There are over 1,000 different species of bats! With so many species how do you choose a favourite? We’ve got you covered, take this quiz to find out which bat species you are most like.
10 National Parks to Help You Complete Your Outdoor Explorer Mission
Looking to complete your Outdoor Explorer Mission but not quite sure where to start? Let Parks Canada help you out! From the Pacific to the Atlantic and everything in between, you’ll be able to find a great spot to get outside and start exploring…and it’s probably a lot closer than you think!
Check out this list of National Parks that can help you discover the natural world around you.
Haven’t accepted your Outdoor Explorer Mission yet? Click this button to get started
1. Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (3hr from Vancouver; 30min from Victoria)
If you’re looking for reefs, seals, and singing shorebirds, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is the place for you! With 15 islands and one of the most at risk natural regions in south Canada, there’s tons of learning and exploration to be done. To discover the wonders of this beautiful reserve and to learn how to plan your Mission trip, see the Parks Canada website.
2. Banff National Park (1hr from Calgary)
Settled in the slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains lies Banff National Park, Canada’s first ever national park! From glaciers to forests and bighorn sheep to bears, there is a never-ending amount of sights to take in! To learn more about this amazing place, click here.
3. Elk Island National Park (30min from Edmonton)
With some of the best wildlife viewing in North America, Elk Island National Park is a great place to spot animals, both large and little! Hike the trails, get stuck in a bison traffic jam, or watch a beautiful sunrise – there’s year-round adventure waiting for you. Learn about the ample activities offered at Elk Island National Park by clicking here.
4. Riding Mountain National Park (3hr from Winnipeg)
There are endless opportunities to roam this vast prairie parkland and reconnect with the best of Manitoba and Canada. Close your eyes and listen for the rustling footsteps of animals in the woods or hike through the Aspen forest and past the beaver-filled lakes. There is plenty to see and do and you can learn more about it right here!
5. Rouge National Urban Park (within GTA, 45min from Toronto)
Right in the backyard of Ontario’s capital is North America’s largest urban park! There are plenty of sights, sounds & scents for explorers to experience – frogs, flowers, birds and beaches make Rouge Park a definite must-visit. Find out what else Rouge Park has to offer at their Parks Canada website.
6. Fathom Five National Marine Park (4hr from Toronto)
Wander the shorelines, see 400 million year old rocks, view the 43 different species of orchids, or enjoy the company of birds at Fathom Five National Marine Park. One of the best activities is a visit to Flowerpot Island, famous for its rock pillars, rare plants, scenery, hikes and even caves! Click here to help you plan your trip to this impressive marine conservation area.
7. Thousand Islands National Park (1.5hr from Ottawa; 3hr from Toronto)
For a truly unique explorer experience that will be done mostly by boat, plan a trip to Thousand Islands National Park. With over 20 islands, windswept pines, and northern wilderness, Parks Canada works hard to protect the many species that call this place home. By clicking here, you can begin to plan your unforgettable trip.
8. La Mauricie National Park (2hr from Montreal; 2hr from Quebec City)
Lakes and forests are a big part of this natural playground, perfect for those looking to enjoy themselves outdoors. With over 50 species of mammals, 19 species of reptiles and amphibians, extensive aquatic habitats, and over 200 types of birds, there won’t be a single dull moment at La Mauricie National Park! For more information on what you can do during your visit, head to the Parks Canada website.
9. Fundy National Park (1hr from Moncton; 3.5hr from Halifax)
With the world’s largest tides changing twice a day, a visit to Fundy National Park means you can discover the wonders at the bottom of the bay during low tide and the surging excitement at high tide. There are over 25 trails that await you, as well as migrating birds, pristine forests, and even the chance to snorkel with salmon! Make the most of your trip and click here to plan ahead.
