Learn

Giraffes are beautiful creatures. Here are some giraffe facts:

• Giraffes live 20 to 25 years.
• Different species of giraffe have different spot patterns. In one species, the reticulated giraffe, spots darken from tan to a deep chocolate brown as the giraffe ages.
• Giraffes have little horns covered with skin and tufts of hair on the top of their heads. The size of the horns is different in the different species. Since giraffes are closely related to deer, it is thought that these little horns are the remnant of a time when giraffes may have had antlers.
• Giraffes do occasionally sit and they often lie down to sleep.
• Giraffes only sleep for a few minutes at a time, the most being 20 minutes.
• While giraffes are usually quiet, they sometimes grunt, snort, or bleat.
• Adult males can weigh more than a ton (2,000 lbs.). Some weigh two tons!
• Giraffes are found in East Africa and in many African countries that lie south of the Sahara Desert, or in “sub-Saharan Africa.”
• The word “giraffe” means “the tallest of them all” and comes from the Arabic word “zirafah.”
• Giraffes are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Their favorite plants are Acacia and Combretum trees.

If you think there’s not much difference between a hedgehog and a porcupine, you may be surprised to find out just how different they could be! Here’s what we found out.

While you won’t find hedgehogs in North or South America, you may cross paths with a porcupine. Snub-nosed and pigeon-toed, a large porcupine weighs in at a hefty 15 pounds, almost four times as heavy as an average, pointy-snouted hedgehog. A funny thing about porcupines is that they have four toes on their front feet and five toes on their back feet!

Full Article »

If one summer evening, just after dusk, you saw a little creature waddling out from under the shrubbery on its 4 bare feet, sporting a thick coat of closely cropped quills, and making loud snuffling noises with its pointy snout, would you: a) Rub your eyes to see if you’re dreaming b) run for the hills, c) check to see if you’ve been transported back to prehistoric times, d) bust up laughing, e) try to pet it.

Well, if you’re just about anywhere in the world besides North or South America, you are probably looking at a very cute, though somewhat strange looking critter called a hedgehog.

Full Article »

The Praying Mantis is one of the most unique hunting insects in the world. Its camouflage tactics, speed, grace and poses make it a perfect symbol for one of the most powerful sects of Kung Fu.

The Mantis has short, broad wings. Its arm like legs have sharp hooks (which make it look like it is preying) to help kill its victims. The body is long and thin and held almost erect.

Full Article »

This legend begins in Europe during the Middle Ages, a time when castles were in fashion. Much of the land that surrounded a castle belonged to the lord of that castle.

The lord also owned some people as if they were property. These people were his serfs and they tilled the land and grew crops of many sorts including fruits and vegetables and most importantly, grain for bread.

Full Article »

Ladybugs are found everywhere and many people believe they bring good luck.

Several fanciful ideas have grown up around ladybugs. Read on for facts and legends about ladybugs from throughout the world.

Full Article »

Caribou are actually North American reindeer! The Inuit call Caribou tuktu. The underside of a Caribou hoof is concave and looks like a small narrow shovel. The hooves act like snowshoes, keeping the Caribou from sinking into deep snow. They’re also perfect for scooping out snow so the Caribou can find their food.

Caribou eat willow and birch branches along with grass in spring and summer. They eat mushrooms in autumn and lichens in the winter when no other plants are available. Their natural predators are wolves, grizzly bears and lynx.

Full Article »

Hello, my name is Ming Li. I woke up with a start this morning, positive my brother was sneaking into my room. He’s been after my pet cricket for weeks now. But my brother was nowhere to be seen and Kwo Kwo was still there, chirping away. I carefully removed the lid from the loosely woven reed box that is his home to say good morning. It still surprises me how Kwo Kwo’s antennae are so much longer than his little brown body.

Full Article »

• Color: black, green or brown.
• Size: 1/4 inch to 1 inch long
• Habitat: meadows, trees, forests, lawns, and houses
• Locations: every country in the world

Full Article »

You may be wondering what happened after the invention of the fire engine to all those trusty horses that gallantly served the many city and county fire departments across the country.

The older horses were put out to pasture for their retirement. The younger horses were sold to various merchants who used them to pull their delivery vans and carts. Occasionally a delivery cart would be seen careening around a corner at break-neck speed with the deliveryman holding on for dear life as the horse raced to the scene of a fire! Even after many years, the well-trained horses could not resist answering the call of a fire alarm!

Full Article »

As a young girl growing up in the Midwest, Jenny chased the dramatic orange and black butterflies called Monarchs across her neighbors’ yards and gardens. The butterfly’s fluttering beauty always conjured a flood of happy childhood memories.

Now stationed with her husband near Santa Barbara, California, Jenny wants to share her delight with her six year-old-son, Matt. The two of them get up this chilly December morning and head for the eucalyptus grove a few miles away.

Full Article »

The name Tarantula refers really, to a large varied group of hairy spiders. Not exactly what you want to find waiting for you when you pull back the covers at bedtime!

Actually, Tarantulas are generally not any more poisonous than other spiders, though their hairs can cause allergic reaction. They may be found in warm climates like those in the western and southern United States and the tropics. They like to live in small burrows.

Full Article »