FUN NATURE FACTS
A skunk can spray up to 20 feet. The heart of a shrimp is located in its head. A snail can sleep for three years. Slugs have four noses. Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump. It takes a sloth two weeks to digest its food. www.thinkoutsideboxes.com
IT'S GETTING WILD Dear fellow OUTSiDER, While you will likely not spot wild lions anywhere in North America, there are many other amazing animals to observe. This month's box focuses on animal tracking. It is a great way to connect to nature in a very direct and hands-on manner. It teaches us to be more aware of the creatures around us and gives us a chance to use critical thinking skills and scientific inquiry methods. And most of all, it is fun! You don't need anything specific to do animal tracking, but we did include a few tools in your box. Not to mention, the activities in this booklet will help you take it up a notch and stay safe in the outdoors. As always, we'd love to hear about your experiences, so please keep us updated @thinkoutsideboxes. Over & Out! THiNK OUTSiDE
Learn it Q. What is a lion’s favorite state?
Try it
Live it
A. Maine
THIS MONTH’S GEAR Binoculars Compact, quality 30x60 binocular with adjustable focus To be used day & night For watching animals and scoping out other things that are far away Give it a try: From how far away can you still read this page?
WATERResistant Journal & PenCIL Use during all weather conditions For taking notes and drawings of tracks, animals, plants, and many other items Rulers to take quick measurements
BEAR BELL Attaches to clothing or backpack Moving causes steady ringing to warn animals of your presence Enclosed magnet eliminates noise when not in use
MEASURING TAPE Lightweight for easy measurements
Good-to-Have Other Tools Take a magnifying glass for a closer look at insects (Nature Box) Get a flashlight for after dark explorations (Night Box) Use your phone to look for additional info
in the field
Animal Tracking Cards Water resistant resource cards around animal tracking
ANIMAL TRACKS Just like your own steps in the snow, or wet prints on dry asphalt, animals leave tracks behind. Based on the size, type of print, and distance between steps, you can identify the animal who made that track. As you are venturing out to look for animal tracks, one of the most common mistakes is thinking all tracks look alike or should look exactly like the ones shown here or on the resource cards.
Tracking Tips Don't rush to conclusions; take your time. Never use a single characteristic to identify a track. Examine more than one track in a sequence of tracks. Look at both front and back paw prints and the distance between strides. Look at the stride and track pattern for additional clues. Assess the natural habitat to make sure that the animal you are considering even lives there. Enjoy the adventure and have fun
Do you know to whom those prints belong?
BEAVER PRINT
TURKEY PRINT
DUCK PRINT
COW PRINT
DOG versus CAT PRINTS Your resource cards have tracks of many different animals, but let's talk about cats versus dogs. When you think about dog prints, don't just think domestic dogs, but also red and gray fox, coyote, or wolf. And with cats also think cougar, mountain lion, or bobcat. While their tracks look similar, here are a few good ways to determine which animal category you are tracking.
CATS
DOGS
Claw marks are usually a good indication of a dog print. But be aware that they may not be visible on every surface.
Cats can retract their claws so they typically don't leave imprints. Cats may only leave a claw mark when running or pouncing.
In general, dog prints are more symmetrical and egglike in shape. The front two toes are side-by-side, or very close to it.
Cat tracks are more asymmetrical and show a clear "leading" toe. Their overall foot print is more round-shaped than oval.
The foot pad of a dog typically has a "hill" at the top of it.
The foot pad of a cat is typically larger and has three lobes at the bottom.
A. A Buck. Check bear-tracker.com for more tracking tips and details
ANIMAL "WASTE" Besides looking for foot or paw prints in the soil, mud, or snow, other things that are left behind by animals can also provide clues about what you are tracking.
SKIN & FUR Here are parts of animals' bodies that can be left behind:
id the d t a e Wh to th y a s dog ea? fl
FEATHERS - Birds often lose feathers, naturally or in fights. FUR - Mammals can get their fur caught on bushes and twigs as they pass by them. ANTLERS - Some hoofed mammals, such as white-tailed deer, shed their antlers every year. SKIN - Reptiles shed their skin as they grow, such as snakes who peel their whole skin off all at once.