10. Kluane National Park and Reserve (2.5hr from Whitehorse)
Nestled in the mountains of the Yukon Territory, Kluane National Park and Reserve has Canada’s highest peak, largest ice field, and even North America’s most diverse grizzly bears! Full of big and tall natural wonders, Kluane is also home to many smaller creatures including marmots, foxes, beavers, and hares. Check out what else Kluane has to offer and start planning your extraordinary visit!
Need some ATK IN-spir-ACTION? Check out these craft ideas!
The ATK in Action Mission is about channeling your inner artist to share the knowledge of an elder. We asked you to listen to a story about nature and then turn that story into a piece of art, making sure it features one of the animals in the Mission Brief.
So far you’ve sent us tons of awesome pictures of your amazing artwork. Just look at these fantastic submissions!
You’ve made some incredible drawings.
Some of you have made art out of paper and others used a computer.
And some of you have thought outside the box by making a necklace and clay sculptures.
But we don’t want you to stop there! We want you to keep creating amazing artwork. That’s why we’ve collected some other craft examples that you can use as inspiration.
If you have a toilet paper roll or some felt, you can make one of these:
If you have an egg carton, some paper or an old sock, you can make one of these:
Or if you have a paper bag, you can make one of these:
Those were just a few ideas to get you started. Accept the ATK in Action Mission and let your imagination run wild!
Protecting Caribou in Torngat Mountains National Park
Oh hi! I’m caribou living in Torngat Mountains National Park. I’ve seen fewer and fewer of my kind around these parts and I’m getting pretty worried. Solving the mystery of the missing caribou won’t be easy and it will take a team of animal saving heroes to get to the bottom of it!
First, let me tell you a bit about my home. The Torngat Mountains are found way up at the top of Labrador. We live here with a ton of other animals like Arctic hares, voles and even polar bears, along with many Inuit.
In fact, our Inuit friends are some of the people we have to thank for getting this area turned into a national park in 2005. The park’s name actually comes from the Inuktitut word “Torngait” which means “place of spirits.” Partnering with the Government of Canada, Inuit wanted to figure out where the park should go and how big it should be. This not only allows all of us caribou to roam free, but it also protects the traditional Inuit way of life.
We’ve been living side by side with Inuit for as long as we can remember so they know a lot about us, like how we’re built for snow. We use our big wide hooves like shovels to dig through the snow to find lichen (our favourite food), and they also help us walk on top of the snow instead of sink in it. We also have special fur that keeps us warm in the winter, not to mention some pretty awesome antlers.
But this information is something you can find out without ever seeing a caribou. Inuit know even more about caribou because they’ve not only seen us, they’ve lived with us for generations. That’s why I’m so happy that the scientists and Inuit are working together to find what’s happening to caribou like me!
Right now, Inuit know much more about my herd than herd than scientists do, so the scientists are listening closely. They’re learning about the places that caribou like me live, how we act, where we might have moved and how healthy we are. By bringing Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK), like the knowledge held by Inuit, together with Western science, they will hopefully be able to help keep us caribou healthy and around for a long time.
To learn more about ATK and how it’s helping to protect animals, accept the ATK in Action Mission. Plus, you’ll also be able to do an awesome craft, which I can’t do because I don’t have fingers.
Well I should get back to eating. Oh no…what did I step in? I better take care of this. See you next time!
ATK in Action Extras: More Aboriginal Stories and Teachings
There are many examples of Aboriginal traditional stories and teachings. You can see some in the ATK in Action Mission Brief but we couldn’t wait to share more with you.
Tiam (Moose)
For many years traditions of the harvest were lost because there were no Moose. For most of the 1900s, there were so few Tiam on Cape Breton Island that it was illegal to harvest them. Over the years, the Tiam population has come back and with the return of Mi’kmaq rights, traditional ways are being rediscovered. All parts of Tiam are used. Their hides have many uses, including clothing, wigwams, and moccasins. Fat is used for skin ailments and insect repellent. Antlers are used as bowls and can be cut and carved for beads, buttons, fishhooks, arrowheads, knife handles, and more. Bladders are used as water containers, like a canteen. Intestines are used as thick ropes. The stomach is used as medicine. Mi’kmaq communities are happy to have revitalized the traditional Moose harvest and participate in practices and events that celebrate their return.
