Circle of Animals

I’m a Snake Snakes are solitary creatures.  Snakes live in the wild in grasslands, forests, mountains, deserts, swamps, rainforests and marshes.  They prefer warm, shady and cool environments.  Snakes slither on the ground and also live in trees and are very sneaky. They can scare animals and humans because they’re long and make a hissing noise as they move and they have a quick instantaneous bite action.  They usually catch their prey by surprise and off guard. Snakes come in all types. There are snakes that secrete venom to neutralize or kill their prey and there are snakes that have no venom at all.  The cobra is venomous from its bite as is the rattlesnake.  The boa constrictor doesn’t have venom but it traps its prey with its mouth, bites down with its teeth and squeezes, constricting it with its long body.  The longest snake in the world is the Green Anaconda measuring 30 feet in length feeding on animals as large as deer, pig and jaguar in addit...

I’m a Kangaroo  I love to hop around to get places.  I jump higher and faster than any animal on the planet.  Rabbits, frogs and grasshoppers are no competition as I out jump them all.  I live in the wilds of Australia. I roam around in the outback, the grasslands, forests and plains. There are 4 species of kangaroos. Kangaroos grow to 6 feet tall as adults. You’d never believe that’s possible if you were to see a baby kangaroo.  New born kangaroos are known as joeys.  They’re the tiniest little creatures no larger than an inch and are blind and under developed.  They crawl into their mother’s pouch where they feed and grow for 6 months developing and maturing.  After feeding in the pouch for another 6 months they will exit their mother’s pouch permanently at about a year old and live alongside their mother in the wild.  It’s a miracle how a joey, the size of a jelly bean grows to a kangaroo at 6 feet tall within two years.  Kangaroos ar...

I’m a Giraffe I’m one of the most friendliest animals you will ever meet. I live in the plains of Africa and in zoos around the world. I only eat plants, leaves, tree shrubbery and fruits. I’m known for my neck which is one of the longest of any animal.  I live in the wild where I’m free to roam around and graze the land.  I like to run with other giraffes in the African grasslands that offer a plentiful supply of trees from where I eat and streams of water from where I drink.  Giraffes are like long necked horses with spots. They are the tallest animals in the wild and can grow to a height of 19 feet because of their long legs and neck.  Giraffe babies are 6 feet tall at birth which is a truly remarkable event to witness. They are so adorable and cute and it’s amazing to see them stand for the first time.   Giraffes have a keen sense of sight and sound and are fast in the wild running at speeds of between 10 and 35 mph though they can only run at high speeds fo...

I’m a Guinea pig I’m a very cute animal and need lots of love and affection. I love living with other guinea pigs and being taken care of by my owner. I need to have a big cage so I can run around and do my daily exercise. I also like company so if you bring me home to live with you I also need a playmate so you should bring two of us home with a big cage to house both of us. I also need a room that I can play and eat in with my guinea pig friend and human friends that has protective mats and where we can run freely and safely in with a litter box in the corner.  I love playing with chew toys that are safe and I also enjoy exploring toy tunnels that I can run in. Rolling wheels aren’t safe for me. They’re ok for mice, rats, gerbils and hamsters but I’m too big for such a toy and I can injure myself.  I also like a hammock and a bed to sleep in.  Guinea pigs eat timothy hay, grass, pellets, vegetables and fruits and need vitamin c in their diet. They have sensitive digesti...

I’m a Crocodile I know the first question on your mind. Are crocodiles and alligators the same? Actually they’re not. Alligators and crocodiles are different species of reptiles.  Crocodiles are larger than alligators.  Alligators have webbed feet. Crocodiles have feet but they’re not webbed.  Alligators live in freshwater while crocodiles can live in both freshwater and brackish waters which are more salty.  Crocodiles are more aggressive hunters. Crocodiles are stronger than alligators. In a fight the crocodile will win.  There are 23 species of crocodiles throughout the world. There are only 2 species of alligators. Crocodiles live all throughout the world and are native to 5 continents while alligators are native to only 2, America and Asia.  You won’t find crocodiles in Europe or Antarctica.  You won’t find alligators there either. Crocodiles live solitary lives but do arrange into groups for hunting and protecting their young.  They can also...

I’m an Alligator I’m part of the reptile family.  I’m also a predator and pose a threat to other animals. I prefer to be left alone. I live in the water and sometimes on land. You can find me by a lake or down river or by the edge of a stream or tucked away in a burrow by the river’s edge where I can sleep during the day and remain hidden while taking in the sun.  Large alligators are territorial and solitary animals while smaller and younger alligators are a bit more social and may go out with other young alligators in search of food. Once they reach full maturity they may also become solitary.  If alligators feel threatened they will go into attack mode.  They will always protect their young and are very aggressive. Alligators have green leathery skin, long bodies, eyes on the sides of their head, long snouts, nostrils to breathe with and lots of teeth. Alligators have powerful grips with their mouths and once they catch their prey and lock their teeth their hunt i...