DROPPINGS All animals leave droppings because they all have to eat and get rid of their waste, just like us humans. Scientists call these droppings "scat." An animal's scat can tell us what they eat, if they're sick, and what kind of animal it is. MAMMALS - The scat of many wild carnivores, such as a fox, will be thick, often with fur of the animals they've eaten. BIRDS - Bird droppings usually look like colored paint blotches because they have fallen from above. Most bird droppings are pasty and white. INSECTS - Insects, like a cockroach, leave droppings that are usually just a few millimeters long
Never pic k up scat! It co uld carry dis eases.
ANIMAL HOMES Mammals, insects, and birds all create homes. You've probably seen many different bird nests before, but have you also seen the homes mammals build, called "burrows"? Below are just a few examples of animal homes you might see out in the wild.
Bee Hive
FOX HOLE
Squirrel tree nest
A "Stop bugging me."
MOLE HILL
Spider Web
Nut shells, animal bones, or other food waste can also give you an idea of which animals live nearby.
Tip!
JOURNAL THAT Journaling is a great way to keep track (pun intended) of all the amazing wildlife you observe on each of your nature walks. So go outside and put your new journal to good use! Every time you write into your journal, make sure you note the Date and Time of your hike and to Title your sketches. Below are some things you can put in your waterproof journal as you are doing some outdoor exploring: Sounds you've heard (loud? close by?) Animals, tracks, and plants you've observed (scary? cute? size?) Stuff you've touched (no poop please!) Drawings of things you've seen: It can be a sketch of an animal or whole scenes of a special place (be creative!) Natural items like pressed leaves or flowers
The most important thing to remember about journaling is that this is YOUR JOURNAL. There is no right or wrong way to keep a journal. Have fun with it and make it a cool way to capture your adventures!
October 2020
I see a Squirrel
MEASURE YOUR STRIDE Step length is the distance covered in an average step, either from toe to toe or from heel to heel.
To measure it, you'll need: Two pens, a tape measure, and a calculator. Place one pen on the ground and hold the other pen in your hand. Place both of your heels next to each other so they are touching your starting line (your pen) and walk 5 steps. Bring your feet together on the 5th step and place the second pen behind your heels. Step away and grab your tape measure. Measure the distance between the two pens. Use the calculator to divide the distance by 5 to calculate your stride length. Once you know your stride length, you can use it to calculate how many steps you need to take to cover a mile: 1 mi = 5,280 feet or 63,360 inches a kilometer: 1 ft = 30.48 cm and 1 km = 100,000 cm
COMPARE STRIDES Now that you know how to measure your own stride, go outside and find some animal tracks and measure them. How does their print size and distance between prints differ from yours?
MIGRATION Many animals move in groups from one place to another and, in most cases back again, to find warmer climates, water, or better nourishment. These travels, typically from one habitat to another, are referred to as animal migration and can cover long distances. Most animals that migrate live in places that have clearly defined seasons, where food can become scarce in colder months or during drought. In fact, food is the single most important reason why animals migrate. Another reason for animals to migrate is to avoid extreme heat or cold and to find better conditions in which to raise their young.
At least 4,000 species of birds (or 40% of birds) are regular migrants. Birds are well known for reaching great heights and flying incredible distances when they migrate, often in flocks. Their endurance of travel across oceans is astounding! The Arctic tern travels the farthest distance of any bird in the world. These beautiful birds with black caps and red bills can fly nearly 50,000 mi (or 80,000 km) round trip between their breeding grounds in the Arctic and the Antarctic - just so they can avoid winters completely!
But it's not just birds that migrate. All kinds of animals can migrate, and not all journeys are long. And size doesn't matter when it comes to migration distances. For example, the Humpback whale often travels 3,000 mi (or 4,800 km) each way from their feeding grounds in the cold waters of the Polar regions to their breeding grounds in the warmer waters of tropical regions.
How do they know where to go? It is not exactly clear how some animals know where to go, but animals likely use some or all of the ways below: They use visible cues. These cues can be visible landmarks, such as mountains or rivers, or the position of the sun during the day and the moon and stars during the night. They use invisible cues. These cues could come in the form of scent, using their sense of smell to figure out where they are going, or using the Earth's magnetic field to navigate. They communicate. Some animals that travel in groups may use sounds to tell others where they are and where they are headed. They have good instincts. Some scientists think that some of these animals genetically inherit migratory routes from their parents, so they can just follow their natural instincts.
