Wild World Wednesday ~ the Polar Bear

We live in a wild world. Today we're visiting the frosty shores of the Arctic to take a peek at the polar bear. This mighty beast has loads to look at, so let's get started.

Not So White
To help keep the polar bear warm in all that snowy weather, its hair and skin are unlike other animals. The individual hairs on a polar bear are hollow and its skin is black. These two features help the bear absorb and hold the heat from the sun keeping it toasty warm. In fact, the polar bear tends to overheat more than it is ever cold.

The polar bear may look white, but it actually isn't. Because their hair is hollow the sun shining on each individual hair is reflected back and gives the appearance of being white.

Wild World Fact...
...polar bears can range in color from white, to creamy yellow to brown depending on the season.

BIG Bear!

The polar big is the biggest of its species and also the largest land predator. Males can grow up to 2000 pounds (800 kilos) and 10 feet (3 m) in length, while the females are up to 600 pounds (270 kilos) and 6.5 feet (1.9 m) in length.

The polar bears feet are built snow-tough! It's paws have long sharp claws for grasping and are snowshoe-like in nature - the polar bear can actually walk on ice and snow that a human would fall through! The pads on this bear's feet also have small "grippers" called papillae (something like the bumps on your tongue), that create a friction between its paws and the icy ground.

Did you know the polar bear also has webbed toes? It's true. The polar bear spends much of its time in the water and these specially built paws allow the bear to keep afloat; they use their front paws to propel them and their back legs to steer. In fact, it can swim up to 100 miles (161 km) at a time at the speed of 6 miles per hour.

Wild World Fact...

...the polar bear's fur is oily and water repellent, so all it has to do is shake to dry.

Baby Bears
Before Mom polar bear is ready to have her young she will dig a deep den out of the snow. This den could be one room or have many chambers. The female polar bear will then give birth in November or December to 1-3 cubs. The cubs are very small when they are born, less than a kilogram (1-1.5 pounds), are blind and have very little fur. Mom bear will stay in the den nursing her young until they are about 3 months old. At this time she will break through the snow and ice that has covered the mouth of her chambers where they will then emerge as a family. And even though the babies are able to walk, they stay with mom for about 2 1/2 years, learning how to hunt and survive on their own.
Wild World Fact...

...Baby polar bears learn how to "freeze" when Mom is hunting. If they make a move, mom bear will whack them on the back of the head.

To learn more about our icy friend the polar bear, check out your library or visit a zoo or marina.

For more articles and a new story everyday, check out knowonder magazine for kids.  It's FREE and we even have an app!

Totally True Tuesday

We all know dinosaurs lived many, many years ago before they became extinct. But did you know there’s other species of birds and mammals that once roamed our earth and oceans?

No Mo’ Dodo
Even though the Dodo bird didn’t have a great deal of time on earth, it’s often one of the first things we think of when we hear the word “extinct.” The Dodo species lived less than 100 years – it was discovered in 1598 and was extinct by 1681.

This grey, flightless, 3 foot tall bird (despite its large size – up to 40 pounds) was a member of the pigeon and dove family. It had a large hooked beak, a big, fluffy plume of white feathers on its hind-end, and stubby, weak wings. This fruit-loving bird was also thought to be quite friendly.

The Dodo’s lack of flight forced it to nest on the ground which may have led to its demise. Predators such as stray dogs and wild pigs would trample and eat the Dodo’s eggs as well as humans hunting the bird for its meat.

Is it wrong the Dodo’s gone? Imagine there was a Dodo in your own backyard or Dodo petting-zoos where we could feed this peculiar bird. What fun!

Cows of the Sea

The Steller Sea Cow was found along the North Pacific coast to California and Japan. This large manatee-like creature was given its name by Georg Wilhelm Steller who discovered it in 1741.

The Steller Sea Cow grew up to 25.9 feet long and weighed up to 4 tons. It had a small head, stubby front limbs and a whale-like tail. Its think, black skin was described as resembling tree bark. Since the Steller Sea Cow only ate plants, it had no teeth, only two flat bones one above the other. It never came to shore and lived in cold water.

Once the Sea Cow was discovered it didn’t take long before their numbers dwindled. It was very tame and docile which made it an easy target for hunters. The Steller Sea Cow’s hide was used in making boats, the fat for use in oil lamps and its meat for food.

Unfortunately, within 27 years of its discovery the slow moving Sea Cow was hunted to extinction.

Is it wrong the Sea Cow is gone? Perhaps, if this creature would have been given a chance we’d be able to watch a herd of them, slowly swimming by as they dug up their favorite food, the sea kelp. What a sight!

