Simon Watt is a biologist who loves all things science. He brings his Ready, Steady, Science program to schools, museums, theatres and festivals across the UK to teach kids about science through fun, hands-on experiments. Simon is also president of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society (for real!) and is working to raise awareness for some very interesting…different…okay, ugly animals. In this Top Ten we take a look at some of Simon’s top cringe worthy animals.
1. The blobfish was elected the ugliest animal in the world in an online poll that we ran. It lives off the coast of Australia and Tasmania and is being driven to the brink thanks to deep sea trawling. We don’t even eat them, they just get caught in the nets by accident.
Blobfish Photo credit: Flickr user: jamasca66
2. The giant Chinese salamander is the world’s largest amphibian and it can breathe through its skin!
chinese giant salamander. Photo credit Flickr user: Muzina Shanghai
3. The proboscis monkey has an enormous nose that might be used to help attract a mate, or to make loud honking calls.
Proboscis monkey
4. At one point there were only eight Californian condors left alive. Breeding programs are helping them, but they are still seriously endangered.
Californian condor
5. Hagfish can produce gallons of snot from their skin in a matter of minutes. This snot will clog the mouth of anything that tries to eat it.
Hagfish. Photo credit: NOAA
6. Naked mole rats live in communities with several dozen rats. The colony is led by one rat queen; she is the only female in the group that breeds.
Naked mole rat. Photo credit: Kevin McGee
7. The Roti Island snake necked turtle has a neck as long as its body.
Roti Island snake necked turtle. Photo credit: Flickr user: Silvain de Munck
8. Aye-ayes are critically endangered and can only be found on the island of Madagascar.
Aye-aye. Photo credit: Flickr User Frank Vassen
9. The Monkfish is a bottom-dwelling fish that lives in the western Atlantic.
Monk fish. Photo credit: Flickr User Ryo Sato
10. The flightless dung beetle can rolls massive balls of poo in straight lines, walking backwards and navigating by the stars.
Dung beetle
The Earth Rangers App is where kids go to save animals! It’s free to join and you’ll have access to real-world Missions like this one. Plus, you can adopt an animal to support conservation projects, and learn all about animals in the Wild Wire Blog.
Find activities like this, and so much more in the App!
Time to tally up the turtle trivia in this top ten that is filled with the latest shell styles from one of the coolest reptiles around!
1) Most turtles can hide their head in their shells but some species, like the sea turtle, can’t.
2) The word ‘testudinal’ means to resemble a tortoise or turtle shell.
3) Turtle shells have three main parts: the upper or top piece (carapace); the bottom (plastron); and the bridge that fuses the upper and lower pieces together.
4) A turtle’s carapace, or upper shell, is flatter to help them swim while a tortoises’ carapace is higher and dome-shaped.
Tortoise
5) The inner layer of a turtle’s shell is made up of 60 bones, including their backbone, breastbone and ribs.
6) A turtle’s shell is attached to their body. Turtles do not look for a bigger shell as they get bigger, instead the shell grows with the turtle.
7) Most turtle shells are covered with hard scutes, also called shields, which protect the shell. These scutes are overlapping pieces of keratin (the same protein substance in your fingernail and the most abundant type of protein on Earth).
8) Softshell turtles, don’t have scutes; their shell is protected with thick skin.
9) The colour of a turtle’s shell varies; common colours are brown, black and olive green. Some species also have markings that are red, orange, yellow or gray.
10) The upper and lower portions of the shell have nerve endings.
Exploring the wild doesn’t need to involve a safari to a far off place. You can discover all kinds of amazing creatures right in your own backyard! Insects are the most diverse group of animal species on the planet; it’s estimated that there are at least over one million different kinds of insects yet to be discovered by scientists! In some tropical places like the Amazon rainforest a single tree can have up to 10,000 different kinds of insects – in a single tree! Get to know some of this incredible insect diversity by setting off on a bugtastic adventure.
Get Ready!
The first thing you’ll need to go bug collecting is a tool kit. You can buy one or customize your own by finding or making the items. Here’s what’s in our bug kit:
Net: For catching flying insects like butterflies you can either buy one or try making one.
Notebook: Grab a paper and pen or pencils to describe and draw pictures of the insects you find.
Camera: Taking a picture of an insect is a great way to ‘keep’ a piece of them forever without harming them.
Flashlight: If you are going out bug collecting at night remember to bring a flashlight.
Container: Different sized empty and clean plastic containers make great temporary homes for insects … but remember to put holes in the containers so the little critters can breathe. You can also make the container more insect-friendly by adding some leaves and twigs from around the area where you found the bug.
