Snacks and snackers – animal life in rainforest bromeliad pools Bromeliad pools make great snack bars for lots of different animals. For example, see those mosquito larvas? (top) The larvas munch on mini-meals living in the bromeliad’s pool. And the larvas get munched on by bigger animals. Other young animals find plenty to eat in […]
Adventures of Ranger Rick: Boomer tries to make music but finds he can’t beat a flock of experts – short story Nora Steiner Mealy Ranger Rick Raccoon and a tired Scarlett Fox trudged through some bushes in the late afternoon. Boomer Badger, fiddling with some kind of stick, trotted along behind. “Let’s camp . . […]
Peeper power! – peeper frogs Ellen Lambeth Winter’s just about over. How can you tell? Just listen! In many places, the damp night air rings with the sound of tiny treefrogs called spring peepers. But there’s nothing tiny about the peepers’ peeps. First you may notice one PEEP here, then another PEEP there. Before long, […]
ANIMALS AT YOUR SERVICE : Just look what these animals are doing for people! – animals help sick and handicapped people Deborah Churchman Dolphins helping children learn. Horses teaching kids to walk. Cats visiting patients in hospitals. What’s going on? These days, some really amazing animals are helping people–in very special ways. Here are some […]
What are coatis? – Ask Scarlett Coatis (ko-AH-tees) are raccoon cousins with long tails (see photo at left). They’re also called coatimundis (ko-AH-tuh-MUN-deez). These intelligent animals live in parts of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. Coatis spend a lot of time in trees. Females even make nests for their young […]
What’s the world’s strongest animal? – Ask Scarlett I’ll bet you’re thinking, “Is it an elephant? Tiger? Whale?” Well, think smal- ler–MUCH smaller. Some scientists say it’s an insect called the rhinoceros beetle. You’re probably wondering how a little ol’ insect can be stronger than any of those big creatures. You have to compare what […]
Battery included! – poem and short article on electric eels Dorothy Dean An electrical eel In search of a meal Has manners most shockingly rude. Yet this slow-swimming fryer Requires no wire To sizzle and frizzle her food. How amazing to glide With a battery inside, For she may not be clever or cunning. Though […]
Hog-Wild Over Corn – facts about corn Janeen R. Adil Feeling corn-fused? Here’s an earful of cool corny facts! It may not look like it, but corn really comes from a kind of grass! Scientists aren’t sure what the first corn was like, but it may have been a tiny ear less than an inch […]
Hurricane bits – facts about hurricanes * Hurricanes are powerful, whirling storms that start over warm water in the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean. They usually happen in late summer or early fall, and may measure up to 300 miles (480 km) across. In the center is a calm area about 20 miles (32 […]
Dear Ranger Rick Last March, we did a story about animals with weird noses. We asked what kinds of animal noses you readers would like to have. Here are just some of the many noses you chose. “The elephant seal uses its nose to fight off intruders by making really loud sounds. I would love […]