I’m a Beaver I live with my mother and father and my siblings in the wild in the streams and waterways.  We’re pretty tight and work together as a family.  My mom watches my brothers and sisters. My dad and I build the dam and our lodge with the logs, stones, vegetation and mud we gather together. The dam forms a pond which allows us to build our lodge from the logs, leaves and mud which provides us a comfortable home and allows us to stay warm in the cold weather and cool in the warm weather.  Our lodge also protects us from predators.  We knock down trees with our choppers as our teeth continue to grow which gives us the strength to bite into the thick trees.  We live in our lodge by the stream.  We gather our food from the trees. Beavers are vegetarians and enjoy eating tree bark, twigs, branches, nuts, plants, leaves and vegetation.  Beavers also swim shortly after birth which is by instinct.  Beavers are social animals and dependent on their ...

I’m a Squirrel  I’m an amazing animal. You can see me in the trees that dot your neighborhood or in your backyard and maybe on your roof from your bedroom window.  I’m a runner. I’m a climber. I’m a wire walker. I’m an acrobat. I can do it all. It’s like I can fly. I really can’t but I’m good at clinging on to the tree branches and climbing as I manage to get around and search for food. I’m also good at landing safely on my feet as I twist and turn my body in the air and use my tail to help me make my descent like someone parachuting and coming to a landing stop. We know how to be adventurous and have fun.  We are seen just about anywhere and we live among humans and all kinds of animals in an ecosystem where we have to be prepared always to run to protect ourselves from inherent dangers.  Squirrels are scavengers and will eat almost anything they can find if they can digest it. They particularly like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and acorns but will settle for ins...

I’m a Skunk I’m a very shy animal and usually go it alone. I have some friends I pal around with but I’m mostly by myself. I like to burrow underground where I find comfort from the heat and shield myself from the sunlight.  I also live in dens abandoned by other animals or ones we build together as a team.  I eat a wide range of food including plants, insects, fruits, vegetables, eggs, fish, small reptiles, snakes and vegetation. There are 12 species of skunk.  Skunks usually sleep during the day and go out in the night for their food.  Baby skunks are called kits and are born blind and deaf but do obtain sight and hearing in their third week of life though even in adulthood skunks have poor vision so that contributes to their nocturnal ways where they can manage better in the nighttime darkness.  Baby skunks are very dependent on their mothers and need to always be close to them for their survival for their first 4 months until they’re ready to face life on th...

I’m a Pig Everyone thinks I’m sloppy and dirty on the farm. You’d be surprised to know that I’m actually a very clean animal. You probably are wondering if I’m a clean animal why do I roll around in the mud.  The simple reason is on hot days I have trouble with my body temperature and I can get overheated or burn in the sun.  On the farm to cool off we roll around in the mud which helps us deal with the heat.  We also need activities that help us during the day and playing in the mud allows us some fun with our friends and we can stay cool.  Farmers see that we have adequate mud pits as part of our care and water sprinklers to help us on hot summer days for dealing with the heat and in helping us get clean.  They feed us corn, nuts, fruits, berries grains, vegetables, dairy and some meats.  Pigs also need a plentiful supply of water.  Pigs also need to be visited by the veterinarian to make sure they’re in good health and managing well in the heat....

I’m a Reindeer  There are many types of reindeer who live in all kinds of cold climates.  Not all reindeer work with Santa.  Reindeer come in all shapes and sizes.  The reindeer that work with Santa are a very small amount and we’re privileged to have such an opportunity. You can see me at a special time of the year in December.  I live in the North Pole with all the other reindeer. It’s very cold where we live but Santa, Mrs Claus and the elves take good care of us. We work hard transporting Santa and his chief and senior elf by sleigh to deliver all the children’s Christmas presents under their Christmas trees all throughout the world on one night, December 24th so the presents are all delivered by Christmas Day.  We land on all the roofs of all the homes so we are constantly in flight and also making landings.  We position ourselves very carefully so we have safe landings and takeoffs. We practice all year with our jumping, landing and takeoffs. We ...

I’m a Seal I live in the icy cold waters of the Arctic Ocean while other seals live in the Antarctic Ocean. They are the coldest of all the oceans of the world. Some seals live in the warm Pacific Ocean in California and Hawaii. Seals love the water and usually swim on the surface of the ocean exposing their heads with their bodies submerged as they flap. They are able to swim by moving their rear flippers back and forth.  Seals eat all kinds of sea life including fish, crustaceans, squid, octopus and sometimes even penguins.  Seals live in colonies that can support hundreds and some even thousands of seals.  There are over 30 species of seals in the world.  Although seals live in colonies they hunt for food on their own so they are considered solitary animals as well.  They huddle in groups in the ocean and on land sunbathing or seeking a mate and are very nurturing of their young.  On land seals flop on their bellies to move forward.  Female seals nu...