Source: http://www.uinr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Tiam-Moose-Fact-Sheet.pdf
Apistane’wj (American Marten)
One day Kluskap met a very old woman, Nukum, who said “I am your grandmother.” Kluskap asked how she arrived in the Mi’kmaq world. Nukumi said that she owed her existence to the rock, the dew, and Naku’set, the Sun. One chilly morning a rock became covered with dew. By midday, the rock got warm and then hot. With the power of Naku’set, the rock was given a body of an old woman. Nukumi was very wise and knowledgeable. She told Kluskap that he would gain spiritual strength by listening to and respecting her. Kluskap called Apistane’wj who was swimming in the river. The Marten came ashore and Kluskap asked him to give up his life so that he and his grandmother could live. Apistane’wj agreed. Nukumi then took Apistane’wj and quickly snapped his neck and placed him on the ground. For the first time Kluskap asked Creator to use his power to give life back to Apistane’wj because he didn’t want to upset the animals. Apistane’wj went back to the river and in his place lay another Marten. Kluskap and Apistane’wj became friends and brothers forever. Because of Apistane’wj’s sacrifice, Kluskap called all the animals his brothers and sisters from that point on.
Source: http://www.uinr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Apistanewj-Marten-Fact-Sheet.pdf
How Rabbit Got His Long Ears
One day, Rabbit decided to play a trick on the animals and try to convince them that the sky was falling. The animals knew Rabbit too well to believe such nonsense and were too busy to be bothered by Rabbit’s trickery because they were working hard to prepare for the winter. The animals warned Rabbit to prepare for the winter, but when the moon came out, all the animals notice that the moon appeared larger than usual. Rabbit used the moon’s size to his advantage and managed to convince all the animals that the sky was falling, causing them all to panic.
He told Beaver, “Did you know that the sun was not going to rise again?” Of course Beaver told Squirrel and Squirrel told Chipmunk and Chipmunk told Skunk and so on. The story soon got around and all the animals were worried. They said, “If the sun is not going to shine anymore, it will be dark and cold like winter. We will have to gather our food and get ready right now.” Squirrel was busy gathering all the nuts he could find. Even Bear was worried. He began to eat and eat the blueberries all around him, so he could grow fat and store his food. Everyone was busy getting ready for the sun not to shine again that they had no time to play and Rabbit really thought this was funny. He hid in the bushes, laughing and laughing as he watched the other animals all running around.
Along came Glooscap. Normally the animals were all very glad to see Glooscap. They usually gathered around to talk to him. But this day no one ran up to greet him. Glooscap asked Bear, “How are you? How is everything going?” Bear said, “I don’t have time to talk to you.” Glooscap just kept walking. No one paid any attention to him. Glooscap went back to Bear and said, “What’s wrong with you? You’re not talking to me. What is going on? Talk to me. Something is wrong!” “Well, don’t you know?” Bear said. “The sun is not going to shine anymore and we have to hurry up. I have to get ready for winter now. That is what everyone is doing.” Glooscap told bear, “Whoever told you that story is lying. It’s not true.”
So Glooscap called a meeting with all the animals and they all gathered around him in a circle. He wanted to get to the bottom of it. He said, “Who told you Bear?” Bear said, “Raccoon told me.” And Raccoon said, “Well, Chipmunk told me.” Everyone said who they heard the story from, all the way down to Beaver. Beaver said, “It was Rabbit that told me.” Glooscap said, “Well, where is Rabbit?” Rabbit was really scared, so he hid in the bushes. Glooscap knew for sure, that Rabbit had started the story. “Where is Rabbit?” he asked again. “Not here. He is gone. He must be hiding,” Beaver said. Glooscap went and looked in the bushes. He found Rabbit and when he did he grabbed him by his ears and lifted him up. That is how Rabbit got his long ears.