Oh Deer!

The Irish Deer or Irish elk, as it’s also called, is the largest known of its species. It stood 7 feet tall at the shoulder and had 12 foot wide antlers that could weigh up to 90 pounds.

It lived in throughout Europe, northern Asia and northern Africa. It’s called the “Irish” deer as well-preserved fossils of the giant animal have been commonly found in lake sediments and peat bogs in Ireland.

Since the Irish Deer went extinct approximately 7,700 years ago it’s difficult to determine what the cause of its demise was. Could it have been over-hunting by man? Or perhaps a change in the vegetation it had to eat, leading to malnutrition? We’ll probably never know for sure. However, if you want to see just how impressive this gigantic beast was, visit the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC, where the remains of this huge animal is on display.

Is it wrong the Irish Deer is gone? Imagine you’re walking through the woods and suddenly you catch a glimpse of the biggest animal you’ve ever seen. It stops and sniffs the air. Its giant antlers perfectly level with the top of a tree. What a sight!

If you want to learn more about these or other extinct animals, visit your local library, a museum, or the internet.

For more articles and a new fiction storie everyday, check out knowonder magazine for kids.  It's FREE and we have an app!

Furry Friend Friday ~ the Hamster

Do you or someone you know own a furry friend called a hamster?

They were first discovered in the Syrian desert about 70 years ago and have gained popularity over the years. They're cute, small, fluffy, very adaptable to living with their human caretakers and make a fun pet. Let's take a closer look at these amazing little creatures.

The Cheeky Chum

Other than being the perfect size to fit in your hand, hamsters are also known for their ability to stuff their cheeks full of food. This feature was very handy to have when they lived in the desert and had to travel long distances to find and transport food back to their underground den.
In the wild these rodents like to eat seeds, grasses, fruit and vegetables as well as insects and small lizards. If you keep one as a pet, you would normally feed it a convenient pre-made mixture of hamster seed.

Furry Friend Fact...
...in the wild hamsters burrow up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) deep.

Other features of the hamster include its tiny stubby tail, pointy ears and dark beady eyes. The smallest hamster is the dwarf species at about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) long. The biggest hamster is the common hamster. It measures 34 cm (13 in) long.

Furry Friend Fact...
...hamsters are color blind and can only see about 15.2 cm (6 in) in front of them.

Keeping a Pet Hamster

If you want the enjoyment of keeping a hamster as a pet, you first have to make sure you're ready for the responsibility. Hamsters need to be kept safe from larger animals and cannot be dropped - so be careful when handling them.

You will need a durable wire or plastic cage or fish aquarium (without the water, of course), water bottle, pine shavings for the bottom, food container and some bedding material. Since hamsters are mostly active in the evening and at night, you will need something for your furry friend to do while you're asleep. Most cages you purchase will come with a built in wheel your hamster can run on - like a treadmill for rodents. You might also add an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll to his cage. Don't be surprised, however, if your hamster decides to chew it up. But, don't worry he's not swallowing it, just recycling!

Be sure your furry friend has plenty of fresh food and water to drink every day, plus an added treat like carrots, peanuts or even a raisin or two.

Even though hamsters don't have any body odour, their cages can get quite stinky if left too long, so make it part of your routine to clean out his cage each week. And don't forget to scrub out the dishes and water bottle, too.

Furry Friend Fact...
...most hamsters are allergic to cedar.

If you want the fun and experience of having a hamster for a pet, be sure to check with a parent first, then take a trip to your local animal shelter or pet store. Here you'll find everything you need to be an awesome, responsible pal for this very special creature. With the proper care and lots of love, you'll have a furry friend that will give you hours of enjoyment!

If you have a hamster leave a comment in this section and tell us all about your very own furry friend. What's its name? Is it a boy or a girl? You can even draw a picture of your hamster and send it into knowonder. You could be one of our lucky artists that gets your picture on the magazine. Have fun!

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Wild World Wednesday ~ the Aardvark

We live in a Wild World. Today we are visiting Africa to check out the strange creature known as an aardvark. This critter is fun and fascinating, so let’s take a closer look.

What Are You?

The aardvark shares a little bit of a lot of different creatures’ features. It has the snout of a pig, ears like a rabbit, the long powerful tail of a kangaroo, webbed feet like a duck, claws like a bear and a super long, sticky tongue of an anteater.

So what exactly is the aardvark? It’s in a class all by itself (Orycteropus afer) and is truly one of a kind.

Wild World Fact…
…aardvark means earth pig in Afrikaan

Putting it all Together

The aardvark may seem like it was pieced together from other animals, but its entire body serves one purpose; to hunt and eat ants and termites.