I’m a Chicken I’m one of the cutest animals you’ll ever meet as a baby chick. I’m also very brave. You’ll find me on the farm with the calf, sheep, cow, pig and goat among others.  We’re all wonderful animals and we all get along with each other. Chickens like other birds are very protective of their baby chicks and nourish, teach, and assist them until they’re ready to find their own way in the wild or on a backyard farm. Baby chicks raised on factory farms are separated from their mothers after hatching and sadly placed in cages as future layers of eggs or for poultry. Chickens have a short lifespan on a poultry farm of about 7 weeks from hatching.  Chickens raised on backyard farms have longer life expectancies of 5 to 10 years if their caregivers provide them a nurturing environment with loving care and veterinary support.  Chickens are unique and sing as you can hear them on all backyard farms throughout the world.  They sing as a form of communication and becau...

I’m a Duck I’m also a type of bird. I can fly in the sky. I can swim in the lake or pond. I have wings and webbed feet. The male duck is more colorful than the female duck. Mallards are most common and if you see a brown duck with speckled dots next to a duck with yellow, green and blue colors the female is the dull color speckled brown while the male is the yellow, green and blue colors.  Ducks like birds fly to warmer climates in the winter yet there are all different types of ducks that can live in both warm and cold climates.  There are 120 species of ducks all throughout the world.  Ducks are very social animals that assemble in groups in the water, the sky and on land.  They stay together to ensure their safety and because they’re used to being in a family. Children love visiting duck ponds and are thrilled when they see a family of ducks walking in formation with mom and dad in the lead and the babies following behind. They also can see families of ducks in th...

I’m a Fox I’m sly and cunning. I’m also very shy and tend to be a loner.  I don’t run in a pack.  Foxes are solitary animals and hunt for food alone for themselves and their family.  They’re protective of their young pups and make sure when they come back from the hunt they bring enough food back for them as well.  Foxes are loyal animals and pair off with males finding their female mate to spend the rest of their lives together raising several litters of pups. Foxes are friendly animals but prefer to be left alone and only pose a threat if they’re threatened or their young are. They’re generally afraid of other animals including humans and will run off.  They generally live in the wild and protect their family as they migrate to find food and shelter.  They live in forests, deserts, grasslands and mountains.  Foxes eat small animals, insects, fish, vegetation, berries, fruits and vegetables. Foxes usually are nocturnal so they’re active at night and s...

I’m a Whale I’m majestic in size and one of the biggest creatures of the sea. I swim in the deepest parts of the ocean. I’m a sea mammal and my survival depends on the preservation of our seas and oceans. We’re studied by scientists and filmed by divers with sophisticated underwater equipment and cameras working together to learn about our environment and our behaviors and how we interact with others. Since we live in the farthest depths of the ocean it’s hard to study us so the ones brave enough to venture out on boat to find us and learn our ways and understand how we interact do so through tagging and monitoring us in our natural habitat. Since we are the largest species of sea and ocean life and a mystery to so many since we can only be seen in our natural environment many tourists come out to see us and our dolphin friends on ship and boat and they literally come to watch us in a safe way.  Whale watching is a billion dollar industry and it’s very popular as tours are conducte...

I’m a Dolphin The sea I claim my home. I love life in the ocean and sea where I have my freedom and I can swim and jump to my heart’s desire.  At sea I hang with other dolphins in groups and we assist, protect and interact with one another. We also hunt together for food as a team.  There are safety in numbers. Dolphins swim together for their very survival and because they’re social animals. Dolphins are considered mammals yet they live their lives in water.  Dolphins like the sea and stage and love to perform for children of all ages.  Dolphins enjoy performing for the millions of visitors each year in shows featuring them at theme parks and at aquariums and aquatic centers all around the world.  If you’re lucky enough to sit in the front row you’ll see me up close and feel my splash on a hot summer day and if you like it I’ll splash you again with my fin. I’m very intelligent and gentle and love when children come to visit me during and after my shows.  ...

I’m a Rat I’m very misunderstood and not many would bring me home to be a family pet. Sadly that’s my reality but if you did some homework you would find that I’m actually a wonderful pet to have. There are cages for rodents like me that would make it possible to bring me home and provide me love and attention and I would provide my owners unconditional love through my play and interactions in the cage especially with children. I’m very clean and social and if my cage is large and vertical with climbing ropes and chew toys and little hammocks or beds I can show you how I live, play, eat, rest and maintain proper hygiene. I can provide children times of viewing me in action playing. Children can also view me at rest after I run and climb and get my exercise in for the day.  Pet rats are known as fancy rats similar to fancy mice which means we’re domesticated and you would acquire us in a pet shop.  We love to be with other pet rats and usually should be of the same sex. Female ...

