ecosystems.

Challenge bonus: Try it again on smooth ground. Is it faster? Now try on grass. A real dung beetle doesn't get to choose its surface — it pushes no matter what!