ENVIRONMENT An Earth Day success story! Most humpback whale populations may soon be off the endangered species list. “We live in an age where all we hear is terrible news,” says one expert. “[T]he fact that something as iconic and amazing as a humpback whale can be taken off the endangered list is a phenomenal thing.” (San Jose Mercury News) Learn more about humpbacks’ incredible … Continue reading Hooray for Humpbacks
By Bonnie Long from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality As winter fades away and the earth heats up with springtime sun, many hibernating critters begin to emerge from their long winter sleep. Be on the lookout for reptiles seeking warmth as you explore! Did you know that some snakes hibernate? A common North American group of closely related species are the Black Rat snakes. … Continue reading Creature Feature! Sssigns of Ssspring
SCIENCE Researchers have revealed how porpoises finely adjust the beams of sound they use to hunt. (BBC) Use our resources to learn more about porpoises and dolphins here. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit. Discussion Ideas Researchers profiled in the BBC article studied the way porpoises use echolocation to hunt fish. What is echolocation? Echolocation is the … Continue reading The Porpoise of Echolocation
By Jen Schill and Jeanette Lim from the Biomimcry Institute A lizard covered in horns and spines might not sound appetizing to us, but to many other animals, it’s a tasty treat! Horned lizards, also known as horny toads because of their toad-like round body and blunt snout, live in deserts and semi-arid regions from southern Canada to Guatemala. To fend off predators including hawks, … Continue reading Creature Feature: Lizards Under Pressure
SCIENCE The population of wild giant pandas has risen some 17% in just over a decade, the Chinese government reported this week. (Nat Geo News) Play our game to design a giant panda wildlife reserve with the right amount of food, water, and shelter to help your pandas be healthy, learn important survival and social skills, and prepare for release into the wild. Teachers, scroll down for … Continue reading Panda Populations on the Rebound
