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Naturally speaking: Nature’s fantastic factoids

You post yet another calendar on your kitchen wall to remind you that time keeps slipping into the future as sung by Steve Miller in the classic rock song. A greater appreciation for your family, community and the surrounding natural landscape should always be one of your new year’s goals.

Let’s start the new year with these wow factors. Some of these may surprise you but the goal is to share with you the wonders of the natural world. It is my hope that these factoids spark your curiosity to want to learn more this year!

• Although the fur of polar bears is white and fluffy, their skin is actually black.

• Despite its name, the killer whale (orca) is actually a dolphin.

• Unlike humans, cows and horses sleep standing up.

• Around 75% of the volcanoes on Earth are found in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area around the Pacific Ocean where tectonic plates meet. (Note the volcano in Tonga)

• About 85% of plant life is found in the oceans.

• The longest ever recorded flight of a chicken was 13 seconds.

• A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

• A dragonfly has six legs but cannot walk.

• The country of Brazil is named after a tree.

• The strawberry is the only fruit with seeds on the outside.

• Crows can easily recognize human faces.

• Raccoons can open a complex lock in less than ten attempts. (I would not be able to even open it!)

• There are no male or female earthworms. All earthworms have both male and female parts — but it still takes two of them to reproduce.
• An eagle’s eye is at least four times sharper than a human’s eye.

• To hover, a hummingbird may beat its wings 200 times per second.

• Sea otters have the densest fur of any mammal: a large male has around 800 million hairs, compared to just five million on a human.

• Heat is the deadliest weather condition.

• Owls don’t have eyes. Instead they have what are considered “eye tubes” that do not move. Their necks turn a whopping 270 degrees to compensate!

• There was a time when four distinct human species lived at the same time.

• An inch of rain is equivalent to 10-15 inches of snow.

• Most frogs can jump up to 20 times their height.

• The diet of bears in Yellowstone consists mainly of moths. They consume up to 40,000 moths a day!

• The human femur is stronger than concrete.

• The biggest volcano in the solar system is located on Mars.

• Baby elephants suck on their trunks much like a human baby sucks its thumb.

• Damselflies make a heart with their tail while mating.

• The turkey is called “India” in the nation of Turkey.

• The only mammal that can see UV light is the reindeer.

• In an average human lifespan, you will grow about 600 miles of hair.

• Mosquitoes prefer Type O blood. (Glad that I am B Positive!)

• Cats can safely drink seawater.

• Research has shown that dogs have musical preference tastes. (Three Dog Night?)

• Caffeine is a natural pesticide.

You can see that I could go on and on, as there is so much more that could be shared. I teach curiosity, and with that comes positive actions to make our natural world a better place.

Do your part this year and take some time each day to learn more. Check out Porcupine Pat on Facebook and also Instagram. Feel free to ask questions or comment.


Source: Berkshire mont

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