Wabanaki version, adapted from Silas T. Rand and Eva Apukjij Keewesoo Nicholas (We’koqma’q, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia)
Nanabosho, Soaring Eagle and the Great Sturgeon
One day Nanabosho and Soaring Eagle went out fishing and caught many fish. The trickster Nanabosho stole all the trout for himself and this left Soaring Eagle and his family without fish. They had no food for the winter. The spirits felt sorry for Soaring Eagle and his family and invited Soaring Eagle to a feast. They spent the evening teasing, laughing and joking with Soaring Eagle. After Soaring Eagle was fed, the spirits gave him food to take home to his family. The Trout spirit told Soaring Eagle that he and his wife needed to make twine so that Soaring Eagle could use it to tie and lower his oldest son into a hole that he would make in the ice. This would allow his son to catch some trout and then be pulled out of the hole. Trout told him that as soon as he had enough fish to live on for the winter, he had to stop fishing. Soaring Eagle and his family did as they were told and were rewarded with plentiful fish. Soaring Eagle became greedy though and wanted more fish so they kept fishing. Soon, the twine broke and Soaring Eagle lost his son to the Great Lake Sturgeon.
With Otter’s help, Soaring Eagle went to see the Great Sturgeon to get his son back. Great Sturgeon told Soaring Eagle that he had taken too many fish and that is why his son was taken. After Soaring Eagle returned many of the fish, Great Sturgeon gave Soaring Eagle his son back and told him “ Let this be a lesson to you. Take only what you need”. Soaring Eagle and his son returned to the surface and Soaring Eagle gave Otter the excess fish.
Adapted from ‘Nanabosho, Soaring Eagle and the Great Sturgeon’, Joe McLellan, Pemmican Publications 1993.
Halibut
Halibut is an abundant food source, the Kwagiulth believed the Halibut threw off its skin and fins to emerge as the first Human after the Great Flood subsided. The Halibut is a flat fish that starts life swimming in a vertical plane and eventually turns over on its side to become a bottom feeder. The underneath eye moves to the upper side, giving the fish its unique appearance.
Hummingbird
Hummingbird symbolizes beauty, intelligence, and love. He sends messages to the people of things to come. A messenger of joy, this beautiful tiny bird is also called Sah Sen and represents friendship, playfulness and is a symbol of good luck in Northwest Coastal Native art. It is a positive sign to see Sah Sen prior to a major event such as hunting or travelling to another village. Hummingbird’s ability to hover back and forth at great speeds is believed to be a skill for guiding the people; if they fall behind Hummingbird can easily back up to keep pace.
Loon
Loon symbolizes peace, tranquillity, communication, serenity, & generosity. With a generous and giving nature, Loon features significantly in the art and mythology of Canadian First Nations Peoples. Loon is famous for its unique and often haunting voice, and is respected for its knowledge of various realms. Animals with unique vocal talents are held in high regard by Northwest Coast peoples, who traditionally perceive words, voice and song as carriers of power and magic. Loon is associated with copper and wealth. In the years of the great flood that took over our lands, a loon carried a willow branch across the water bringing hope to the nation, by telling the people the water was receding.
Butterfly
Butterfly symbolizes metamorphosis, balance and grace. The Butterfly has the ability to accept change, is also a messenger to our people. The Butterfly is a multicultural symbol of the beauty of nature, appearing in numerous examples of nature scenes of many artistic styles. Butterflies are included as elements of these scenes because they most effectively represent all positive characteristics of nature.
Frog
Frog symbolizes cleansing, peace and rebirth. The Frog is a sign to our people to put away the winter activities and prepare or a new season. In Northwest Aboriginal Culture, a Frog is a great communicator and often represents the common ground or voice of the people. A Frog embodies magic and good fortune connected with shaman or medicine man and with spiritual and therapeutic cleansing. Frog’s songs are believed to contain divine power and magic.
