Habitats Lesson 24. Can you identify it? Try this website for insect identification:

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1 Habitats Lesson 24 Spring has sprung! The flowers are blooming, and pollen has invaded our home. There are honeybees out and about. Here is a moth I found in my barn this past week. Can you identify it? Try this website for insect identification: I d like to talk about habitats this week. Did you know that habitat is a Latin word? Literally translated, it means it lives. A habitat is the area where an animal lives, grows, eats, and reproduces. Zoos must study wild habitats of the animals in their care in order to provide adequate spaces for their resident animals.

2 Have you ever thought about the jobs at a zoo? Zookeepers must provide a replica of the natural environment in order to keep their animals content. There has been a lot of study and emphasis on enrichment for animals kept in captivity. Enrichment is mental and physical stimulation that mimics the natural environment. Caretakers must also know what the temperature should be for the animal. What would happen if polar bears and black bears were placed in the wrong habitats? Not only are their environmental temperatures different, but the food sources, hibernation areas, and more would be incorrect. The animals could get sick or even die. When you prepare an animal habitat, you must include things such as plants, other animals, symbiotic relationships, food sources, water sources, and more. When you plant a garden, you must take into account the plant s soil, sunlight, and moisture needs. If you plant a shady plant in the full sun, it will die. The same holds true for animals. They must be in the proper environment to live and thrive. The Guatemalan quetzal is an example of an animal that has never been successfully kept in captivity. There is a part of their diet or habitat missing that is unknown to man. Read more about the quetzal here:

3 On farms, it is very important to provide the animals with the proper nutrition and environment. On my own small farm, we have both beef and dairy cattle, horses, pigs, chickens, cats, dogs, and a few ducks. Each animal has special feed, fencing, and shelter requirements. Some animals require more care than others. For example, we had sows that farrowed in a cold spell in January. Those piglets require heat lamps and extra insulation or they will freeze to death. Piglets must be kept at o the first hours to nurse, grow, and thrive. If those sows are not provided with a proper barn environment, the piglets may die. The same principal goes for lambs and kids. If you are going to raise farm animals, you must know and provide the required habitat. Some people will personify animals. This means they give them human characteristics, feelings, and behaviors that are not true to the animal. Here is an example:

4 Do horses need pajamas? Most definitely not. Possibly, if there is a neonatal foal that is in the extreme weather and is sick, you could make a case for such a thing. But normal, healthy horses do not require insulation from the cold weather. They are equipped with a beautiful thick winter coat that protects them from the elements. Horses do get blanketed in the winter, but that should be reserved for sick horses, old horses, or horses that do not have a winter coat. What horse would not have a winter coat? Horses grow winter coats because the daylight hours get shorter. This decreasing amount of daylight triggers the pineal gland in the brain to grow a winter coat. Horse owners don t like to show horses with long, shaggy winter coats. Barns can install artificial lighting to trick the horse s body into thinking it is summer all the time. Those show horses will not grow winter coats. Since humans have artificially stopped the protection from the cold, it must be provided externally. This is why some horses need blankets. When you are exploring a new pet option or considering a new animal to add to the farm, you need to do research. You need to understand the animal s exact requirements, how much land, what type of food, what type of fencing, and behavioral characteristics. A good resource is a person who has owned or raised such an animal for many years. Wisdom comes from other knowledgeable people in our lives. Reading on the Internet can be helpful, but it can also be harmful. Be sure you go to a trusted source for your information. Your homework this week: 1. Identify the moth pictured above. Use the website provided to identify moths you may have found in your insect collection Read about the Guatemalan quetzal bird. Use the link provided as well as your own research. Are there other animals you can find that are difficult to keep in captivity? Going Beyond: 1. Visit a zoo. Make a notebook for the many habitats you will find. Are there animals that can live together in the wild but are separated in the zoo? If so, why?

5 2. Continue your observation journals. Spend minutes every day for a week observing the live tank. Record what you learn. Try to find patterns and habits of the animals. 3. Watch for those spring insects that are emerging! Parent s note: The moth is the Antheraea polyphemus. The exact variety isn t here on this website, but you can see the moths close to it.