Magnifying glass: A magnifying glass will help you spot those tiny bugs while on your bugtastic adventure.
Field guide: Look online, the library or your local book store for a bug identification guide that will help you figure out who is who. You might try Bug Facts or San Diego Zoo . Before you head out look up what bugs live in your area and take note of any insects that you shouldn’t touch. Remember to stay away from stinging bugs like bees and wasps.
Get Set!
Pick some locations that would be fun and safe for searching for insects. Think about where you might find species like beetles, butterflies or caterpillars, grasshoppers, dragonflies and ants. Areas that are great insect hangouts include:
Under rotting logs or leaves
The underside of a leaf
Among flowers
On trees
In brush beside a river or pond
In the grass
In your own insect habitat, bring the bugs to you by planting a butterfly garden
Get Buggie!
Now that you have your bug collecting kit in hand and your local hot spots picked, it’s time to find some insects! Once you have spotted a bug use the magnifying glass, camera and notepad to watch, track and discover all kinds of interesting things about it. If you are worried the bug will jump, fly or crawl away before you can get a good look, use the net to gently put the bug into your container (remember to put air holes in the container). Watch the bug and take note of how it moves, what colour it is, what does its body look like, does it have wings, how many legs does it have, are they eating, if so, what? Use your field guide to help you identify the species or write down some fun facts about them, draw a picture or take a snapshot with your camera.
Once you’ve had a few moments to observe your bug, release it back where you found it so the little guy can continue on its way. Bugs may look like they’re just sitting or flying around but they are always doing something important so it is best to not keep it in your container for longer than a few minutes. To keep a memory of them forever take your drawing or photograph and write on it what you discovered about the insect. You can hang these bug profiles up in your room, or even make a scrapbook. Check out one of our bug profiles of an insect we found near the Earth Rangers Centre.
My Bug Profile
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Name: Grasshopper
Nickname: Gerbert the Jumping Greenie
Colour: Green
Where I found it: By the edge of the pond on a big leaf
Description: I only got a quick look at this grasshopper before it hopped away! For his size this bug can jump really high and far.
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Leave a comment to share what bugs you’ve discovered!
From the Rocky Mountains to the Bay of Fundy, Canada has some amazing natural wonders. It’s a good thing we have national parks to protect them! Starting with Banff National Park in 1885, 44 national parks have been established, with more on the way.
In this top ten, we take a look at some of these national parks and explore what makes them extra special.
1. Wood Buffalo National Park
Photo Credit: Parks Canada
Canada has the world’s largest beaver dam in Wood Buffalo National Park. It’s about 850m long (that’s like 8 football fields!) and it’s so big, you can see it from outer space. In fact, it was discovered from a picture taken by a satellite camera. To learn more about the world’s largest beaver dam, click here!
2. Kluane National Park
Photo Credit: Parks Canada
Mount Logan is the second tallest mountain in North America – and it’s still growing. The tectonic plates beneath this mountain at Kluane National Park are constantly moving and slowly pushing the mountain up. At 5,959m, it’s so high that many visitors never see the peak. Even when it’s not covered by clouds, it’s a difficult, off-trail hike to see the top even for experienced climbers. Click here to read more about Mount Logan and the many peaks of Kluane National Park!
3. Ivvavik National Park
Photo Credit: Parks Canada
The temperature isn’t the only extreme thing in Canada’s Arctic. At Ivvavik National Park, it stays dark for a whole month during the winter, and in the summer, there are two months of 24-hour sunlight. To learn more about Ivvavik National Park’s climate, wildlife, geology and vegetation, follow this link.
4. Fundy National Park
You can see the highest tides in the world at Fundy National Park, in New Brunswick. In some areas of the Bay of Fundy, the water rises 16 meters – that’s the height of a four-storey building! These powerful tides have carved out steep cliffs and tall rock formations called sea stacks. Check out more information about the tides at Fundy National Park by clicking here!
5. Fathom Five National Marine Park
Photo Credit: Parks Canada
Many secrets lie beneath the waters at Fathom Five National Marine Park. Over 20 shipwrecks can be explored amongst ancient underwater trees. These trees are still rooted to the bottom of the lake after waters levels rose thousands of years ago. To find out how to explore Fathom Five National Marine Park’s underwater treasures, click here!
