A Beaver's Tree Selection

 Beavers are very selective when it comes to what tree they choose to "fell" or cut down.

 Picture from Washington Post

 

A beaver will use a particular tree for a particular reason.  Larger mature trees will be used to form the basis of a dam. A young, second growth tree is used for food. And broad-leaved trees are felled in order to encourage food to regrow closer to their reach.

All Armadillos Aren't Able To Roll Up

Only one of the twenty-odd varieties of armadillos is able to roll up in order to escape it's predators.

Picture from Save The Armadillo

Contrary to popular belief, not all armadillos are able to roll into a ball. Only the three-banded armadillo is able to do so. The other types are covered with too many bony plates to allow them to curl up. Other armadillos have to rely on their armored shells for defense.

Sweet Nectar For A Robin

The American Robin has a sweet tooth.

Picture from The Rabbit Room

Forget about worms, nuts, leaves and twigs, sweet treats such as fruits, berries, sweet cakes, and even pastry dough are among the favorite foods of American Robins.  And because sometimes those berries will be fermented, the birds will appear to be drunk, or exhibit drunken behavior such as falling over when walking.

Almost Extinct Addax

Current estimates show there to be less than 500 addax individuals left in the wild.

Picture from The Animal Files

Addax are nearly extinct in the wild, having been eliminated from much of their original range. These antelope have been hunted for their valuable meat and skin. They have also been destroyed by farmers and cattlemen, so as not to compete with their cattle for grazing land. Much of the addax population was decimated during the World Wars. Probably the only reason they are still alive in the wild at all is the fact that they can live in uninhabitable places with extreme heat, extensive sand dunes, and other harsh conditions where it is extremely difficult for humans to reach. 

Wolverine's Winter Wonderhome

During the Winter, female wolverines will dig up to 15 feet deep in the snow to build their dens.

Picture from FWS

Most wolverines give birth in February or March when there is still snow on the ground.  This allows them to use the snow to build their dens to protect their young from predators, and to protect them from the cold.

A Vulture's Keen Sense Of Smell

A vulture can smell the body of a dead animal from over a mile away.

Picture from LeesBird

While the sense of smell is the least developed sense for most birds, the vulture is an exception.   Vultures have excellent senses of sight and smell to help them locate food.  Because of this, vultures often have large territories and will spend a lot of time soaring to locate their next meal.

A Tasmanian Devil's Tough Infancy

 The gestational period for Tasmanian Devils is only around 21 days.

Picture from Zooborns

The Devil mother can birth anywhere from 20-40 babies, each as tiny as a grain of rice.  It's tough being a young devil as the survival rate is low.  The mother only has four teats in her pouch, so the first four devils who latch on are typically the only survivors.

Sleep Swallowing Spider Myth

Contrary to popular belief, you do not swallow an between four to six spiders a year in your sleep.

Picture from Spiderzrule

There are currently no scientific or medical records or literature to support this myth.  For a sleeping person to swallow even one live spider would involve so many highly unlikely circumstances that for practical purposes it can be ruled out as a possibility.  Sleep well tonight!

Red Tailed Hawk's Rare Behavior

Though the red tailed hawk lives year round in both the US and Canada, you’re unlikely to see this bird in your backyard.

Picture from Ninnescah Life

Red-tailed Hawks eat mostly mammals, so they’re less likely to visit a popular feeder than a Cooper’s or Sharp-shinned hawk is. It’s very rare for a Red-tailed Hawk to go after dogs or cats.

Platypus' Fat Storage

The platypus stores fat in it's tail to help it survive when food is limited.

Picture from Amamoore Lodge

An adaptation also found in animals such as the Tasmanian devil and fat-tailed sheep, the platypus tail is mainly made up of a fatty tissue that is used to store energy supplies, which the animal can use when there is a shortage of food, such as in the winter months.  It also acts as a form of insulation. 

The platypus stores fat in its tail to help it survive when food is limited - See more at: http://www.livescience.com/27572-platypus.html#sthash.g5XSb8ez.dpuf