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Top Ten Facts All About Animal…Poop!

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February 19, 2016

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

Earth Rangers

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January 15, 2016

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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.”

From one Earth Ranger to another, keep up the amazing work Madelyn!

What Animal Ambassador Are You?

Earth Rangers

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December 4, 2015

593

The Earth Rangers team is a wild bunch, we’ve got foxes, lemurs, a lynx and more! These amazing Animal Ambassadors visit schools and community events to educate and inspire audiences to help protect animals. They are quite the crew and no two are alike! Take the quiz below to find out what Animal Ambassador you are most like.

A Message From Super Ranger Adam

Earth Rangers

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December 2, 2015

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Super Ranger Adam has been really busy taking action to help protect animals! He’s taken part in multiple missions and has written us a message all about his animal saving activities.

Adam, completing his Operation Conservation Mission! — Adam, completing his Operation Conservation Mission

I am Adam .I became an earth ranger few weeks ago.

I started with the opperation conversation mission. I got shocked after reading the information because my family and I were wasting too much energy.
I started looking for culprits all over the house ,and passed on all the information to my family.

My dad used to brush his teeth and shave with the water running I started following him and turn off the water. My mother loves coffee but she keeps the coffee maker plugged in. But now she unplugs the coffee maker and other unused small appliances. I did unplug the unused electronics in the house.

But even thought I couldn’t sleep well over night . I thought there was a small ghost comes to my house at night and use my toilet. Yes because every night I could hear the flush sound. I told my dad he laughed and went to check the toilet. He realized that the flapper should be replaced. And he did it the same day. Now I can sleep well and save water.

See you next mission.
Adam

kid bird feeder — Adam, completing his For the Birds Mission

Top Ten Cutest Animal Ambassador Moments

Earth Rangers

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November 30, 2015

282

The Earth Rangers’ Animal Ambassadors have all kinds of crazy adventures, and we’ve got the photos to prove it! Countdown through Hudson, Koho, Cosmo and Forrest’s cutest moments, then take the gang home when you pick up one of our new Animal Ambassador Stuffed Animals.

“Follow me, adventure’s this way!”

“We’re so fluffy and cute!”

Red fox cubs — Forrest and his brother Finn as cubs

“I’ve spotted something…I’ll attack it with my laser eyes!”

“Hey you, whatcha up to?”

“Look deep into my eyes…you are getting veeerrry sleeepy”

cosmo the ring tailed lemur — Cosmo the ring-tailed lemur

“I’m totally going to win this game of hide-and-seek”

Forrest the fox in leaves — Forrest the red fox

“O’man, is it my turn to vacuum again?”

hudson lynx with vacume — Hudson the lynx

“Ultimate Brother Fighting Force”

red_foxes_playing — Red fox brothers Forrest and Finn

“I got it guys! I’ve saved us from another pumpkin attack!”

Hudson playing with a pumpkin — Hudson the lynx

“Can I get the door for you?”

Cosmo ring tailed lemur — Cosmo the ring-tailed lemur

Super Ranger Jacob’s Birthday, Missions and More!

Earth Rangers

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November 2, 2015

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Super Ranger Jacob’s Birthday, Missions and More!

Super Ranger Jacob loves being an Earth Ranger! He knows how important it is to help protect animals and the environment and he’s doing his part to make a difference. Here’s what Jacob has to say about what it’s like to be an Earth Ranger.

Hi, my name is Jacob and I am an Earth Ranger. I love being an Earth Ranger. Last year I had a Bring Back the Wild birthday party and instead of birthday gifts, I raised $75 to help protect the Beluga Whales .I discovered Earth Rangers on a commercial I seen on TV. After seeing the commercial, I realized that animals and the environment do need our help so I went on the computer and signed up to be an Earth Ranger. So far, I have completed 9 missions, and each of them was a lot of fun to do and I enjoyed learning about how we can help to save the environment and the animals. I really like it when I see my achievements and badges on my Earth Rangers website page. I also received an Earth Rangers t-shirt for a Christmas gift and I received some pins to wear on my shirt for raising money to save the Beluga Whales. I enjoy wearing my shirt and when people ask what an Earth Ranger is, I like to explain how to become an Earth ranger and what we do. Many of my friends and other kids in the neighbourhood have also become Earth Rangers after I told them about it. I explained the missions and how much I enjoy being an Earth Ranger. If you want to help save animals with over one hundred thousand earth rangers that are already saving animals go to https: www.earthrangers.com and click the green button at the top that says ‘Become an Earth Ranger’. My family and I also attended the solid waste authority in our city to learn more about recycling (what can be recycled and how animals can be hurt and killed if we let garbage into our environment and water sources). We also learned about the importance of bringing paint, batteries and hazardous materials directly the dump and not throwing them in our garbage and landfills. We collect these kinds of things from our neighbours, family and friends and bring them to the dump to make sure they don’t go in the garbage.
Sincerely,
Ranger Jacob

Happy Halloween!

Earth Rangers

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October 31, 2015

55

Have fun, stay safe and remember to help protect bats while you are trick-or-treating by bringing your bat donation box. With your support, we can help protect the Little Brown Bat, a species that’s facing serious population decline because of white nose syndrome.

Earth Ranger Owen, the Turtle Saver

Earth Rangers

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October 1, 2015

38

Earth Ranger Owen has always loved reptiles; he even has a pet bearded dragon! Owen doesn’t just hang out with his own pet dragon though; he also sets out into his community to protect turtles.

Here’s what Owen has to say about protecting turtles “I choose to help save turtles as they have been on earth for a very long time and we need them to stay and they live in my neighborhood.”