6. Grasslands National Park
You can spy on the prairie dogs and plains bison at Grasslands National Park. Parks Canada helped reintroduce plains bison after they had been gone from the area for nearly 120 years. Today, there are over 300 bison in the park – see if you can catch a glimpse of them at: http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/plains-bison-grasslands-national-park-cam-2
7. Jasper National Park
Photo Credit: Parks Canada
Fire isn’t always a bad thing. Parks Canada starts controlled, “prescribed fires” in places like Jasper National Park. Regular forest fires actually create a diversity of plants in the environment, which provides homes for animals and helps prevent uncontrollable wildfire. To learn more about the benefits of these prescribed fires, click here.
8. Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
Photo Credit: Parks Canada
Did you know that there is a type of bear only found in Canada? The Haida Gwaii black bear have survived off of salmon and shellfish for so long that they’ve developed larger jaws and teeth than other black bears. They live in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Reserve and Haida Heritage Site and other parts of these islands off the coast of British Columbia. Click here to know more about the Haida Gwaii black bear and to know what to do if you see one!
9. Wapusk National Park
Photo Credit: Wayne Lynch
Canada is home to one of the world’s largest known polar bear maternity denning areas. At Wapusk National Park, female polar bears give birth to and nurture their young in dens. There are over 900 polar bears in the park! In the Cree language, “Wapusk” means “white bear.” Find out more about polar bears and see a photo gallery of polar bear cubs here!
10. Sable Island National Park Reserve
Photo Credit: Parks Canada
Sable Island National Park Reserve is home to around 500 wild horses that roam the island freely. They eat grass and other plants on the island, but they also eat kelp and seaweed that washes up on the beach. Since 1583 there have been over 350 recorded shipwrecks on the island, earning it the title of “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” To know more about Sable Island’s wild horses, shipwrecks and other natural and cultural treasures, click here.
Do you know anything cool about Canada’s national parks? Let us know by leaving a comment!
Parks Canada is proud to connect youth to Canada’s natural wonders and historical treasures. To learn more about Parks Canada’s species at risk work, click here.
The ocean covers about 70% of the Earth’s surface and in all that water there are tons of species. Did you know that up to 38,000 different types of microorganisms can be found in a single liter of ocean water! Tropical coral reefs are one of the most diverse habitats, with tons of different species calling it home. Reefs can also be found further north; off of Canada’s coast there are the Atlantic deep-water coral habitat and the Pacific rocky reef habitat. Last month we looked at some amazing deep-water coral off the coast of Atlantic Canada. Now we’re heading west to explore the Pacific reefs.
In Western Waters
In the waters off of British Columbia’s coast you’ll find one of the most diverse habitats in the entire country. These rocky reefs have 1,185 known species, including fish, like quillback and yelloweye rockfish, as well as marine animals like cloud sponges, glass sponges and tubeworms. Over 80 species of cold-water corals have been identified or are believed to exist in these coastal B.C. waters. These reefs cover areas that have a wide range of depth, some as shallow as 3-35m. As their name suggests, these reefs have rocky ridges, cliffs and boulders. Scientists have been surveying the rocky reefs for the past 44 years to learn about the animals that live here and what threats they face. Scientists working with the Vancouver Aquarium are helping to protect the rocky reefs and species like the rockfish from such threats as overfishing and ocean acidification.
Here are some of the incredible species of coral that live in Canada’s rocky reefs.
Bubblegum coral (Paragorgia arborea). Credit: NOAA/Monterey Bay Aquarium
Red tree coral. Photo Credit: Flickr User, Silvia Centomo
White stylaster coral in left background. Credit: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010
Red Tree Coral (Primnoa sp.) and Bubblegum Coral (Paragorgia sp.). Photo Credit: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
After Earth Rangers visited his school in Sudbury, Ontario, Corbett decided to join the growing community of Earth Rangers across Canada. He signed up to become an Official Earth Ranger and chose to start a Bring Back the Wild campaign for the barn swallow. “I wanted to help them so they can have more homes to live in. I love animals and I love birds and the barn swallow is good because it eats bugs.”
Not only is Corbett committed to helping animals, he also wants to help preserve the environment so he chose to accept the Earth Rangers’ Battery Blitz Mission. “When I heard what happens to batteries when we just throw them out, I wanted to collect batteries so we can stop them from going into landfills and hurting the earth.”
Corbett’s family was already keeping used batteries separate from their regular recycling so Corbett’s mission to collect and recycle batteries got off to a good start. He asked friends and family members to pass along their used batteries and his mom asked co-workers and even posted a message online. In the end Corbett collected 150 batteries and took them to the local depot in his community.
When we asked Corbett how else he contributes to the health of the planet he told us he recycles at home and at school, he never litters and he even picks up garbage when he is out and about in his community. Just imagine if every person did this?
