Peculiar Animal Contest Winners

Earth Rangers

-

November 15, 2023

11

Congratulations to the winners of the Homeroom What a Peculiar Animal Contest!

Ms. Mason’s Grade 2 Class

Buena Vista School, Saskatoon, SK

Meet Metztli who lives in the Coral Reef

It has a snapping turtle mouth. It can break the spines. It has a dolphin tail so it can swim fast.

The Earth Rangers Homeroom community is brimming with creativity! All of the submissions included very imaginative adaptations and show just how many ways there are for animals to adapt to their environments.

For example, here are two different animals living on the Twin Islands:

Quackodilefin

Louise Roberts’ Grade 3 class
École New Era School, Brandon, Manitoba

Its webbed feet allow it to swim and float on water and walk on sand. Its sharp teeth break coconuts and crabs. Its whale tail allows it to swim fast.

Frawshter

Ms. Andrade’s Grade 6 Class
St Helen School à Toronto, ON

The Frawshter has adapted to the Twin Islands by utilizing some of its structural and behavioural adaptations to help it survive. It can camouflage into its surroundings. Also, the shark tail helps it to swim very fast in the water. Furthermore, his lizard legs enable him to grip things easily. Having the speed of a lion enables it to escape its predator – the crocodile.

And two different animals living in the Downpour Rainforest:

Crocomonkiless

Teddy Fiolka, Grade 3, Homeschool
Calgary, AB

It can fish with its basilisk legs. Its monkey tail is prehensile and can help it eat bird eggs. Its crocodile mouth eats the fish so it doesn’t slip away from its sharp teeth. It has adapted to live on land or water. Its other tail stores fat for later in case of food shortage.

Swafbat

Ms Page’s Grade 5 Class
Ellen Fairclough Primary School Markham, ON

Our peculiar animal can adapt to the Downpour rainforest because the rainforest has a lot of water and our animal has a whale tail and alligator legs which makes it easier to swim. Our animal is an omnivore. Since our animal lives in a forest there is lots of grass and other animals like fish. Our animal’s scaly legs keep him nice and warm. Next, our animals sense of smell is very good. Our animal can smell threats, food and other things. Swafbat is amazing at camouflaging using his turtle back. It also helps our animal swim faster. Swafbat’s eyes are perfect for night vision. It can see everything. Fun fact: The front legs of an alligator’s legs has 5 toes and the back has 4.

Once again, thank you to everyone who participated! There were so many wonderful submissions.

Keep your eyes peeled for our next Homeroom Contest. Sign up for the Homeroom Newsletter to avoid missing out.

Would your class like to put their imagination to the test?

Check out the What a Peculiar Animal activity!

Save the grizzly bear, American badger, and bighorn sheep!

Earth Rangers

-

November 14, 2023

26

Save the grizzly bear, American badger, and bighorn sheep! Hi, I’m Julia Poetschke and I’m a Land Stewardship Manager with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (or NCC for short!). I’m working with a team of super- smart, super dedicated scientists and conservationists in the Rocky Mountain Trench, in British Columbia. The trench is a wildlife corridor that’s home to all kinds of
animals, including grizzly bears, American badgers, and bighorn sheep! Grizzly bears can be brown to nearly black, with silvery-white longer hairs throughout their fur, giving them a “grizzled” (gray-streaked) look. They live near rivers and streams and make their homes in dens on steep slopes, where they hibernate through the winter. Grizzly bears eat whatever food is available to them, including berries, grasses, and fish.

Before they hibernate, they eat A LOT to build up fat and store up energy. During the months they’re hibernating, grizzly bears don’t even go to the bathroom — now that’s a deep sleep! American badgers live in forests and grasslands, and they’re related to both otters and weasels. But don’t let their cuddly appearance fool you: these ferret- family furballs are feisty foragers! Known as fossorial carnivores, American badgers are built to hunt underground prey. Their long snouts help them sniff out small rodents like voles and ground squirrels. The badgers’ front claws can grow up to 2 inches long! Their claws help them tear through the soil to reach their buried buffet. Bighorn sheep are iconic mountain mammals.

