Caribou Shoes

Much like women who change their shoes from boots in the winter, to sandals in the summer, Caribou hooves change with the season.

Picture from Tumblr

In the summer, when the tundra is soft and wet, the footpads become sponge-like and provide extra traction. In the winter, the pads shrink and tighten, exposing the rim of the hoof, which cuts into the ice and crusted snow to keep it from slipping. This also enables them to dig down through the snow to their favorite food.

Big Baby Blue Whales

Next time you step on the scale and see you've put on a little weight think about this...Blue whale calves gain 200lbs a day, every day for their first year.

Picture from Antarctic Animals

When born, blue whale calves are already 23 feet long and weigh 5,000 pounds, making them larger than most adult mammals. A calf will live off its mother’s milk for the first six months of life, consuming over 100 gallons of it per day.

Lord Baltimore's Bird

 The Baltimore Oriole's name has a rich historical back story.

 Picture from Nature.net

Named because their colors are similar to those on the coat of arms of famous politician Lord Baltimore, the Baltimore oriole is one of the most recognizable birds in the United States.  The Baltimore oriole shares its range with the similar-looking Bullock’s oriole and frequently hybridizes with it. At one time these two birds were thought to be a single species known as the northern oriole.

Crows and Carnage

The American Crow has gotten a bad rap over the years for it's roadkill eating habits and is commonly referred to as a scavenger.  Truth is, carnage is only a very small part of it's diet.

Picture from All About Birds

 Though their bills are large, crows can’t break through the skin of an animal, therefore they must wait for something else to open a carcass or for the carcass to decompose and become tender enough to eat.  Crows will feed on scraps of human food, seeds, nuts, acorns, eggs, stranded fish and other grains.  They also prey on mice, frogs and other small animals. 

Aardwolf Fun Fact

 The aardwolf is in the same family as the hyenas, however there are many differences between the two.  For starters, the aardwolf has a more slender muzzle, sharper ears and a long mane down the midline of it's neck and back.  But the easiest way to tell the difference, is to take a gander at it's feet.

Picture from Aardwolf Alpacas

In comparison to the hyena,  the aardwolf is less of a runner, so the aardwolf's front feet have five toes each, unlike the four-toed hyena.

The Anteater's Non-Paw Crawl

While it might not look like it from a distance, an anteater actually does not walk on it's paws.

Picture from Houston Zoo

Instead, with the claws curled up into the paws, it walks on its "fists." This helps to keep the claws sharp so the anteater can dig into ant mounds or defend itself from predators.  It is important for an anteater's claws to be as sharp as possible as it often has to fight off jaguars and pumas.

Cheetah Chat

A cheetah while ranking among the more vocal felines, can not roar.

 

Picture from Live Science

Cheetah's make numerous other noises, such as chirping, churring, growling, and purring.  A mother cheetah chirps when she's trying to locate her cubs.  Churrs are emitted during social meetings.  You'll often hear a cheetah growl when they are annoyed or face danger.  And just like a kitty, a cheetah will purr when it's content.

Getting Over The Hump Of Camel Myths

Baby camels are born without a hump. They won't develop one until they start eating solid food.

 Picture from HD Wallpapers

Contrary to myth, water is not stored there. A camel's hump is made up of fatty tissue that can be converted into energy and water. As the camel draws upon these energy reserves, the hump shrinks. If the fat deposits are truly depleted, the hump will flop over and hang down the camel's side. A week of food, water and rest will restore a camel's hump to its proper shape.

Canadian Geese - Mates for Life

The Canadian Geese share an important feature with some of their feathered friends.  Like Swans, Black Vultures, Turtle Doves, and Bald Eagles, the Canadian Geese mate for life.

Picture from IBC

Typically during the second year of their lives, Canada Geese find a mate. They are monogamous, and most couples stay together all of their lives. However, if one dies, the other may find a new mate.  Males and females almost always pick a mate who is very close to their own size.

Be Kind To Animals Week

Sunday kicked off "Be Kind To Animals Week"!

 

While we think you should be kind to animals every week, this week in particular is designated to commemorate the role animals play in our lives, promote ways to continue to treat them humanely, and encourage others to do the same.

Click here to learn more about Be Kind To Animals Week!