Baby it’s cold outside, but animals aren’t worried about the chilly winter weather. Check out this top ten list to see how animals get through the long, cold, snowy months of winter.
Some animals like deer grow a thicker coat to stay warm in the winter.
Some animals like the snowshoe hare actually change the colour of their fur, a snowshoe hair’s white winter coat is actually warmer than their brown summer coat.
Some animals like the beaver gather and store extra food to munch on throughout the winter.
Some animals like the red fox actually find different types of food to eat as the season changes.
Some animals like mice build tunnels in the snow to protect themselves from the winter weather.
Some animals like chipmunks hibernate.
Some animals like emperor penguins depend on their reserves of blubber to survive while they incubate the egg for nearly three months.
Cold blooded animals like turtles find a spot to hide and go dormant for the winter.
Many birds migrate to areas with warmer weather.
Photo credit: Paul Higgins
Some animals like squirrels nap and snack their way through winter…they spend the coldest part of the winter sleeping but will come out on warmer days to retrieve food they stored in the fall.
Which of these winter survival strategies would you choose? Let us know in the comments!
We’ve gotten tons of great guesses on Part 1 of the 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 sloth! How did you do? Tell us in the comments!
Did you guess the right answer? Let us know in the comments below!
Can you believe that we’ve done almost 100 Eco-Activities this year? That’s pretty impressive, if we may say so ourselves! There were crafts, recipes, outdoor activities, puzzles and so much more. After a year of hard work and fun, we think it’s time to look back at our favourite Eco-Activities of the year! How many will you try?
Make your own hot chocolate recipe and take your hot chocolate with you on an epic outdoor adventure with the whole family!
Check back in 2022 for more fun-filled Eco-Activities!
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!
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen…but do you know Twiggy, the reindeer made from twigs? For today’s Eco-Activity, we’re going to show you how you can bring your own Twiggy the Reindeer to life!
Instructions:
1. Head into the forest to collect some twigs. You’re going to need at least 5 of them, 2 of which should have offshoots. Grab more if you want to make a herd for Twiggy.
2. When you’re back home, take 3 of your twigs and glue them together into the shape of a triangle.
3. Glue the button or pompom to one of the pointy ends of your triangle. This is Twiggy’s nose.
4. Take the 2 twigs with offshoots, and glue them to the two other pointy ends of your triangle. These are Twiggy’s antlers.
5. Glue googly eyes near the nose and Twiggy the reindeer is complete!
6. Tie a string around the stick at the top of Twiggy’s head so you can hang it up for the world to see.
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!
After checking out Dr. Juliette Giri’s research station, Earth Ranger Emma leaves Sonic with her to look for clues of Adelia Goodwin’s whereabouts. On her way to find where Adelia used to do some field work, Emma’s mind begins to wander. Pulling out her satellite phone, she calls polar bear researcher Larissa to see if polar bears could ever live in the Himalayas. After learning all about polar bears, Emma reaches her destination. After encountering clues that only deepen the mystery of Adelia’s location, a sudden surprise puts Emma face-to-face with what may be her biggest challenge yet!
Click the play button on the player below to listen to today’s episode!
Take a look at file number 26.93 – 86.70 from Dr. Juliette Giri and Adelia Goodwin’s research
Since snow leopards are so hard to find, Dr. Giri and Adelia used camera traps to take this photo!
Check out these photos polar bear researcher Larissa sent Earth Ranger Emma!
Wow! Larissa wasn’t kidding when she said that polar bears can get really curious! Just look how close this one got to the vehicle.
Check out the Tundra Buggy! Larissa and her colleagues use it to find polar bears in Churchill, MB.
Take a look at this page from Adelia’s Secret Journal!
Adelia sure knew a LOT about snow leopards! What’s something new that you learned?
Check out the writing that Emma found on the wall in the cave! Can you help Emma figure out what it means?
Comment below if you have any ideas that could help Emma solve this puzzle!
