Browsing articles from "July, 2011"
Jul
22
22
Shark Attack!
It’s summer, and that means hot and humid days. What to do when your face is melting? Go to the beach, of course …Â but be careful if you’re swimming around North Carolina!
Just earlier this month, a 10-year-old girl was playing with her body board off the shores of a North Carolina beach when something tugged at her ankles and she was pulled underwater. Even though she was only in 3-4 feet of water, a shark had just attacked her.
Luckily, her mother was able to pull her out and the girl survived with minimal injuries. It was scary, but not fatal. So why do sharks attack, if they aren’t trying to necessarily eat? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains that, “sharks do not normally hunt humans, but if they do attack, it is usually a case of mistaken identity,” as they are conditioned to be attracted – and attack – motion in water. So have no fear swimming in the ocean this summer – you’ll be okay!
Interested in learning more about sharks and why they attack? Check sharks out in Weird n Wild Creatures. Interested in reading more about the North Carolinian attack? Check it out here.
Jul
11
11
Squirm Alert: The Star Nosed Mole
Here’s a question for you: would you swap your little button nose for a fleshy, pink, squirmy, 22 tentacled-nose – if it allowed you to sniff waaaayy better than everyone else?
You may or may not say yes to wanting a sea urchin-like mass growing out of your head, no matter the benefits, but evoluation has said “yes” to the Star Nosed Mole – and given it a nose unlike any other in the animal kingdom.
The Star-Nosed Mole, found in eastern Canada and the north-eastern United States, is a small North American mole covered in water-repellent fur, large scaled feet, a long thick tail, and a circle of 22 mobile, pink, fleshy tentacles at the end of its snout, all of which are super-sensitive to touch. The nose may not be pretty, but it allows this species to identify food by touch, such as worms, insects and crustaceans, and hunt more than fourteen times more effectively than any other mole.
Curious about this little guy? Us too! Watch the below video we found for you to learn more!
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