WE SPY!!
After all the fun talking about groundhogs and hedgehogs, we decided to go exploring the woodland habitat where groundhogs live. We spied an animal is very destructive to the local habitat and it’s not humans! Can you guess who we spied?
Posts Tagged With: mammals
A Weather Predicting Woodchuck!
Meet a Weather Predicting Woodchuck…
Otherwise known as:
It’s the day where groundhogs all around the United States predict the weather! This tradition goes back many years, so today I’m going to share some fun facts about these rodents!
- Groundhogs are also known as the Woodchuck.
- 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 burrow in the ground.
- They gorge all fall to fatten up for their hibernation.
- Groundhogs hibernate in the winter.
- They are known to whistle when threatened.
Groundhogs are great little creatures! Who knew they were related to squirrels? Do you have a famous groundhog where you live? Get out your crayons and pencils class and enjoy this groundhog coloring sheet! -Professor Tamandua!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Uncategorized, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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SEA OTTERS!
SEA OTTERS!!
We know we are aware of how stinking cute otters are! These comical creatures have faced being endangered over the years, but with the help of conservationists their numbers are increasing. Come learn some fun facts about these ottertastic mammals!
Sea Otter Fun Facts:
- Sea Otters are members of the weasel family!
- Sea Otters live in the Pacific ocean along the North American shore and the Northern Asian shore.
- Sea Otters spend most of their time in water. They will occasionally come ashore to rest.
- Sea Otters’ fur is water repellant and very thick. They can have up to 1 million furs per square inch.
- Sea Otters role in order to trap air bubbles in their fur. The air bubbles help keep them warm.
- Sea Otters are often found floating on the surface of kelp forests. They will even wrap the kelp around themselves to keep anchored while sleeping
- Sea Otters groom themselves constantly. This helps keep their fur clean and waterproof.
- Sea Otters use rocks to break some of their prey, including crabs and sea urchins.
- Sea Otters help keep the balance in a kelp forest. One of their favorite prey, sea urchins eat kelp; and without the otters to keep the urchin population in check, the kelp would be gone!
There are so many reasons to love sea otters and to protect them! There are many organizations that are working hard to make sure otters have a future in our oceans! Monterey Bay Aquarium has a great sea otter program.
What do you love about otters?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, oceans, science, wildlife
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WE ARE FANIMALY!
WE ARE FANIMALY!!
We have a new We Are Fanimaly for you today! Who’s ready to learn who is related to who?
- Koalas and Wombats are both marsupials.
- Koalas and Wombats are found in Australia.
- Koalas and Wombats are nocturnal.
- Koalas are arboreal (they live in trees).
- Wombats burrow underground.
- Wombats are herbivores; they eat bark, grass, roots and shrubs.
- Koalas are folivores; they eat eucalyptus leaves.
- Koalas and Wombats get most of their water from the leaves they eat.
- Koalas and Wombats are both solitary.
- Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day.
- Wombats can run up to 25 mph.
We love koalas and wombats! These funny marsupials have such unique characteristics. The females’ pouches alone are super cool!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, marsupial, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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LAND DOWN UNDER….
LAND DOWN UNDER…
As you should know from the map that Professor Tamandua gave you, we’re in Australia! Yesterday we spotted a common wombat and we had some correct guesses! High hooves all around! Today we went to find an iconic animal of Australia! This furry creature is one adorable animal and we were lucky enough to meet a few of them, hanging out in some eucalyptus trees! Do you know who it is?
Come meet the Koala!!
Habitat/Range: Eucalyptus forests, Eastern Australia
Weight/Length: 20 lbs/ 23-33″
Diet: Folivore: eucalyptus leaves
Conservation Status: threatened
Fun Koala Facts:
- Koalas need their sleep! They snooze up to 18-20 hours a day!
- They are arboreal! They have sharp claws that help them climb and those trees are a great place to eat and keep safe!
- Man can koalas eat! Koalas need to eat a bunch of eucalyptus to get water and nutrition and that means they munch up to 2 1/2 pounds a day!
- Those eucalyptus leaves are toxic, but koalas have a special bacteria to break down those toxins.
- Koalas are marsupials- not bears! They give birth to teeny joeys that then grow in mom’s pouch!
- These solitary species need their space! Koalas need around 100 trees per animal to be comfy and cozy!
- Koalas are nocturnal! They spend most of their evening chewing on eucalyptus leaves!
- Male koalas have a scent gland on their chest that they rub on trees to mark their territory!
- All of those eucalyptus leaves give koalas a menthol cough drop smell! Ha!