They’re named for the male species’ distinctive spiral horns, which can weigh up to 30 pounds! Did you know that they can balance on cliff sides as narrow as only 2 inches and can jump up to 20 feet between mountain ledges?! Scaling mountains isn’t easy, but bighorn sheep are well adapted for this treacherous task. Their front hooves are bigger than their back hooves, and they have a hard outer rim and soft middle, providing traction that makes mountain climbing a breeze! Can you believe that these three animals, who are so different, all live in the same place? The Rocky Mountain Trench is an amazing geological formation – a long, deep valley that extends from Montana in the U.S. all the way to the top of British Columbia! It has a flat bottom and is surrounded by towering mountain ranges on both sides. The trench itself contains gorgeous forests, grasslands, and even wetlands, and is home to at least 29 endangered species.

It’s truly a sight to behold! Unfortunately, like many of Earth’s beautiful places, human activities and development are putting a strain
on the ecosystem. So, I’m working with a team at NCC to protect and restore it, focused on a treed grassland area by the Kootenay River. And this might sound crazy, but we’re doing it with: fire! Long ago, these treed grasslands regularly had natural, low-intensity wildfires that prevented them from filling in with dense trees. But when people moved into the area, they started to put out the fires as soon as they started. This caused the treed grasslands to transform into dense forest, which wasn’t so great for native species like badgers, elk, deer, and many others who relied on the grasslands for habitat and grazing. So, using safe and controlled fire, the team and I are restoring the treed grasslands to their former glory. But we need help! Check out the Adoptions section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Grizzly Bear, American Badger, or Bighorn Sheep Adoption Kits. Make a difference today!

Would you Rather #54

Earth Rangers

-

November 13, 2023

136

Would you rather…

Have super strength like the rhinoceros beetle or Super speed like the tiger beetle

Tell us which one you pick in the comments!

More “Would You Rather” Questions!

Caption This: What is this deer thinking?

Earth Rangers

-

November 10, 2023

105

Caption This: What is this deer thinking?

We need your help! This animal is trying to tell us something but we can’t figure it out! Do you know what this deer and crow are thinking?

Post your ideas in the comment section below.

Tap here for more cool stuff like this!

Who am I – Pro Edition

Earth Rangers

-

November 9, 2023

103

We’re on route to our next National Park destination, but Emma just stumped herself with a “Who Am I?” animal sound quiz, that is so tricky that even she doesn’t know how to solve it.

Thankfully she gets some help from Sophie Guarasci, one of the amazing wildlife heroes at the Marine Mammal Centre to solve the case!

Emma is on a long train ride towards her next national park. She’s been playing a series of games to pass the time, one of which features… the seal! But just not any seal: a habor seal.

A seal with many harbors

*Photo Credit: Dan Friedman at The Marine Mammal Center*

Harbor seals can be found a large range of geographic locations, from the coasts of North America, Europe and Asia. You can come across them in both freshwaters, like the harbor seals of Ungava Peninsula in Quebec, and saltwater like those found along the coast of California.

So does that mean that there are different kinds of harbor seals that live in different places? Yes! There are 5 subspecies of harbor seals: Eastern Atlantic harbor seals, Western Atlantic harbor seals, Eastern Pacific harbor seal, Ungava seals, and Kuril harbor seals. Each of them is just as cute and spotted as the other!

One thing that’s special about these seals is that they don’t have any ear flaps, known as pinna. They instead have an ear opening, that closes when they dive.

And did you know that their cute whiskers (similar to a cat’s) can help them navigate better by detecting the wave pressures of nearby fish.

Have you ever seen a harbor seal relaxing on rocks before? They do that to rest, enjoy the sun, or even spend time together with other seals. But Harbor seals don’t necessarily have to spend their nights on land! They can sleep on both land and in water, as long as their head remains above-water so they can breathe.