SPOTLIGHT: THE BALD EAGLE COMMON NAME Bald Eagle SCIENTIFIC NAME Haliaeetus leucocephalus DIET Carnivore AVERAGE LIFE SPAN Up to 35 years SIZE Body: up to 43 in (or 110 cm) Wingspan: up 8 ft (or 2.5 m) WEIGHT 6.5 to 14 lbs (or 3 to 6.5 kg) These majestic birds have been the national symbol of the United States since 1782. Many think that they got their name because their white head can make them look bald. In reality, the name comes from an old English word, "balde," which means white. Bald eagles were on the endangered species list for quite some time because hunting and pollution had put them at risk of extinction. Luckily, laws created nearly 40 years ago helped to protect them and rebuild their population. Bald eagles are known for being predators who prey not only on fish but also upon other birds and small animals like rabbits. They build their nests at the very top of tall trees to ensure their eggs are safe. Their babies are called eaglets and are born light gray, then turn brown. Bald eagles can soar over 10,000 feet (or 3 km) high. Their exceptional eyesight lets them see fish up to one mile (or 1.6 km) away. When they attack, they glide just above the water, snatch a fish with their feet, and fly off to eat it.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE Just like the bald eagle is the national symbol for the United States, every state or region has a bird, flower, or tree as its symbol. Do you know yours? Try to complete the below checklist for your state/region and country.
Name your State/Region__________________________ Name its Capitol ________________________________ Name its Bird ___________________________________ Name its Flower _________________________________ Name its Tree ___________________________________ Name your Country's Capitol ______________________ Name the National Bird __________________________ Name the National Flower ________________________ Name the National Tree __________________________
He felt a little funny
ed What happen on when the li dian? ate the come
WHAT EATS WHAT Energy is necessary for all living beings to grow. Every time you move, you use energy. The more you move, such as running or hiking, the more energy you use. The same is true for animals. Just like us, animals get energy from the food they eat. Plants use sunlight, water, and nutrients to get energy - a process called photosynthesis.
Food Chain A food chain refers to how each person, animal, or plant gets food, and how nutrients and energy are passed from one creature to another. Food chains begin with plant-life and end with animal-life Herbivore : An animal who only eats plants, such as:
Carnivore: An animal who eats other animals, such as:
Omnivore: An animal who eats plants and animals, such as Q. Why does a giraffe have such a long neck?
Food Chain Example
Dead Grass - eaten by Earthworm - eaten by Bird - eaten by Snake
CHAIN IT TOGETHER Test your knowledge on what eats what and in which order with this fun activity. Simply connect the right pictures with each other using a pen. There are three (3) different food chain examples included in this activity, but you could find more.
3. Nuts, Squirrel , Hawk 2. Sun, Leaves, Ants, Anteater 1. Grass, Rabbit , Snake, Owl Answers
HINT
A. Because his feet stink!
BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity, or biological diversity, refers to all kinds of life you can find in one area, including plants, animals, fungi, or bacteria. Biodiversity is important for a healthy environment, because many species that live in one place depend on one another for their own survival. Much like the food chain, when biodiversity of an area is disrupted, it can have a ripple effect throughout the natural environment in that area. For example, as elephants roam in their natural habitat, they clear away trees and plants so that new forms of vegetation can grow. If you remove the elephants from an area, what would happen to the rest of the species that live there?
Copying Nature There are so many things we can learn from nature. Scientists and engineers often use processes found in nature as a basis for innovative solutions to every day challenges. This process of imitation is referred to as biomimicry. For example, Velcro was invented by Georges de Mestral when he noticed how burs stuck to his dog's fur during one of their walks together
CLEAN UP! You might have heard how oil spills are threatening our environment, especially because they are so difficult to clean up. See if you could remove an oil spill!
You’ll need Wide dish (like a pie plate or plastic container) | Water | Salt | Vegetable oil | Optional: food coloring 'Cleaning' materials, such as feathers, cotton balls, straws, fake fur, detergent, or anything else you think could help remove the oil from the water. Make Predictions: How easily do you think the oil can be separated from the water? Which of the materials you collected will be most successful in cleaning up the oil?
