Native to China, the Philippines, Southern Inda, and Southeast Asia, Asian Small-clawed Otters (Aonyx cinerea) use scent to identify themselves. Each otter has a distinct, individual odor, just like human's have distinct, individual fingerprints. They are the smallest otter species with webbed ront paws nails that do not extend past the webbing, giving them the ability to catch food on shore and hold onto it while eating.

IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable - decreasing population trend.


Catch Me if You Can

The elusive Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) has short legs but rather large paws. Named for the spots on its hide, these cats are seldom seen in the wild and remain something of a mystery. They roam the hunting grounds of Asia from the rain forests of Indonesia to the foothills of the Nepali Himalayas eating deer, pigs, monkeys and other small animals. Strong climbers, they can hang upside down from tree branches and have rotating rear ankles to help them "downclimb" in a head-first posture. Their tails are almost as long as their body to help maintain balance. Relative to their body size, they have the largest canines of all living cats.

IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable - decreasing population trend.


Lend a Hand--Or a Tail

Brown-headed Spider Monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) are found in the rainforests of Central/South America. These monkeys are considered to be New World monkeys, yet have an interesting characteristic, thought to be somewhat primitive. They do not have a thumb, like all other primates, and they only have four fingers. Spider monkeys have a section at the end of their tails, on the underside, that is bare and has prints similar to those of human fingerprints. They use this for gripping and holding on, when they wrap their prehensile tail around tree branches.

IUCN Conservation Status: Critically Endangered - decreasing population trend.


I'm No Pig!

Collared Peccaries (Pecari tajacu also known as "Javelinas") may look like pigs, but actually are not. They are in a completely separate family than true pigs. Peccaries are smaller, have thinner legs, and smaller hooves than pigs. They have three toes on each hind foot, instead of four like pigs. The upper tusks are pointed down, rather than curled upward or growing out to the side like warthogs would. In addition, they have a powerful musk gland on the top of the rump; you may smell a peccary before you even see it. These interesting, stinky, creatures originated in South America, but have migrated north and can now be found in Arizona!

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern - population trend stable.

Long, short, thick, or fine, fur serves many functions and comes in many forms. All warm-blooded mammals, including humans, have some type of hair or fur. Even elephants and rhinos have coarse hair all over thier leathery bodies. Fur is and insulator, keeping animals warm and dry. Fur can serve as camouflage as well--the color patterns and stripes in the fur of many animals helps them blend in to their surroundings, making it easier to avoid predators. The bold black and white stripes on a zebra's hide are as unique as fingerprints--no two zebras ever have the same stripe pattern. Here we will meet some amazing furry friends and learn about their unique characteristics and the role they play in the ecosystems in which they live.

CREATURE FEATURE - Ice Baby "Lyuba"
Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)


Photo courtesy of National Geographic

A baby woolly mammoth, more than 40,000 years old, was discovered in May 2007, by a reindeer herder in Siberia. It is by far the most complete and well-preserved mammoth specimen scientists have ever discovered. Named "Lyuba", she was approximately one month old when she died. The only parts missing were her hair and toenails. She was found on a sandbar in the Yuribey River in Siberia. Mammoths are an extinct group of prehistoric elephants. Scientists suggest that mammoths became extinct due to human hunting and climate change. Researchers came to many conclusions after conducting various tests including x-ray, ultrasound, digital imaging, and DNA/tissue collection. They believe that she either drowned in the river where she was found, or suffocated from mud inhalation while drowning. Her trunk, throat, mouth and windpipe were filled with dense sediment. Lyuba's age was determined by examining her teeth. Mammoths' teeth work the same as modern-day elephants--since they are relatives--and share many similarities. By cutting open a tusk, they can read the age of the animal by counting the inner lines, similar to counting the rings inside a tree trunk. Scientists also tested materials in her abdomen and stomach to see what she had been eating. Scientists believe she was so well preserved due to bacteria in the surrounding water that caused lactic acid to form in her tissue before she was frozen. Lyuba's discovery is exciting to scientists, paleontologists, and biologists alike for she gives us a clear snapshot into the past, when giant mammoths roamed the Earth. For more information visit National Geographic, and click here for amazing photos of Lyuba.

Conservation Status: Extinct...for now.

Human Environmental Impact is defined as consequence of human action on nature: the indirect and direct consequences of human actions on the natural environment.

Every day, whether we realize it or not, humans directly impact the natural world in countless ways. Here we will explore different examples of human impact and discuss the simple things we we can all do to mimimize the negetive consequences to our environment.

TOXIC TRASH
TRUTH: Humans litter. We casually throw away trash in natural areas without considering how this affects surrounding wildlife.

CONSEQUENCE: Discarded glass and plastic are especially problematic for wildlife. Broken glass can cut the feet of foxes, coyotes, badgers or any other animal that comes in contact with it. Broken glass can also be accidentally ingested, causing internal bleeding and death. Unbroken bottles present an equal hazard to wildlife. Small animals in search of food often get their heads caught in the openings of bottles and jars, resulting in suffocation and death.

Plastic six-pack holders and drink bottle holders are especially hazardous to wildlife. Everything from birds to fish to marine and land mammals can get snared in the plastic rings. Plastic floats, so if these rings find their way into rivers, lakes, or even the ocean, they become deadly traps for any animal that happens to get their head, foot, wing or fin snared in the plastic. Did you know that some plastic releases toxic chemicals over time? Discarded plastic can release hormones that directly affect wildlife, especially if the plastic is left in water. Studies have shown that the reproductive cycles of some frogs and fish can be dramatically altered if they live in water contaminated with plastic waste.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Use less plastic and glass. Don't buy products that are over-packaged, or packaged with uneccessary plastics.

Dispose of glass and plastic appropriately. The best solution is to recycle all your glass and plastic containers. This not only protects wildlife, it helps reduce the amount of waste in landfills and in turn reduces space needed for our trash.

If you don't recycle, wrap your glass in newspaper before disposing of it properly--in a sealed garbage container that animals cannot get into.

Be sure to cut all plastic rings and bindings apart, so they do not become accidental snares.

Become involved in community clean-up projects like Earth Day. Better yet, make community clean up a routine. If you see trash in a field or along a road, pick it up (wear gloves or some other hand protection).

Use your voice--teach others about the need for protecting animals from trash.

These simple steps can go a long way toward turning negative human impact into positive human impact.