A Slippery Start

A harbor seal can do much more than just float around while sleeping! Seal pups may occasionally ride on their mothers when they are too tired to swim. These cute family interactions don’t last long, as harbor seal pups stay with their mothers for about 4 to 6 weeks before they’re old enough to start trying to forage on their own.

It is during these early stages of a pup’s life that they are most at risk of danger. While separated from their mothers, they can easily get caught up in fishing nets, or end up on urban beaches where they might be at risk of dogs – who can not only injure them, but spread diseases. Seal pups should be left alone, and your dogs should not be allowed near them. If you see an entangled, injured, or stranded seal, report it to your local experts so they can come and tend to it. Specialists such as those at the Marine Mammal Center have the expertise to properly care for an injured harbor seal pup and rehabilitate them back into the wild.

A Marine Lifesaver

In this episode, Emma calls animal researcher Sophie Guarasci to talk about the harbor seal project. Being a pinniped expert, she knows a ton about seals of all kinds! Sophie is responsible for supervising the care of all animal patients. In addition to performing physical exams and providing surgical assistance, she also oversees and trains students and volunteers in the care of marine mammals.

Sophie works at the Marine Mammal Center, which is focused on advancing global ocean conversation through animal care, research, and education. Their centers take care of all types of different marine mammals, including harbor seal pups. The treatment process involves protecting these pups from stress, making sure they are well-fed, and taught how to dive and hunt on their own, before eventually being released back into the wild.

Sophie has been doing an incredible job helping these adorable animals, and Earth Rangers is determined to help her out! You can too by joining the Shoreline Saver mission, and if you want something fun – why not check out these fun Wildwire articles featuring the harbor seal?

What your favorite harbor seal fact of the episode? Let us know in the comments below!

For more information about the Harbor Seal or to learn more about The Marine Mammal Center’s mission, please visit their website at https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/

Toasty Grizzly

Earth Rangers

-

November 9, 2023

268

Toasty Grizzly

Time:10 min

Difficulty:Easy

Do you feel a rumbly in your tumbly? Breakfast, lunch, or snack, we’ve got your family covered!

Here’s what you need:

A slice of bread
A sandwich spread (like peanut butter, jelly, jam, honey, etc…)
Blueberries
Banana

Here’s how you make it:

Step 1: Put a slice of bread into the toaster. While it is toasting, peel and slice up the banana.

Step 2: When your bread is done toasting, slather it with the sandwich spread of your choice.

Step 3: Take two banana slices to make the bear’s ears. And a third banana slice to make the bear’s snout.

Step 4: Take two blueberries to make the bear’s eyes. Place another blueberry on top of the snout to make the bear’s cute little nose.

There you have it! A Toasty Grizzly ready for you to dig in!

Pawsitively Hilarious Jokes #15

Earth Rangers

-

November 6, 2023

61

What’s an owls’ favorite book?

A Hoostery novel.

Tap here for more cool stuff like this!

Pixel Puzzler #35: The Great Reveal

Earth Rangers

-

November 3, 2023

25

We got tons of great guesses on Part 1 of this Pixel Puzzler and now it’s time for the answer. Are you ready for the great reveal? Find out if you got it right!

The answer to this Pixel Puzzler is (drum roll please) a Swift Fox! How did you do? Tell us in the comments!

Tap here for more cool stuff like this!

Help swift foxes with a Wildlife Adoption!

Head to the Adoptions Section in the App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop!

Indoor Camping

Earth Rangers

-

November 2, 2023

193

Indoor Camping

Time:60+ min

Difficulty:Medium

Stop, don’t turn that thermostat up! We know it’s getting colder, so why not enjoy a week of chilly adventures and try some indoor camping?

About the game:

Objective: When it’s cold, rather than turn up the heat, try out some tried-and-true camping tricks… inside! Build yourself a fun indoor tent, pretend you’re an arctic explorer, and find ways to stay warm even while your thermostat is turned down low!
Players: 1 or more players

Here’s what you need:

Chairs
Sheet, tablecloth, or cozy blankets
Cozy decorations for your indoor tent (ie. Comfy pillows, plushies)
Flameless candles or a lamp
3-4 sticks or paper rolls
An adult to help

Here’s how you play it:

Step 1:

First, you need a tent. If you don’t have your own camping tent, no problem! You only need 3 chairs, a big sheet (for a tent cover) and some books.