Instructions 1. Fill your dish with water, add some salt to it, and then place 5 drops of oil on the water. If you'd like, you can add food coloring to your oil first to make it more visible. 2. One by one, try out each of your materials to remove the oil from the water.
What is the reaction of oil to your cleaning efforts? Which techniques seemed to work best? Does the oil cling to the cleaning materials? Can you contain the oil in a small space? If you used detergent, what effect did it have on oil? If you used a feather, what happened to it?
USING BINOCULARS Binoculars are a fun way to see plants, animals, or objects that are far away. But if you've never used binoculars before, they can be a bit tricky to use at first.
Making your binoculars work for you:
1
COMFORT: Hold the binoculars to your eyes and test the width by making sure that you can only see one, rather than two circles.
2
ZERO IN: Stare at a relatively close object (maybe 20 feet or 6 meters away) before putting the binoculars up to your eyes. Then look through the binoculars straight at the object. Make sure you can still see it through the binoculars.
3
ADJUST FOCUS: While you are staring at the object, put your finger on the focus wheel (the rolling knob on the top) and roll the wheel until the object you are looking at becomes clear.
4
REPEAT: Repeat steps 1 - 3 until you feel comfortable using the binoculars.
SAFETY TIPS Whenever you get new gear or learn a new activity, it is important to understand how to keep yourself and your gear (in this case: your binoculars) safe. Here are some quick tips:
NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN Looking at the sun can severely damage your eyes.
STRAP IT Make sure you keep the strap around your neck when using binoculars. They can easily slip and break.
KEEP THEM PROTECTED Avoid drops or other hard blows which may harm your binocular lenses or case
DO NOT LEAVE IN A HOT CAR Leaving your binoculars in a hot car may damage them.
DON'T WALK WITH YOUR BINOCULARS ON Don't walk with binoculars up to your eyes without anyone nearby guiding you. It is very dangerous as you can easily walk into oncoming traffic or trees and fall.
DO NOT SOAK BINOCULARS IN WATER Binoculars cannot be used in water. Wipe off moisture with a dry cloth for storage. If you accidentally dropped the binoculars in water, pick them up as soon as possible and wipe the water off with a dry cloth. S! the TIP Follow u will and yo e be saf
GET OUT AND ZOOM IN Well, you probably can't wait to test out your binoculars in the great outdoors. So what are you waiting for? Pick a spot where you can observe wildlife, like a wetland or river area, or even the zoo!
2
1
Find an animal you'd like to observe from afar. If you can't find anything, sit still for a few minutes and listen. Wait until you hear something, then look towards the sound.
Zoom into the animal and watch it for a while. Is it moving? What is its shape or color? Is it carrying anything, like a nut, grass, or a worm?
4
3
Once you are done observing, take out your journal and draw a picture of it or write down some notes.
a frog’s Q What’s drink? e favorit
THE BALANCE GAME Here is another fun game to do with your family or friends! YOU NEED: Binoculars | Long String | Stopwatch
1.
Find a safe spot in your backyard or in a park away from traffic and obstacles. Lay the string on the ground to make a line across the area.
2.
Challenge your friends and family to walk along the line while looking through the wrong end of your binoculars. Players who look away from the
3.
The person who can walk the line the fastest and straightest is the winner!
-a-cola A Croak
GLOBAL FEATURE:
Maasai Mara National Reserve Kenya, Africa The Maasai Mara National Reserve is located in southwestern Kenya, along the border of Tanzania. It is about 168 mi (or 270 km) from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi City. This Reserve alone stretches 580 sq miles (or 1,510 sq km). It is one of Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserves. It is filled with many different wild animals, such as cheetahs, elephants, hippos, lions, and zebras. It hosts over 95 species of mammals and over 570 recorded species of birds. You may have heard that the wildebeest traverse this area as part of their annual migration. These beautiful animals can best be spotted between July and October.
SAFARI When tourists travel to Africa, they often schedule a multiday safari, where they participate in a guided overland tour across the Savannah. Safaris are a great way to observe and photograph animals in their natural habitat Many of the tourist activities, such as safaris, help bring in money that is used to preserve the land and its many animal and plant species. These preservation efforts are vital to ensuring the survival of many of these species for future generations to enjoy.