Stay tuned for more episodes to find out what happens next!
Emma may just have embarked on an epic quest, but our junior wildlife reporters contest is still going on!
If you’ve ever wanted to be a podcast correspondent, here is your chance. You can create your very own animal report! It could be about your all-time favourite animal, with some cool wacky facts that nobody knows about them! Or it can be about some rare animals that most people would never have even heard about. Or cool conservation projects that happen in your neighbourhood. You can even make your own quizzes, riddles and games. It is 100% your segment, but we will help you out a bit by adding cool sound effects! Ready? Click on the ‘Leave us a message’ button below!
After being approached by a rather agitated lady in the Sherpa Barista Bakery, Emma is shocked to discover that this mysterious person thinks she stole Adelia Goodwin’s secret journal! Emma quickly realizes that this individual must have known Adelia at some point. In order to gain her trust and prove her identity as an Earth Ranger, Emma has to answer three questions about animals and get at least two of them right! Can she do it? Can this mysterious figure tell her more about Adelia’s disappearance?
Click the play button on the player below to listen to today’s episode!
Emma sure had her work cut out for her to answer Dr. Juliette Giri’s questions! Test your animal knowledge below:
Which of the following animals is the main source of food for snow leopards in the Himalayas? A) the red isopod B) the green yak C) the yellow snake D) the blue sheep
Blue sheep! Check them out in the photo below. They’re not actually blue, and they’re more closely related to a goat than a sheep.
These are bahral sheep (also known as the blue sheep)! They’re the main source of food for snow leopards in the Himalays.
Of the Panthera genus –which species is most closely related to snow leopards:
Snow leopards are most closely related to Tigers! Did you get it right?
True or False: snow leopards have a roar that’s louder than a Jaguar’s but less loud than a Lion’s
Check out this video curtesy of BWCDO, Snow Leopard Conservancy, and The White Lion Foundation for the answer. Click here to learn about their partnership project conserving snow leopards in the Karakoram Mountains!
False! In fact, snow leopards can’t roar at all!
Stay tuned for more episodes to find out what happens next!
Emma may just have embarked on an epic quest, but our junior wildlife reporters contest is still going on!
If you’ve ever wanted to be a podcast correspondent, here is your chance. You can create your very own animal report! It could be about your all-time favourite animal, with some cool wacky facts that nobody knows about them! Or it can be about some rare animals that most people would never have even heard about. Or cool conservation projects that happen in your neighbourhood. You can even make your own quizzes, riddles and games. It is 100% your segment, but we will help you out a bit by adding cool sound effects! Ready? Click on the ‘Leave us a message’ button below!
Would you have passed Juliette’s test?
What surprise is awaiting Emma at Juliette’s research station?
Emma and Sonic decided on some well-deserved rest after realizing that they’ve been “go-go-go” ever since they found Adelia Goodwin’s secret journal back at the Earth Rangers Centre. Taking some time to adjust to the altitude in the Himalayas, Emma catches up on her emails from Junior Wildlife Reporters across the world.
Click the play button on the player below to listen to today’s episode!
Check out Emma’s amazing view of the Himalayan mountains from her guest house!
What a great place to check emails from Junior Wildlife Reporters across the globe!
Stay tuned for more episodes to find out what happens next!
Emma may just have embarked on an epic quest, but our junior wildlife reporters contest is still going on!
If you’ve ever wanted to be a podcast correspondent, here is your chance. You can create your very own animal report! It could be about your all-time favourite animal, with some cool wacky facts that nobody knows about them! Or it can be about some rare animals that most people would never have even heard about. Or cool conservation projects that happen in your neighbourhood. You can even make your own quizzes, riddles and games. It is 100% your segment, but we will help you out a bit by adding cool sound effects! Ready? Click on the ‘Leave us a message’ button below!
Will Emma and Sonic adjust to the altitude?
Where will Emma head to next?
What will they learn about the disappearance of Adelia Goodwin?