Place the chairs facing out, hang the sheet over the top of the chairs, and put the books on top to hold the sheet on the chairs. For extra warmth, build the tent in a sunny spot (like near a window).

Step 2:

Decorate the inside of your tent! Add pillows, some plushies, or you decide!

Step 3:

Make yourself somewhere comfy to sleep on. Bring a sleeping bag or blanket into the tent – the more layers between you and the cold floor, the better!

Step 4:

Want to enjoy a safe indoor campfire? You’ll need a flashlight or flameless candle and some sticks or paper rolls.

In front of your tent, set up the flashlight or flameless candle and put the sticks or paper rolls around it to create your fire. So cozy!

Step 5:

Your tent is done! Throw on a comfy sweater, or a toasty toque, and invite some friends over for hot cocoa and a fun camping adventure!

How did your indoor camping go? What cool things did you use to decorate your tent? Got any fun stories to share? Let us know in the comments!

Did you know that turning down your thermostat in the winter can actually help slow down climate change? Learn more in the Re-set the ‘stat Mission in the Missions section in the Earth Rangers App!

Halloween Hiding

Earth Rangers

-

October 31, 2023

21

Safe and happy Halloween Earth Rangers!

This is the perfect day to be spooky, scary, AND TOTALLY GOOEY!

Some of you might decide to go out trick-or-treating, some of you might stay home watching scary movies, some might play spooky games, and some of you… might not celebrate Halloween at all?

Trick…or treat?

The origins of Halloween go back more than 2,000 years to the Celtic New Year’s Day of Samhain, when it was believed that spirits walked with the living. There was no trick-or-treating back then. So when did that start?

There are two possibilities: the 16th century British All Souls’ Day, or the German Christmas custom of Belsnickling from the 18th and 19th century. The candy-based celebration came after World War II, much later in the 20th century.

Today, you can see Halloween costumes and candy in stores before it’s even October. With so much candy, some might decide to enjoy tasty treats before October 31st!

But what happens after Halloween is over? Where do all the candy and old pumpkins go?

Why not compost it?

Tired of all the sweets? Got sore teeth after Halloween? Don’t have any place to donate the leftovers? Along with pumpkins, Halloween candy can be composted.

BUT WAIT!

Don’t throw everything into your compost bins. Worms love pumpkins, and microorganisms will use the sugar in the candies to break down green and brown matter faster…but let’s not forget, so do other animals! This food isn’t good for mice or rats, even though they will certainly want to eat it. You need to be sure your compost bin is well-built before throwing candy out.

Can you SPOT THE FAKE?

Now that you know that there are a lot of tricky things that don’t belong in a compost bin, see if you can spot the fakes: the items that do NOT belong in the green bin!

Click on the items you think are the fakes!

Beware of hidden plastic!

Now that you know what candies to watch out for, let’s remember one special icky gooey sweet that can’t be composted: chewing gum!

If you receive any gum for Halloween, it must be thrown out in the garbage. Chewing gum and bubble gum are made with synthetic rubbers, plastic, and wax that are not compostable.

Gross Out!

Composting is an important part of helping the planet. But it can get gross. Vermicomposting brings some extra friends to help: worms! Together with your worm friends, composted material can be turned into organic soil for plants. Halloween is the perfect gross and gooey celebration to go into the compost.

Before throwing your food into your green bin, remember to do the following:

Double-check that your compost bin is secure
Crush hard candy into smaller pieces
Remove all plastic packaging
Throw all chewing gum in the trash.

Worms, like you, get full. So consider composting your candy in moderation over a long period.

Why not assemble a squirmy squad while you do it? Once you compost your Halloween leftovers, be sure to log your habit in the app. And join the Gross Out challenge now!

What did you do for Halloween? Did you go trick-or-treating? What will you compost? Let us know in the comments below!