Corbett chose to get involved because he believes that everyone can do their part to help protect animals and their habitats. “It is important to help protect animals because they are in danger and need our help. Every animal is important! We need the earth to last us forever!”
In his spare time Corbett enjoys karate, playing with his brother and family pets and visiting Science North to see the animals and learn about science. “My favourite animals are the porcupine and flying squirrels.”
Thanks Corbett!
What do you do at home or in your community to help keep the planet healthy? Tell us in the comments section below.
Corals and sponges might look like plants but they are actually animals! Unlike many animals they don’t move on their own; in fact, they only move with the ocean current. When you think coral, you probably start dreaming of snorkeling off the coast of Australia and exploring the Great Barrier Reef, but there are corals in other places around the world. Off the coast of Canada are two reefs, the rocky reefs off the west coast of Canada in the Pacific Ocean and the cold, deep-water corals off the east coast of Canada in the Atlantic Ocean. Today we’re heading east into the Atlantic Ocean to learn some fascinating facts about deep-water coral.
Worldwide, over 700 species of cold, deep-water corals exist and right here in Canada we have some pretty amazing species. About 2-5 km deep in the Atlantic Ocean, off the east coast of Canada, live over 40 known species of cold, deep-water corals. These corals are adapted to growing without any sunlight and in very cold water (usually below 2°C). They can also withstand water pressure of 1,000 kg/cm2.
Deep-water corals are a bit different than tropical corals that live in warm water. Since deep-water corals live at such extreme water depths, they must be able to grow without any sunlight. Tropical corals, on the other hand, need light to grow. They have very tiny plant-like particles living INSIDE their cells that use energy from the sun to produce food for the coral. Cold, deep-water corals lack these tiny “plants” inside their cells so they do not need the sun to live and grow. It’s incredible how well adapted animals and plants are to their surroundings.
Lophelia pertusa: A deep-water stony coral
Lophelia Pertusa. Photo credit pennstatenews
Sea pens: A soft coral formed from rows of polyps that look like an old-fashioned quill pen.
Sea pens. Photo credit Richard Ling
Gorgonian coral or sea fans: Some colonies can be over 100 years old and are sometimes so dense that scientists refer to them as coral “forests”. They are one of the largest coral species, found at depths of 200-1,000 meters underwater.
Gorgonian coral or sea fans. Photo credit NOAA National Ocean Service
Bamboo corals: This type of deep-water coral has a skeleton inside made of hard calcium-based crystals. A long living coral species, some have been found to be 4,000 years old.
Bamboo coral. Photo credit NOAA photo Library
[accordion_set] [accordion title=”References” active=”no”] Kenchington E and D Fenton (2008). Oasis of the deep: cold water corals of Atlantic Canada. Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. Bedford Institute of Oceanography. http://www.lophelia.org/corals/basics/key-species http://www.science.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=EE39B64D-1 http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~scf4101/Bambooweb/Research_FS.htm http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/cs-ce-2009-eng.pdf [/accordion] [/accordion_set]
Hey Earth Rangers! Are you ready for your next amazing animal saving mission? We hope so because this one is “For the Birds”! Your new mission is to build a homemade bird feeder and help identify the birds in your area.
Grumble! Rumble! Growl! Was that the furnace?! No it was just your stomach. You must be really hungry! Better head on over to the kitchen and grab something to eat.
It might be easy for you to satisfy your hunger with a fridge full of food but for animals that have to hunt or search for their food it can be a little tough. Imagine being a frog without insects, a koala without eucalyptus, a shark without fish, or a bird without enough seeds. We’re getting hungry just thinking about it!
Well, today is your day to be an animal helper. When you choose to accept your For the Birds Mission, you will be making an important difference by helping hungry birds have enough to eat!
Hungry Birds
Did you know that birds turn food into energy at a faster rate than most other animals? In other words, they get hungry more often. Part of the reason for this is that it takes a lot of energy to fly. Hummingbirds, for example, flap their wings 80 times in one second! If you think that’s hard work, many small songbirds fly up to 9,600 km to get from the spot where they spend the winter to where they breed in the summer!
It’s not just migrating songbirds that could use a little help finding food after their long journey. Non-migratory birds, like black-capped chickadees and some species of finches, tough it out during the winter by staying here instead of flying south where it is warm. It can be hard for these birds to find food, especially in really cold, snowy winters or if seeds are in short supply due to a bad storm at other times of the year.
Snack Time
Putting out a little extra food can make a big difference for hungry birds. That’s why we want you to build a bird feeder so that together we can learn what birds are in the area where you live!