The aardvark’s long snout is excellent at sniffing out bugs and has extra folds of skin and bristled hair that protects it from getting hurt. Once it’s located a food source the aardvark will use its 1.5 foot long tongue to suck them up with. The shovel-like claws on its front feet are extremely hard and sharp so it can dig through the tough termite mounds. If a particular termite hill is giving the aardvark trouble, it will balance on its tail while kicking at it with its powerful back legs. The aardvark is also very wary of its surroundings and is always listening with its rabbit-like ears for approaching danger.

Aardvarks can weigh up to 170 pounds and stand about 2 feet tall at the shoulder.

Wild World Fact…

…aardvarks can eat 50,000 termites for one meal

Hot Diggity-Diggers

The aardvark lives in the sandy grass-lands of Africa. It’s nocturnal and likes to sleep away the better part of each day. When it is active the aardvark moves from food source to food source digging small (10 foot long) tunnels to keep it safe from predators. A larger more permanent burrow is dug by the female when she’s ready to have a baby. The female will stay with her baby until it’s about 6 months old.

Once the small temporary and larger burrows are abandoned, they can become great homes for animals such as, pythons, porcupines, small mammals and even birds.
Wild World Fact…
…aardvarks are great swimmers and can also walk up to 30 km in one night searching for food.

Now that we’ve learned all about the amazing aardvark, print out this fun puzzle to find the hidden words – Aardvark Word Search

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Totally True Tuesday ~ Teammates; Thunder & Lightning

KA BOOOOOM!

You are suddenly awakened by a loud noise that shakes the house. It’s pouring rain as flashes of lightning streaks through the sky. A thunderstorm has paid you a visit…

Now that the warmer weather is here we can expect to experience the occasional thunderstorm. It may be scary when the thunder starts to roll and lightening is zip-zapping everywhere, but let’s take a look at what’s really going on in those dark clouds.

Thunderheads

A thunderstorm is more likely to happen on a hot sticky day. It occurs when the cold air above sinks and meets the rising, warm, moist air. These two systems collide and produce a thunderhead (storm clouds). Once a thunderstorm builds it can bring lightening, heavy rain, strong winds, hail and even a tornado.

Thunder likes to hang out in cumulonimbus clouds. These turn the sky a bruise-like color; purply-black and blue, and can be massive in size. The tallest could reach 12 miles (19 km) high – that’s twice the size of Mt. Everest!
Fun Thunder Fact…
…the Vikings believed thunder was produced by the angry, bad-tempered god, Thor, throwing his hammer across the sky.

Teammates; Thunder & Lightning

Thunder and lightning are teammates and are usually found together. Why? Because lightning is what gives thunder its loud rumble.

Lightning is hot, in fact it’s about five times hotter than the surface of the sun. When lightning streaks through the sky, it heats the air up so quickly that it makes the characterisitic KABOOM sound we know as thunder.

Thunder and lightning also happens at exactly the same time. But because light travels faster than sound we see the lightning before we hear the thunder.

Fun Thunder Fact…
…right now there’s about 1800 thunderstorms occuring throughout the world

The Flash

Lightning doesn’t just happen, it needs some help from the thundercloud. Inside a storm cloud there are strong winds hurling water droplets around. These droplets bump and bash into each other causing the cloud to crackle with static electricity. The static builds and builds until finally it breaks through the cloud and streaks through the sky as a lightning bolt.

Lightning comes in different forms; fork, sheet, ribbon and the ball. The ball lightning looks like fire and is very rare; however, there has been reports of this type of lightning floating through an open window and exploding with a huge bang.

Lightning packs a whallop. The spark can reach over 5 miles (8 km) in length, raise the temperature of the air around it by 50,000 degrees F (27,700 C) and contain a hundred million volts of electricity!

Fun Lightning Fact…
…It’s estimated that earth is hit by more than one hundred lightning bolts every second

Now that we’ve figured out what’s going on in a thunderstorm, perhaps it won’t be so scary next time one rolls into your town. But, even though we know the science behind these weather marvels, be sure to stay safe indoors when one occurs.

For more fun articles and a new story every day, please visit knowonder magazine for kids.  It's FREE!

Fun Facts Friday ~ Bubble-ience

Who doesn’t like bubbles? They’re fun to blow, fun to float and really fun to POP. Plus, there’s actually a lot of cool science behind these soapy suds.