This is a broad overview of general symbolisms from many First Nations across the Pacific Northwest Coast. Each Nation has more specific beliefs and meaning for animals that relate to their history, legends, stories and family crests. For more info visit http://shop.slcc.ca/legends-symbology.
The Inukshuk
The mysterious stone figures known as Inukshuk can be found throughout the circumpolar world. Inukshuk, the singular of Inukshuk, means “in the likeness of a human” in the Inuit language. They are monuments made of unworked stones that are used by the Inuit for communication and survival. The traditional meaning of the inukshuk is “Someone was here” or “You are on the right path.”
Source: http://www.inukshukgallery.com/inukshuk.html
Bowhead Whale
The bowhead was a very important part of the Inuit way of life. Our ancestors hunted the whale with respect and no part of the whale was wasted. Here are some of the ways each of the different parts can be used:
1) Whale Oil – used to light the qulliq (oil lamp)
2) Maktak – maktak is a healing food, scraped blubber could be used as a ‘Band-Aid”
3) Whale meat – healthy food for the entire Inuit camp, including dog teams. Meat was shared
4) Whale bones – used to make qamutiit (sled) runners, tent frames, sod house frames, tools and carvings
5) Baleen Plates – very flexible; used as harpoon lines, dog boot straps, and as ties for a qajaq (kayak) or qamutiit (sled).
Source: http://www.inuitmyths.com/downloads/kaak_eng_sm.pdf, Qikiqtani Inuit Association Nunavut Bilingual Education Society
Owl and the Siksik – Qikiqtani Region, Nunavut Version
Siksik: Arctic ground squirrel
Qamutiit: Sleds
There once was an owl who hunted siksiks for his family. It had been a long time since the owl had caught a siksik. But today would be different. “Siksiks go in and out of their dens,” thought the owl. “Today I will find a siksik den and wait there until I see one.” The owl found a siksik den and sat beside it. When a siksik finally came out, the owl jumped quickly to his feet. He blocked the entrance of the den. The siksik couldn’t go back in. The siksik stood paralyzed with fear. The owl was so grateful and happy that he caught the siksik. He called out to his family:
“Two dog teams, come. I’ve caught a siksik. Come! Let us load the qamutiit with our catch!” The owl was confident and happy. Even though he had not yet killed the little ground squirrel, he again called for the dog teams to come.
“You are so excited and so happy,” said the siksik. “Why don’t you dance?”
“Yes, siksik! I am so grateful. I will finally have some meat! Yes, I will dance!” The owl danced a grateful dance.
“Ah, yes, look at the sky and dance,” said the siksik. “But spread your legs, owl. Make more room … dance faster.” The owl was so grateful. He danced faster.
The siksik sang again to the owl: “Look at the sky and dance, owl. Spread your legs. Make more room … dance faster.” The owl danced and danced. His legs spread further apart, and he danced a very happy dance. But he forgot to watch the siksik. Finally, the siksik saw his chance. He ran through the owl’s legs, and hurried into his den. Siksiks are known to chirp like a bird as they go into their den. As the owl heard this, he realized the siksik had tricked him. He said: “Iaa, crazy, two dog teams go back, go back!”
That is what happened.
Source: Qikiqtani Inuit Association Nunavut Bilingual Education Society
Super Ranger Stephany’s Fantastic Fundraisers!
We are sending a warm welcome to Super Ranger Stephany as she joins the Wall of Fame for her outstanding efforts fundraising to help protect animals!
Super Ranger Stephany started as an Earth Ranger at her summer camp where she raised $75 by selling arts & crafts to protect the Eastern Wolf. This past year Stephany raised a WHOPPING $500 for the Little Brown Bat by selling popcorn and hosting multiple bake sales at her school!
To add to her list of amazing work, Super Ranger Stephany took on multiple Earth Rangers Missions!
Stephany planted seedlings in her school garden for the Pollinator Power Mission, built birdfeeders for the For the Birds Mission, and even discovered that most people preferred the taste of tap water over bottled water in the Water Taste Challenge!