Owen recycling batteries — Owen completing his Battery Blitz Mission

Owen noticed that the turtles crossing the road near his home were being accidentally run over so he set out to help protect them. How do you help a turtle cross the road? Owen decided that a sign would help by letting drivers know that they need to slow down and watch for turtles. This is really important work because crossing busy roads is the biggest threat to turtles in Ontario. For nine months Owen and his parents teamed up with the Ministry of Natural Resources to prove that the area is habitat for endangered turtles. After all that hard work, we are excited to share that Owen successfully got a turtle crossing sign installed on his road on Friday, September 4.

Owen trutle crossing — Earth Ranger Owen and his turtle crossing sign

Earth Ranger Owen is an inspiring example of someone passionate about protecting animals who is making a difference in his own community. Owen isn’t just saving turtles though, he has also taken part in lots of Earth Ranger Missions. Owen completed the Battery Blitz Mission by collecting and recycling over 100 batteries! Owen also made a bird feeder from an old milk jug as part of the For the Birds Mission and planted a garden for bees for the Pollinator Power Mission.

We asked Earth Ranger Owen why he thinks we should protect animals, here’s what he said “We want the animals to be on earth for a long time and we want our earth to be safe for our animals. If we protect the environment we can save our earth.”

Parks Canada and the Atlantic Salmon Rescue

Earth Rangers

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September 28, 2015

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Parks Canada and the Atlantic Salmon Rescue

In Canada, Atlantic salmon can be found from the southern tip of Nova Scotia to the most northern rivers of Quebec, through Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Atlantic salmon were once found in every country that had rivers that flowed into the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea including the United States, Norway, Russia, France and Spain. Canada is lucky to have a wealth of Atlantic salmon habitat, covering one-third of all Atlantic salmon habitat in the world. Juvenile Atlantic salmon typically spend two to four years in fresh water before migrating to marine waters where they spend the next one to four years. After they’ve grown into adults in salt water, the salmon return to the rivers they grew up in to give birth to the next generation.

Fundy National Park, Point Wolfe River © Parks Canada

Atlantic salmon populations in some areas, like the Inner Bay of Fundy, are endangered; that’s why they need all the help they can get to protect them! Some of the biggest threats they face include habitat loss, climate change and pollution. Salmon are a sensitive species that depend on clean healthy rivers and oceans for their survival. To help species like Atlantic salmon, you can do your part by reducing the amount of plastic waste you produce to keep the Atlantic salmon’s habitat litter free! Take the Water Taste Challenge to help your family cut out disposable bottles. By taking action to help the Atlantic salmon, you’ll be joining other amazing organizations on their salmon saving mission, like Parks Canada.

Atlantic salmon underwater © Parks Canada

Canada’s Salmon Savers

Parks Canada has been working hard to protect Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick’s Fundy National Park. Their salmon saving plan starts out in the spring, when they give a helping hand to young salmon going out to sea for the first time. These young salmon, known as smolts, are caught using a smolt wheel which are placed into the river to catch them as they swim downstream. These smolts are then taken to protected saltwater enclosures, where they can experience the natural conditions of the Bay of Fundy while being protected from predators and taken care of by dedicated staff. These young salmon will stay here for 18 months until they are ready to return to freshwater.

Protected Atlantic Salmon — Protected saltwater enclosure © Parks Canada

Salmon Release

salmon_conservation_parks_canada — Biologists studying the salmon in Fundy National Park © Parks Canada

Once the salmon are grown up, they are fitted with an electronic tag and released in the river where they hatched, where they will swim upstream to their spawning grounds. Biologists with Fundy National Park meet the fish in the fresh water rivers at their spawning areas, where they lay their eggs. These biologists will check the salmon for an electronic tag to see if they are the same fish that Parks Canada helped to raise. So far, this research has shown that the smolt raising is a big success! Since this salmon saving program started in 2009, more Atlantic salmon are returning to the Fundy Rivers.

Want to join Parks Canada’s salmon saving project? If you’re in Fundy National Park in August and September you can! Check out the Swim with Salmon for Science program and you could be trained by biologists to conduct salmon surveys!

volunteer swim with salmon — Swim with Salmon for Science volunteers © Parks Canada

The Merx Super Ranger Family

Earth Rangers

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September 11, 2015

32

Meet the Merx’s family! There are five children in this fab family, and together they’re helping to protect the environment. We first met the Merx family when they came out to build bird houses with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales! Check out this article to hear about their royal adventure: http://www.earthrangers.com/wildwire/super-rangers/a-super-earth-ranger-experience/

Earth Ranger kids with Prince Charles — The Merx family and Earth Ranger friends meeting HRH Prince of Wales

After their princely meetup, the Merx family kept on taking action to save animals and their homes. Seven-year-old Jermaine and Leroy completed the Battery Blitz mission, collecting 20 batteries to recycle! Not to be outdone by his little brothers, 13-year-old Malcom took part in a bunch of missions including Spring Green-Up, Homemade Holiday and the Water Taste Challenge. Malcom also made a bird feeder and hung it in a nearby tree where he spotted 40 birds!

sarah_MacFaith_small — Click here to check out Ann-Sophie’s song

The boys of the Merx family sure are making a difference, but let’s not forget about the girls! Four-year-old Chenoa has accepted the Pollinator Power Mission and fourteen-year-old Ann-Sophie, accepted the Spring Green-up Mission. Ann-Sophie is also using her creativity to raise donations to help protect animals. Ann-Sophie, AkA Sarah MacFaith, sang this song written by her father. This tune is Ann-Sophie’s way of helping to protect animals, with 30% of the funds raised from sales of the song being donated to Earth Rangers.

From singing songs, to building bird feeders, cleaning up ponds and planting 36 trees, the Merx family is keeping busy helping to protect the environment. A big thanks to the whole family for all they’ve done for our planet.