The game is based on Duxbury, Massachusetts geography and ecology:
- Woods: Coastal Massachusetts forests with oak, pine, and hardwoods
- Bay: Duxbury Bay, famous for oyster aquaculture (Island Creek Oysters)
- Beach: Duxbury Beach, a 4-mile barrier beach protecting the bay
All species in the game are native to or commonly found in Duxbury:
- 🦃 Wild turkeys roam suburban neighborhoods, stopping traffic
- 🦅 Bald eagles have returned to nest on the South Shore after decades of absence due to DDT
- 🦌 White-tailed deer are abundant in the woods
- 🐺 Eastern coyotes appeared in the 1980s and are now common
- 🦪 Oyster farming is a major local industry
- 🦞 Lobster fishing happens just offshore
- 🦭 Harbor seals are seen in Duxbury Bay and nearby Marshfield waters
- 🦉 Snowy owls visit Duxbury Beach in winter (Arctic migrants seeking open hunting grounds)
- 🍒 Cranberry bogs appear in the woodland corners each Fall, providing seasonal food for omnivores and herbivores
The 🐉 Dragon is the Duxbury High School mascot, not a real creature (unfortunately).
To learn more about Duxbury's ecology and conservation:
- Duxbury Bay Maritime School - Marine education and sailing programs
- Duxbury Beach Reservation - Beach management and piping plover protection
- Island Creek Oysters - Duxbury Bay oyster ecology and aquaculture
- Mass Audubon - Shorebird ecology and seasonal patterns
- MassWildlife - Bald Eagle recovery and coyote-fox dynamics
- The Trustees - Conservation and public access to Duxbury Beach
Note for Educators: This game teaches food webs,
ecosystem dynamics, predator-prey relationships, seasonal changes, and
South Shore ecology. Each species' diet is based on real-world biology.
Made by Dan, Lindsay, and Rylan. Email dan@statusok.com with questions or feedback.