Stephany is truly an inspirational Super Ranger and she would like other kids to know – “Humans have done great damage to the earth and should fix the damage. If the Earth is destroyed we will have no planet to live on. Lots of humans do not see this, but lots of people do, like us Earth Rangers.”
Thanks Super Ranger Stephany, keep up the amazing work!
Super Ranger Zoey’s Biggest Battery Blitz to Date!
Looking back at this year’s Battery Blitz Mission, many Earth Rangers Members did an amazing job. One in particular, Super Ranger Zoey, went above & beyond!
Zoey, age 9, collected more than 1600 batteries, nearly double the amount (850) from her last Battery Blitz Mission.
This Super Ranger didn’t just stop there!
Zoey has earned her spot on the Wall of Fame after completing other missions like the Pollinator Power, Shoreline Saver, and the Spring Green-Up Challenge. With the help of her brother, Zoey spent several days collecting garbage from her neighbourhood and a local beach.
Zoey’s a true Animal-Saving Hero and encourages others to protect animals and as Zoey would say – “Once an animal is gone, it’s gone forever. It’s important to keep the environment clean from garbage and chemicals because it hurts everyone and everything.”
Super Ranger Zoey started her environmental work when she heard about Earth Rangers from friends at school. She started her amazing work with a Bring Back the Wild campaign to save the Swift Fox raising over $50.
Thank you Super Ranger Zoey for all your hard work. Keep up the awesome job!
Amelia’s Amazing Contribution
Love is in the air, especially when it comes to the love Super Ranger Amelia gave on her birthday and this past Valentine’s Day to help protect Little Brown Bats!
Amelia became an Earth Rangers Member in December when she saw the Earth Rangers Assembly at her school. Since then, she has been working hard to fundraise to help protect Little Brown Bats.
Recently, Amelia raised a whopping $109 at her Bring Back the Wild Birthday Party, where instead of asking for birthday presents, she asked for donations for her Little Brown Bat Campaign!
Super Ranger Amelia also came up with the idea of creating homemade Valentine’s Day cards and selling them around her neighborhood. She explained to each neighbor the importance of Little Brown Bats to our ecosystem and how they are under threat from White Nose Syndrome.
We’re excited to share that Amelia raised another $96 from her Valentine’s Day cards. Super Ranger Amelia and her family would like to thank all their supporters who generously donated to her Bring Back the Wild Campaign.
A big thank you to Amelia for all you are doing to help protect Little Brown Bats!
Top Ten Facts All About Animal…Poop!
We all know that everybody poops, but if you think all animals poop the same, be prepared to be surprised! Check out this top ten list of poopy animal facts and let us know which one is your favourite!
10) Elephant POO-APER!
Because elephants only digest 45% of their food, and their waste is mostly made up of fiber, the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Northern Thailand developed a method for making elephant dung into paper. First, poo fibers are cleaned before spinning and framing. Then they’re cut and the paper is turned into handmade notebooks. An elephant can generate enough dung to make over 100 pages of paper a day! Think about using Elephant POO-APER to write and tell us all about your next Earth Rangers’ Mission!
9) Some poo on the go, while others poo on the down low!
There are some animals like elephants, cows and ungulates (like deer) that poo on the go and barely bat an eyelash, but there are others who poo on the down low. Some cat species, like the one you might have at home, do their business in private and clean up after by burying it. This is not because they are obsessed with cleanliness but rather because they have a history of using urine and feces to mark their territory. Cat doo doo may all smell the same to us – mee-yew! – but cats can tell their waste apart from another’s thanks to unique chemical scent markers called pheromones that are found in their urine and feces.
Some dominant wild cats like lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars that may be competing for territory won’t bury their poop as a way of signaling that they have claimed the areas as their own. Smaller or more submissive wild cats, like African servals (hi Sammy!), bury their feces to make sure that dominant cats don’t feel challenged.
8) Llamas helps fight poo-llution in Bolivia!