Koalas are amazing and odd creatures! They look like cuddly bears, but they do have claws and can be a bit territorial! Australians are working to ensure they have enough habitat to live! We couldn’t imagine a planet without these cuties!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Uncategorized, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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WE LOVE REINDEER!!!
WE LOVE REINDEER!!
Our first adventure takes us to the chilly North pole to meet a VERY Famous animal, who knows the big guy driving the slay! Grab your coats and let’s go meet some reindeer!
MEET THE REINDEER!
Range/Habitat: North America-Europe-Asia/Tundra-forest
Diet: Herbivore: grasses, moss, lichen
Length/Weight: 4- 7 ¼ ft/ 260-660 lb
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Reindeer are also called caribou.
- They vary in color and size depending on where they live. Reindeer that live closest to the arctic are white in color.
- Both female and male reindeer have antlers. Males lose their antlers in the winter.
- Reindeer antlers are covered in a layer of fur called velvet.
- Their noses are specialized to warm cold air before it enters their lungs.
- Reindeer have a four chambered stomach!
- One of their favorite foods is called reindeer moss.
- Reindeer are the only mammal that can see ultraviolet light!
- Some reindeer populations migrate. They can migrate up to 3,000 miles in one year! Whew, they must be tired!
Besides being really neat, reindeer are famous for pulling Santa’s sleigh! We were hoping to meet a real reindeer this year, but we weren’t able to. We are making some antlers out of pipe cleaners though! What’s your favorite thing about reindeer?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: animals, children, conservation, education, environment, holidays, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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GUESS THE ANIMAL!!
GUESS THE ANIMAL!!
Who’s ready to put your thinking caps on and guess who are our mystery animal is?
Your one clue today: Darwin made this animal famous!
WHO IS IT?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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GOING BATTY!
GOING BATTY!
We’re going batty today! We thought it would be fun to talk bats- what makes a bat a bat? Do you have any guesses?
Let’s find out!
- Bats are the only true flying mammal on earth!
- There are over 1,000 different species on earth.
- Bats have specialized wings that help them fly- bat wings have five appendages- including a thumb on top to help them climbs.
- Bat wings are covered in a thin membrane called the patagium.
- Scientists believe that bats evolved around 100 million years ago.
- Bats are nocturnal.
- There are around 1,000 different species of bats.
- Some bats eat insects, some eat fruit and a few species- drink blood.
- Fruit bats are also called flying foxes. They are important as they disperse seeds in their tropical habitats.
- Bats use echolocation to detect prey, especially flying insects.
- Most bats are very social and live in large groups.
- Bat do sleep upside down!
- Bats come in small and large sizes.
We sure do love bats! Now you know a few things that make a bat a bat! They are often feared, but without them we would be in big trouble! We need bats to disperse seeds and to help keep insect populations in check- one brown bat can eat 1,200 mosquitoes an hour! Keep up the good work our flying mammal friends! What do you love about bats?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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GUESS THE ANIMAL!!
GUESS THE ANIMAL!!
Who’s ready to guess another spooky creature! We’re only give you one clue!
Flying mammal named after a creature of the night!
WHO IS IT?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, science, wildlife
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SEA OTTER AWARENESS WEEK!!
SEA OTTER AWARENESS WEEK!
We’re celebrating Sea Otter Awareness Week! We know we are aware of how stinking cute otters are! These comical creatures have faced being endangered over the years, but with the help of conservationists their numbers are increasing. Come learn some fun facts about these ottertastic mammals!
Sea Otter Fun Facts:
- Sea Otters are members of the weasel family!
- Sea Otters live in the Pacific ocean along the North American shore and the Northern Asian shore.
- Sea Otters spend most of their time in water. They will occasionally come ashore to rest.
- Sea Otters’ fur is water repellant and very thick. They can have up to 1 million furs per square inch.
- Sea Otters role in order to trap air bubbles in their fur. The air bubbles help keep them warm.
- Sea Otters are often found floating on the surface of kelp forests. They will even wrap the kelp around themselves to keep anchored while sleeping
- Sea Otters groom themselves constantly. This helps keep their fur clean and waterproof.
- Sea Otters use rocks to break some of their prey, including crabs and sea urchins.
- Sea Otters help keep the balance in a kelp forest. One of their favorite prey, sea urchins eat kelp; and without the otters to keep the urchin population in check, the kelp would be gone!
There are so many reasons to love sea otters and to protect them! There are many organizations that are working hard to make sure otters have a future in our oceans! Monterey Bay Aquarium has a great sea otter program.
What do you love about otters?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, sea otters, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, oceans, science, wildlife
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Today’s Post
The Adventures of Ellie and Edmond 