When you accept this mission, you’ll be able to download the For the Birds Mission Brief with instructions for a spring/summer (April – October) and fall/winter feeder (November – March), tips and tricks, a bird tracking sheet and a skill-testing bird quiz.
Help Wanted
Scientists need your help! By keeping track of the birds that visit your feeder and reporting your findings through EarthRangers.com/missions, you will help scientists learn more about the birds in your area. If all Earth Rangers do this it will give scientists a glimpse of bird population size and behaviour from all over the country! When people help, scientists have access to a lot more information from places they couldn’t visit on their own and use it to learn how to better protect our feathered friends.
What You Have to do to Complete your For the Birds Mission:
1. Accept your For the Birds Mission and download your Mission Brief.
2. Build your bird feeder and wait for the birds to find your feeder. Be patient because this might take a few days.
4. After you’ve had your first bird visitor, use the handy tracking sheet to record each species and number of birds that visit your feeder for two weeks. Once birds find your feeder, they will keep coming back to look for food so make sure your feeder is topped up with fresh seeds every month.
5. Go to EarthRangers.com/missions, report your findings and get your For the Birds Mission badge for your Achievement Wall.
What Happens if You Don’t See Any Birds?
It might be because the birds couldn’t find your feeder. Try moving it to a new location.
Were you very patient but still no birds came to your feeder? We want to know that too because it is valuable information! Let us know when you report your findings on EarthRangers.com/missions.
Now that you’ve built your bird feeder and it is up in your yard, it’s time to test your bird knowledge. Are you a happy hummingbird or an astonishing albatross? Answer these questions to find out!
HINT: The answer to each of these questions is found in an article on the Wild Wire.
a) They burn through calories very quickly while flying
b) There are so many flowers that need to be pollinated
c) They are storing fat up for the winter
d) They are competitive and try to eat more than other hummingbirds
Highlight to reveal answer: a) They burn through calories very quickly while flying
Highlight to reveal answer: True
Highlight to reveal answer: Moulting
a) 10
b) 25
c) 45
d) 75
Highlight to reveal answer: b) 25
Highlight to reveal answer: False
Highlight to reveal answer: Sonic and Echo, the barn owls
a) In the Arctic
b) In the Antarctic
Highlight to reveal answer: b) In the Antarctic
Highlight to reveal answer: True
Highlight to reveal answer: Ostrich
a) Arctic tern
b) Sooty shearwater
c) Adelie penguin
d) Semi-palmated sandpiper
Highlight to reveal answer: a) Arctic tern
Let us know what kind of bird you are by leaving a comment below.
Rachel was just five-years-old when she learned about narwhals and this unique marine mammal sparked her passion for animals.
When she heard about Earth Rangers she was inspired to take action to help animals and has been an active Earth Ranger for the past four years. Her first campaign was to help the peregrine falcon, next up was the pine marten, then the polar bear and most recently the beluga whale.
Each year Rachel completes a research project and presents her findings to her class and asks for donations. Her teachers have come to expect and support a request from Rachel once each school year to make this presentation to her class. Her classmates are very receptive and this year was no different.
This year Rachel chose to help the beluga whale. While on vacation, Rachel and her family went whale watching and saw some of these incredible animals up close. “The captain shared a lot of cool facts about whales and I was very interested. When I went on the Earth Rangers website I saw the beluga whale and chose it right away! Also, because all the other fundraisers I did were for land animals, I wanted to switch it up and help all animals.”
Another way Rachel helps animals is by picking up litter wherever she is – at the beach, the park and around her neighbourhood. “My family and I go to the park near where we live in the Spring and clean up the garbage that gets blown there all winter.”
Rachel has recently become an Official Earth Ranger and received her membership card and kit in the mail. She also plans to participate in other Earth Rangers missions so she can continue to make a difference even when she is not fundraising. “Kids should care about animals and the environment because it’s our world too and when we grow up we want to have a clean and safe environment.”
Thank you Rachel for your commitment to helping animals. We LOVE hearing about Earth Rangers who have made taking care of animals and the environment part of their everyday life.
Stay tuned for more about Rachel as she travels to the Oceans Caucus Conference as an ambassador for Earth Rangers. She will share her experience in an upcoming Wild Wire post.
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It’s not just migrating songbirds that could use a little help finding food after their long journey. Non-migratory birds, like black-capped chickadees and some species of finches, tough it out during the winter by staying here instead of flying south where it is warm. It can be hard for these birds to find food, especially in really cold, snowy winters or if seeds are in short supply due to a bad storm at other times of the year.
1. Accept your For the Birds Mission and download your Mission Brief.