Llama poo has special pollution-fighting powers! It helps clean the dirty water that comes from mines by diluting acid and removing dissolved metals. This technique was originally developed in the United Kingdom with cow and horse manure – who knew poo could help clean water?! Gross but cool!
7) Calling all coffee lovers!
One of the most expensive kinds of coffee is made from beans that are collected from a palm civet’s poop! It’s called kopi luwak. We decided to rename it “kofi yuckee!”
6) Bat poo packs some serious power!
During World War I soldiers used dried bat “guano” (another word for poo), to make explosives! How? Well, the bat’s droppings consist largely of saltpeter (or potassium nitrate), a key ingredient in explosives and fireworks. Bat guano was also used by United States as early as the War of 1812 for making gunpowder. And during the Civil War nearly every large Gray Bat cave in the South was harvested for its guano.
You can help protect bats and their homes by starting a Little Brown Bat Bring Back the Wild Campaign today!
5) Poop is a great way to hide!? But hey… not in real poop!
Some species of spiders like the bird dropping spider disguise themselves to look like poop to ward off predators, and a bird called the double-banded courser even disguises its eggs to look like poop.
4) Sloths Poo Dance!
Sloths might be known for chilling high up in the trees most of the time, but they journey down every once and a while. Once a week, they will make a special trip from their tree hang outs to do their “business” in what some experts call THE POO DANCE. Don’t try this at home!
3) Poop that plants a sea garden!
The tambaqui, a species of fish found in the Amazon and all over South America, eats sea-fruit and plant seeds. Since seeds can be tough to digest, a lot of them come out in the fish’s poop! These seeds then can get caught in the right water current and travel up to 5 km away before sinking to the ground and getting replanted. These fish are superb sea gardeners and they don’t even know it!
2) Animal rocket poo!
Hippos and penguins rocket into second place on this list of craziest poop facts because they launch their poo! Ew! To attract a mate, hippos use something that we like to call a rotor tail move, where they spin their tail to launch their poop under water. Penguins also send their poo flying, but they do it to keep their beautiful feathers free from doo-doo!
1) Lighten your load before take off!!
If Earth Rangers has visited your school, it’s likely one of our amazing Animal Ambassadors flew over your head. But how did we make sure you didn’t get pooped on? Birds of prey, like Peregrine Falcons, tend to poop before take-off to lighten their load when flying!
You can help protect Peregrine Falcons by starting your own Bring Back the Wild Campaign!
Resources
kidsanimalstation.com/2012/12/14/10-cool-facts-about-animal-poop/
sparknotes.com/mindhut/2015/01/28/fourteen-fascinatingly-poop-tastic-facts-about-animal-poop
mentalfloss.com/article/17024/6-unexpected-uses-animal-dung
livescience.com/33147-why-do-cats-bury-their-poop.html
Introducing Magnificent Madelyn
We’d like to give a warm welcome to Madelyn, our newest Super Ranger! Madelyn’s fundraising efforts over the past month will certainly go a long way in helping to protect Little Brown Bats.
Super Ranger Madelyn jumped at the chance to become an Earth Ranger and help protect animals after seeing an Earth Rangers Public Service Announcement on TV.
Last month, Madelyn started her very own Little Brown Bat Bring Back the Wild Campaign. She created a presentation for her teacher to give to her classmates on why Little Brown Bats need our help. Madelyn also sent out emails to family and friends asking for donations and she was able to raise a MASSIVE $325!
But Madelyn’s not going to stop here. She just recently raised her Bring Back the Wild fundraising goal to $500! Madelyn is also planning to do a battery collection from local neighbors and businesses when the weather warms up.
In her spare time, Super Ranger Madelyn spends her time reading through the Earth Rangers website learning about energy efficiency. She takes what she has learned from the website and teaches it to her classmates. She is a true environmentalist with a huge passion for protecting animals!
Madelyn would like other kids to know that animals are important for our ecosystem. “They need to be treated with respect as many are going extinct and that’s not right! We need to protect them as they cannot protect themselves.”