SKETCH IT Use your notebook to practice sketching animals, trees, bugs, or other things found in the wild. Try this sketch of a black bear. Use this example for general sketching tips.
1
2
Start with lightly drawing an oval for the head and lines to begin shaping the body.
Continue outlining key features, such as the snout, arm, and torso (or belly).
3
4
Finish the shape by adding smaller features, such as ears, nostrils, the mouth, and other arm.
Erase unwanted lines and darken remaining lines. Finish by filling in facial details and shading.
How NEAT is that? That's beary neat
SPOTLIGHT: BEARS In North America there are generally two types of bears: The Brown Bear (aka Grizzly Bear) and the Black Bear. Despite apparent differences in size and color, black bears and grizzly bears are often difficult to tell apart. While grizzly bears are typically larger than black bears, the best indicators are: shoulder size (grizzlies have a pronounced shoulder hump); face profile (black bears have a flatter profile and larger ears); and claw length (grizzlies' claws are much larger). Black bears prefer extensive wooded areas, typically near lowlands and wetlands. Large trees with strong, furrowed bark are used to climb for refuge to keep their black bear cubs safe. Grizzly bears occupy a greater range of habitats, anything from the Arctic barren grounds to the prairie and foothill grasslands or the thick temperate rain forests of Alaska
Scare off a Bear Most bear attacks happen when bears are startled through sudden encounters and in close quarters. To avoid startling a bear, wear your bear bell proudly on your clothing or backpack when hiking through bear country. If you see a bear, the best thing to do is to stand and face the bear directly. Do not run away from or towards the bear! Try to make yourself look as big as possible by spreading your arms or your coat. And make as much noise as possible by yelling, banging things together, or shaking your bear bell.
I'M PUZZLED
Fill in the blanks of each word. Then string the letters together to find out the question everyone is asking.
ou t do y Q Wha is f h call a eye? t an withou
A. FSH
EMPATHY: ANIMAL CRUELTY Sadly, some people are not nice to animals and either ignore or neglect them by not giving them water, food, or love. Sometimes they even intentionally hurt them by hitting the animal or keeping them locked in a small cage. Luckily, there are organizations dedicated to helping animals, by getting animals out of an abusive situation, providing necessary medical care, finding new loving families who will take them in, and giving food, water, and shelter in the short-term.
HOW TO SPEAK UP? If you see an animal being hurt, you can help by speaking up for that animal. But keep the following rules in mind: Never try to stop a person hurting an animal by yourself. Don't try to help an animal who is hurt without an adult. Get an adult you trust, like your mom, dad, teacher, or neighbor. Tell them what you saw. Work with the adult to call 911 or animal control.
Animal Shelters Approximately 3.3 million dogs and 3.2 million cats live in animal shelters. The good news is that the number has declined since 2011. With your parent's help, you can go visit an animal shelter and help volunteer by being kind to the animals or taking them on a walk. The Humane Society is probably the best known agency that provides assistance and support to abused animals. www.humanesociety.org
NATIONAL PARK SPOTLIGHT
Denali National Park Alaska is home to eight stunning National Parks, including Denali National Park. Around the park, and in the wildlands of Alaska in general, is where you can find America’s “Big 5” animals: Caribou, Moose, Dall Sheep, Wolves, and Grizzly Bears. The Denali National Park is located in the heart of Alaska and spans 6 million acres. It was created in 1917 to protect the wildlife living in the slopes and valleys of the Alaskan range. In addition to the Big 5, the park is also home to Lynx, Wolverines, Coyotes, Marmots, and Red Foxes. The 92-mile long Denali Park Road is the only road in the park. Along its route, you can see beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Between late May and early September, private vehicles may drive the first 15 miles of this road to a place called Savage River. After the 15 mile marker, you either need to travel on bike, foot, or as part of a bus tour to get deeper into the park.
Name Feud The name of the highest mountain in North America became a subject of dispute in 1975, when the Alaska Legislature asked the federal government to change its name from Mount McKinley to Denali. The name Denali is based on the Koyukon name Deenaalee ("the high one") which was still the common name used in the state. It was officially changed in 2015.