Bubbles Are Super Heroes

Bubbles have a duel personality just like some super heroes. You see, one end of a soap molecule is hydrophilic, (hy-druh-fil-ik), meaning it likes water. The other end is hydrophobic (hy-dro-pho-bik) which doesn’t like water. So when you pour liquid soap into water the end that likes the water immediately attaches itself to the water. The other end that doesn’t like water needs to get away, so it looks for some grime to attach itself to. With a little scrub from you the bubbles can get in between the dirt particles, surround it and BLAM! The bubbles have saved the day leaving you with sparkling clean dishes.

Bubbles Trouble? Always Round

Have you ever blown bubbles through a square or triangular wand? What shape did you get? That’s right, round. This is because soap molecules cling to each other in every direction. These molecules also become very elastic, so when you add air to them they stretch like a balloon and try to hold onto the air. The sphere has the smallest surface area of all the shapes, so it’s the easiest to form and trap the air.

Bubble Color

Even though bubbles look clear they can actually have a rainbow of colors. Light acts like a wave. When light waves hit the ever changing surface of a bubble some waves are reflected, and we see them as colors. Sunlight is best to see colors since sunlight is white light, and white light makes all colors possible. Watch for your bubble’s rainbow the next time your outside making bubbles.

Top Five Bubble Dislikes

Like us, bubbles have things they dislike. Here are the top five:

5) Dryness. For example, dry bubble making instruments like wands or straws, dry fabrics like polyester shirts, even your dry hair.
4) Anything dirty is also a no no to bubbles. Dust, salt or other air pollutants can quickly POP a bubble.
3) Bubbles despise the heat since they depend on moisture to keep their form.
2) Gravity also takes it’s toll on bubbles as the liquid at the top of the bubble is slowly pulled down, weakening it.
1) And the number one dislike of bubbles? Poking. It breaks them, of course.

So now that you know all the fun science that makes up a bubble, perhaps you’ll want to become a Bubble-izard, waving a new fangled bubble wand? Or maybe a Bubble-ientist…or would that be Bubble-ologist?

More Bubble Facts

~ The biggest free floating soap bubble recorded is in the Guinness World Book of Records. The bubble is 2.98 meters cubed. If this bubble was filled with water it would hold 788 gallons and weigh 3.2 tonnes.
~ A bubble entertainer by the name of Eiffel Plasterer, made a hobby of sealing bubbles in jars. One of his bubbles lasted almost a year before it popped.

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Wild World Wednesday ~ the Camel

We live in a wild world. Today we’re visiting the dusty deserts of Africa to check out the Bactrian camel. These furry fellows have been domesticated for about 4000 years and are used for travelling and transporting goods.

One Hump or Two?

What did one camel say to the other when she was serving tea? One hump or two?

Camels come in two varieties; one hump and two humped. A two-humped camel is called a Bactrian and the one-hump variety is a Dromedary. Contrary to a popular belief camels do not store water in their hump; it’s all fat. The fat stored in the hump (rather than around the rest of its body) ensures the animal will stay cool in the heat of the desert. This fatty tissue is also an energy reserve when food is scarce.

Wild World Facts…
…a healthy camel’s hump(s) can weigh up to 35 kilograms (77 pounds) or more!
…a Camel’s total weight can be anywhere from 250 to 680 kilograms (550-1496 pounds)

Built Desert Tough

The Bactrian camel is the perfect animal for the desert region. It has long fur around its head, humps and ears and its eyes are shaded by long eyelashes. All this hair helps protect the animal from swirling dust and raging sand storms.

The camel’s feet are also specially built to walk on sand. They have 2 toes on each foot with a hoof-like toenail on each. When the camel walks or runs the pads on the feet spread out cushioning the animal, and keeping it from sinking or slipping.

Wild World Facts…

…Camels usually walk, but they are able to run up to 40 miles per hour in a short sprint and 25 miles per hour on a gallop
…Camels are used to carry large loads (up to 600 pounds) for their human owners and are able to travel where most vehicles cannot.

Spew on You

You wouldn’t think an animal as large as a camel would need to defend itself, but it does. How? By spitting and kicking. When the camel feels threatened or just plain irritated it will throw up a foul smelling, green fluid or it will kick you with it’s powerful legs (which can move in all four directions). So, stand back!

Wild World Facts…
…Camels lips are split to help them graze
…Camels can eat anything (and will) from thorny twigs to peoples shoes
…Camels have tough skin inside their mouth to protect them from being cut

Take the Camel Quiz

~ What is a two-humped camel called?
~ Why does the camel need long eyelashes?
~ How fast can a camel run?

Did you answer all the questions? If not check the article for these fun facts.

For more fun articles and a new fiction story every day, check out knowonder magazine for kids.  It's FREE!