Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Cool Wild Animal Facts - Connor Reynolds


Cool Wild Animal Facts
          I’ve always been a fan of big cats and bears and all sort of wild animals, so I wanted to just let everyone know some cool interesting facts about my favorite wild animals.
#1 Tigers
          Tigers have always been my favorites. I like Bengal tigers the most, especially ones with a pigmentation disorder that causes them to be white. A tiger’s roar can be heard over a mile away. No two tigers have the same coat like no two humans have the same finger print. Tiger’s urine smells like buttered popcorn. It’s GROSS but kind of cool. Male tigers, unlike lions, wait for the females to eat first. Last, tigers enjoy water and swimming unlike other cats.
#2 Polar Bears
          I’ve always thought polar bears were interesting because of how they can survive in the arctic. Polar bears aren’t actually white but have an outer coat that is see-through and an undercoat that is colorless. These amazing animals can swim for 62 miles; some can swim up to 200, or even 426 miles. Polar bears can’t be detected by infrared cameras, only their eyes and mouths will show.
#3 Koalas
          Most people know that koalas live in Australia and eat eucalyptus leaves, but you may find they have some cool traits. If you have time, go to this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djK_ucSYpaw&feature=youtu.be You can watch the most hilarious and adorable video of two koalas having a conversation/fight. A koala is the size of a large bean when it’s born. Koalas are not bears, but are called koala bears because they look like teddy bears.
#4 Kermode Bears (A.K.A. Spirit Bears)

         


Most people have never heard of this bear before because there are fewer than 400 in the world. They are actually black bears and aren’t considered albinos. They can run up to 34 mph. If anyone shoots a spirit bear people can be charged up to $104,000 in fines. Their average life span is 20 to 25 years and Native American legends say they are reminders of the past.
#5 Hyenas
          Nobody I’ve ever talked to has thought that hyenas are cool animals, but I saw an interesting documentary on them the other day. Hyenas look like dogs but are more closely related to cats. They will live in clans as large as 80 hyenas and are ruled by a female. To celebrate after hunting, hyenas make a sort of laughing noise. When cubs are born their eyes are open and they are armed with sharp teeth. The cubs will fight each other for dominance and will often die from this.
#6 Snow Leopards
          Normally the word “snow” and I don’t mix because I hate the winter and the cold, but I think the snow leopard is a fascinating animal. They use their tails as scarves and to help them keep their balance. Also, their feet act as natural snow shoes. A snow leopard is more closely related to the cheetahs than leopards. Like tigers, their coats each have unique spot patterns, and they can’t roar. Snow leopards can also leap over a fire truck…the long way.
#7 Wolverines
         
Wolverines may look like small bears, but they are actually part of the weasel family. Their roaming areas can be up to 500 square miles. They are built to go long distances with ease. One wolverine was tracked, and it climbed a 10,000 ft mountain in less than two hours. Jasper, an orphaned wolverine, has been raised by humans and trained to find people buried in snow from avalanches. There are so few wolverines that they are extremely hard to find.
#8 Platypuses
          Have you ever wondered about these duck/beaver looking creatures? Well, I’ll give you some interesting facts about them. They have venom spurs to defend themselves which can kill small animals but they only cause pain to us. To hunt, they use electrical signals find their surroundings. They don’t do too well outside of the water and basically walk on their knuckles, which is less efficient for them. Even weirder, they don’t have any stomachs! Eating must be a blast. If you ever get in fight with someone about multiple platypuses make sure you know “platypodes” is the technical correct way to say it but most dictionaries use “platypuses” not “platypi.”