Every spring, many Utahns remember a story from 1848 that they call the “Miracle of the Gulls.” That year, the first Mormon settlers planted fields near the Great Salt Lake after a long, difficult journey to the valley. When warm weather arrived, enormous swarms of crickets appeared and began eating the young crops. The settlers feared they would lose their harvest and face hunger the next winter.
Then flocks of California gulls arrived from the lake. Witnesses reported that the white birds landed by the fields and began swallowing the crickets by the mouthful. According to the accounts, the gulls flew back to drink and then returned to feed again, repeating the cycle for hours. Over several days, the number of insects dropped, and enough crops survived to feed the community. Many settlers felt the timing was providential, and the event soon became part of local tradition.
Today, historians point out that gulls naturally eat insects and often gather where food is abundant. Whether one sees a miracle or an example of nature at work, the story reminds people that everyday species can have a powerful impact. In downtown Salt Lake City, a monument honors the California gull as the state bird, celebrating both the dramatic tale and the role of wildlife in human survival.
1. What threatened the settlers’ crops in 1848?
2. How did the California gulls help the settlers?
3. Which sentence best states the central idea of the passage?
4. What is one explanation historians offer for the event?
5. Why do many Utahns still remember the story today?
6. Which detail shows the settlers’ fear about the future?
7. Which statement is supported by the passage?