Frozen Frogs
Today we are meeting first animal that has some crazy wild winter adaptations! Come meet the wood frog!
entertainment
Frozen Frogs
Categories: adventure, amphibians, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, entertainment, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife
Tags: animals, education, education blog, environment, frogs, nature, nature blog, science, wildlife
1 Comment
Monk Seal
Monk Seal
We hung out on the beach to meet one of Hawaii’s most endangered animals- the Hawaiian Monk Seal. We took the SS Ellie and Edmond up to the northern islands for the week to spend some time in the reefs and among areas where there are few humans. This is where we met these special marine mammals.
Hawaiian Monk Seal Fun Facts:
- These tropical seals can grow up to 7 ft long and weigh up to 600 lbs.
- They are carnivores. They eat fish, lobsters, octopus and eels.
- Monk seals got their name from the fold of skin that resembles a monk’s robe’s cowl. Their Hawaiian name -Ilio holo I ka uaua- means dog that runs in rough water.
- Females are slightly larger than males.
- They shed their hair and outer layer of skin once a year. This is called a catrostrophic molt. During this molt, they spend their days on the beach.
- Hawaiian monk seals are the state mammal of Hawaii.
- They are listed as Endangered by the IUCN. There around 1,500 individuals.
We had a blast seeing these seals sunning themselves on the beach. They are just the cutest. They have some great organizations working to save them too! Check out Save Monk Seals website for more info!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, entertainment, Environment, mammals, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife
Tags: animals, education, education blog, endangered species, envrionment, nature, nature blog, science, wildlife
1 Comment
Spring Break
Spring Break!
We’re off to the beach for the week! But make sure to check out our social media this week as we have some great animal friends who are taking over! Woohoo!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, entertainment, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife
Tags: animals, children, conservation, education, envrionment, nature, science, wildlife
1 Comment
MARCH CRAFT- BEAR WEEK!!
MARCH CRAFT!
CLAY BEAR!
Materials:
1. Air drying clay –Brown & Black (we only have brown because our local craft store was out of black)
2. Sharpie marker
Instructions:
1. Get a large piece of clay and make into an oval for the bear’s body
2. Then roll out to pieces to about a 1 ½” logs for legs & attach to the body.
3. Then roll out 1” logs for the arms & attach to the body.
4. Roll out a round ball for the head and attach to the body.
5. Next roll out balls for ears.
6. Finally if you have black, roll out two small balls for the eyes and a slightly larger one for the nose. If you don’t have it, roll those out of brown and color with the marker.
If you want to add paws- you can do so with black clay or draw them on with a marker.
We sure hope you make yourself a bear pal and remember we love to see your artwork- so show us on our Facebook page or Tweet us a picture! (You can buy black & white clay & make a Panda Bear too!)
Categories: adventure, Animals, bears, Children, conservation, crafts, education, entertainment, Environment, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, bears, children, conservation, crafts, education, environment, nature, wildlife
6 Comments
WATERY WEDNESDAY # 62
WATERY WENESDAY # 62
We’re taking the E & E sub out today to meet a member of the shark family! We have plenty of room for everyone, so come join us on today’s adventure to meet…
MEET THE SMOOTH HOUND SHARK!
Range/Habitat: Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean
Diet: Carnivore: mollusks, crabs, lobsters
Length/Weight: up to 5 1/4 ft/ 29 lbs
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Smooth Hound Sharks have short snouts.
- Smooth hound sharks have smooth skin.
- They are often seen in schools.
- Smooth hound sharks are nocturnal.
- They have flat teeth for crushing their prey.
These small sharks are really cool and their mouths are on the bottom! Did you know that when a shark or ray’s mouth is on the underside it indicates that their prey lives on the bottom of the ocean floor? Pretty cool!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, entertainment, Environment, nature, science, sharks, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, nature, oceans, science, sharks, wildlife
2 Comments
MAMMAL MONDAY # 52
MAMMAL MONDAY #52
We’re off to Southeast Asia today to meet a monkey who lives amongst people and in the wild! Are you ready to head out and see who we meet today? Let’s do this!
MEET THE LONG TAILED MACAQUE!
Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ rainforests, urban, coasts
Diet: Omnivore: fruit, seeds, aquatic animals
Length/Weight: 14 ½-23”/ 7 ¾- 26 lbs
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Long tailed Macaques are one of the most common monkeys in Southeast Asia.
- They live in troops of 5-60 individuals.
- Long tailed Macaques are also known as the Crab-Eating Macaques.
- Their tails are as long as their bodies.
- Long tailed macaques often live in areas that are populated with people.
- They use tools such as stones to open nuts and oysters.
Long tailed Macaques are so cool. People and monkeys often live together, but the monkeys can be a nuisance. It is important that we remember; feeding wild animals can be bad for them as they learn that humans are not dangerous or that human food is better than their natural diet.
