conservation

YEAR OF THE MONKEY!

We’re celebrating Chinese New Year and it’s the Year of the Monkey! So we’re going around the world to meet some monkeys! Today we’re off to Asia. There are Old World monkeys, that live in Africa and Asia and New World monkeys, which live in South and Central America.

Fun Facts:

•          Hanuman langurs live in South Asia in forests, mountains and suburban habitats.
•          They are herbivores! They eat fruits, buds and shoots.
•          Hanuman langurs can grow up to 31″ long and weight anywhere from 23 lbs to 44 lbs/
•          They are the most widespread of all langur species in South Asia.
•          Hanuman langurs are also called Gray Langurs.
•          Hanuman langurs color varies by their habitat.
•          They are diurnal.
•          Male Hanuman langurs are larger than females.
•          Hanuman langurs live in troops led by one or two males.

Hanuman langurs are fascinating monkeys. They often live near humans. Can you imagine considered being sacred? We think all animals are considered sacred 🙂 !

THREE CHEERS FOR HEDGIES!

Edmond grabbed his pom poms and a University of Ellie and Edmond student- Henrieta,  to do a cheer for Hedgehogs!

                GIVE US AN H!
H is Hedge! Hedgehogs root around hedges for food.

             GIVE US AN E!
E is for Eats! Hedgehogs eat insects!

                GIVE US A D!
D is for Danger! Hedgehogs roll up in a ball when they are in danger!

                 GIVE US A G!
G is for Groundhog! Europeans used hedgehogs for weather predictions, but there were none in North America, so they used the groundhog.

              GIVE US AN E!
E is for Eats! Hedgies are immune to adder venom and we known to occasionally eat them.

               GIVE US AN H!
H is for Hog! We get our name from rooting around hedges and making grunting sounds like a hog.

               GIVE US AN O!
O is for One! Hedgehogs are one of the three animals that hibernate in the UK!

               GIVE US A G!
G is for Ground! We live in shallow burrows in the ground or nest under logs and bushes.

WOOHOO! WHAT DOES THAT SPELL? HEDGEHOG!! WE LOVE HEDGEHOGS!!

GROUNDHOG DAY!!

How much wood does a woodchuck chuck? Let’s find out today! It’s Groundhog day in the United States and we’re celebrating these famous animals today! Come learn about these plump critters and all since how much wood does a woodchuck chuck!

• Groundhogs are also known as the woodchuck or mouse bear.
• Groundhogs are around 20″ long and weigh up to 20 lbs.
• Groundhogs live in North America in woodland and grassland habitats.

• They are herbivore and eat seeds, fruits, grasses and the occasional insect.
• Groundhogs are rodents and are the largest member of the ground squirrel or marmot family.
• They are excellent at climbing and swimming.
• Groundhogs dig burrow in the ground. Their burrows average 6 feet deep.
• They gorge all summer on food to fatten up!
• Groundhogs are one the true hibernators of the animal kingdom. Their body temperature can drop from 99 degrees to 37 and their hear beat goes from 80 to 5 beats per minute.

• They are known to whistle when threatened and during the beginning of mating season.

Groundhog day is always the 2nd day of February! The tradition says if the groundhog sees its shadow then winter will last for 6 more weeks. If the groundhog doesn’t see their shadow, spring will arrive early! Groundhog has been around since the 1880s. There are many famous groundhogs in the U.S., including the most the famous Punxsutawney Phil.

GET SQUIRRELY!

Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day! Let’s celebrate the gregarious and precocious little critters today!

• There are more than 200 species of squirrel in the world.
• Squirrels live on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Wow Australia has all those crazy animals and no squirrels!
• Squirrels are rodents.

• The African Pygmy Squirrel is the smallest species of squirrel. They are 5 inches long.
• The Indian Ground Squirrel is the largest at 3 feet long!

• There are tree squirrels, ground squirrels and flying squirrels.
• Flying squirrels do not actually fly, but glide using a flap of skin on each side.

• Some squirrels can run as fast as 20 mph.
• A squirrel’s teeth grow throughout their lifetime.
• Squirrels are omnivores. They eat bugs, eggs, nuts, seeds and fruit.

• Squirrels that bury their food for winter, find it by rubbing their scent on it first. They use their keen noses to find it later.
• When a squirrel forgets part of the winter cache, those seeds can turn into trees. Squirrels are responsible for the growth of many trees!
• The average squirrel eats about a pound of food a week!

Come make a great squirrel to top your pencils or pens!