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, entertainment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
Leave a comment
WATERY WEDNESDAY # 51
WATERY WENESDAY # 51
We’re off in the E & E sub to meet a small and spotty shark! Are you ready to meet this cartilaginous fish? We have room for everyone! Let’s do this!
MEET THE LEOPARD SHARK!
Range/Habitat: Eastern North Pacific/ oceans-near estuaries
Diet: Carnivore: invertebrates, crabs
Length/Weight: up to 7 ft/ up to 71 lb
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Leopard Sharks have spots on their backs and sides.
- They have long slender bodies and a large dorsal fin.
- Leopard sharks are harmless to humans.
- Leopard sharks have short round snouts.
- They have strong jaws full of flat teeth for crushing prey.
Leopard Sharks certainly earned their name from another famous predator! It sure seems that spots and stripes help you camouflage in with your habitat! What kind of coloration would you want to help you camouflage in with your habitat?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, entertainment, nature, oceans, science, sharks, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, sharks, wildlife
Leave a comment
WEIRD WATERY WEDNESDAY!!!
HALLOWEEN WEEK!
WEIRD WATERY WEDNESDAY!
We’re taking the E & E sub down to the deep depths of the ocean for this Weird Watery Wednesday! We’re on the lookout for a fish with fangs! Don’t worry they don’t bite and suck blood; they use their large teeth for eating prey! Is everyone ready?
MEET THE FANGTOOTH FISH!
Range/Habitat: Tropical-temperate Ocean waters worldwide
Diet: Carnivore: fish
Length: up to 7”
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Fangtooth fish are also named the orgefish.
- Fangtooth live in the deep depths of the ocean.
- They have large heads and small bodies.
- Fangtooth fish can eat prey that is almost as large as they are.
- Fangtooth have the largest teeth of any fish in proportion to their body.
- Their lower teeth fit into specialized pockets in their skulls when their mouths are closed.
Wow! Fangtooth fish are crazy weird looking! The deep, deep ocean is full of alien looking creatures! Would you love to be a deep sea explorer?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, entertainment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife
Tags: animals, children, conservation, education, environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife
2 Comments
REALLY SCARY REPTILIAN TUESDAY!
HALLOWEEN WEEK!
REALLY SCARY REPTILIAN TUESDAY!
We’re staying in the grasslands of Africa on this Really Scary Reptilian Tuesday to meet one of the most deadly snakes in the world. We’ll be looking for this reptile from the safari truck so everyone stays safe! Are you ready?
MEET THE BLACK MAMBA!
Range/Habitat: East-South Africa/ forests-grasslands
Diet: Carnivore: birds, small mammals
Length: 8 ¼-11 ft
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Black Mambas are very fast, they can reach speeds of 12 ½ mph.
- Black mambas are extremely venomous.
- They are a brown/gray color. They get their name from the color of the inside of their mouths.
- Black mambas are very territorial.
- They are diurnal (active during the day).
- Black mambas can be fatal to humans.
Black mambas are very dangerous and should be watched from a distance for sure! These fast snakes are definitely best left alone!
Categories: adventure, africa, Animals, Children, conservation, education, entertainment, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife
2 Comments
Aesop’s Fables Puppet Style!
Aesop’s Fables Rocks!
We went on Friday to catch the new show at the Center for Puppetry Arts, “The Tortoise, The Hare and Other Aesop’s Fables”. This fabulous puppet show aimed at entertaining the little ones, sure does the trick! You sit down and are immediately drawn into a carnival atmosphere with colorful paintings of some of the most famous fables around! Then the lights go down and here comes Cutie and Patootie, our storytellers for the show! These two ladies sing and dance and tell the fables with all kinds of puppetry and audience participation. That’s right folks we were able to sing and dance along with Cutie and Patootie!
The show tells five fables, including The Mouse and the Lion, Country Mouse/City Mouse and the Fox and The Crane. Each fable is told through different music and types of puppetry. County Mouse/City Mouse was told using shadow puppets. The country mouse goes to see her city cousin and along the way she meets all kinds of animals, including a horse! The best part of this fable was singing along like a horse! Edmond just loved it!
The Fox and the Crane included a giant crane puppet that looked like it was 10 feet tall! It probably was our most favorite puppet in the whole show! The Mouse and Lion had some excellent dancing and of course we were tapping our toes through the whole number!
We don’t want to give away any more of the show, so that you will be surprised! We really enjoyed ourselves! The music, costumes and puppets make for an interactive and fun show that everyone will enjoy! “The Tortoise, The Hare and Other Aesop’s Fables”, opens Aug 2nd and runs til Sept 7th. For more information about tickets and times check out the Center for Puppetry Arts website! Grab your dancing shoes and get down to the Center as fast you can!
After you see the show, you can make your own mouse puppet! Look how cute he is!
Today’s Post
The Adventures of Ellie and Edmond 