I’m a Mouse I’m a small little furry animal. I’m a rodent by nature. I scurry all over the place and keep my distance from cats who like to give chase. I would make a wonderful pet but I need to live in a cage that is large enough and has an assortment of playful activities that will allow me to run around, burrow, climb and rest throughout the day.  I like to dig and to climb so I need a cage that will allow me to do both with sand for digging and ropes for climbing.  I’m also social so I like to live with other mice.  Female mice have the best temperament for living among many where as males are more aggressive and will become territorial. Fancy mice make the best pets within the mice family and they are very colorful, playful and friendly to humans and among themselves. If you’re going to take care of several mice in a cage then you should pair females only together.  Mice are misunderstood but indeed they do make wonderful pets as long as they’re properly caged, ...

I’m a Cricket I have wings and legs but I can’t fly. I can jump far if I have to and am pretty fast. I usually stay up late into the night. I also sing with my wings by rubbing them both together. That’s how I attract a mate when I’m searching for one. I live outside in the grasslands, in forests, near waterways and in the brush. I also live in houses and sometimes can give people sleepless nights with my nocturnal singing.  Crickets are small in size with the largest being no more than an inch or two. They sense vibrations through their legs and that’s their source of hearing sound and they sing more as the heat rises so on very hot days you can hear crickets singing in unison loudly and endlessly. When you hear crickets getting louder you can tell it’s going to be a very hot day.  Crickets vary in color according to species and eat plants and insects.  They live lonely lives but do seek a mate when the time is right.  There are approximately 1,000 species of cricke...

I’m a Housefly I find my place in windowsills and small damp areas in houses or buildings to make my shelter and lay my eggs. I have to be careful of spiders so I have to find places free of their web trappings. I have found it safer and cooler in the house and I look for opportunities when I can gain entry. I’m not trying to get in the way of the inhabitants. I just want a safe place to lay my eggs and find shelter. I can live outside too and sometimes I prefer that but it’s safer inside though I have to stay clear of exterminators, sprays and fly swatters.  As a fly on the outside I tend to frequent areas near water and polluted grounds so I can get sick and sometimes spread the illness to other areas and locations that pose health risks. I don’t intend to spread the germs but that is something that happens if I’m not careful.  That’s why hygiene is very important and washing your hands frequently is a way to minimize the spread of germs. Flies don’t live long lives and usua...

I’m a Mosquito I live alone for the most part. I don’t have a community to hang with like the bees and ants.  My mother finds a water source where she leaves her eggs to hatch to pave the way for a new generation of mosquitoes. I’m one of those mosquitoes to fly on my own once I’ve had my nourishment and an adequate supply of water enabling me to grow and mature into adulthood which can take several days up to a month.  Once I’m on my own I fly in search of food and a place to live. I particularly like flowers because of the nectar they produce. Flowers are colorful, beautiful and very important to our diet. Mosquitoes also pollinate the flowers in search of their nectar spreading pollen like the bees.  Bees are the best at what they do in spreading the pollen of flowers but we also can too.  Mosquitoes have a reputation of being blood suckers. Just ask anyone at a barbecue in the summertime how many mosquito bites they have encountered. The reality is that mosquitoe...

I’m a Spider I have 8 legs and I crawl when I explore my surroundings. I live by myself as nature designed. I don’t live in a colony like ants and bees. There are rare instances where a species of spiders do live in a colony to protect their young as well as the community of spiders.  Some spiders are extremely tiny, the Samoan moss spider measures 0.01 of an inch which is barely visible to the naked eye and the largest, the Goliath birdeater spider can measure as much as 5 inches in body length.  That means the Goliath birdeater spider is 500 times larger than the Samoan moss spider. That difference in size between the two is hard to picture in your mind. It just goes to show you that all spiders do vary in size significantly. The larger spiders are tarantulas and they are scary because they’re so big compared to the smaller spiders we’re used to seeing.  Children always wonder how spiders spin their web and the answer is that spiders produce silk from a gland which is t...

I’m a Grasshopper  Grasshoppers are very interesting and beautiful to see as they are a major part of nature’s landscape.  They’re as much a part of our world as ants and bees are and they lay claim to over 11, 000 different types of species. They’re pretty small in size measuring about an inch or two and they also have the ability to jump and fly.  They live in warm climates and reside in grasslands, rainforests, marshes, pastures and swamps.  If you look close enough you might just find one in your backyard in the summer time. They’re the insects responsible for the tears and holes in your plants in your beautifully manicured garden. Grasshoppers live on vegetation, plants, grass, flowers and farmers crops.  When grasshoppers mate the female can deposit hundreds of eggs but she must find a safe place free from predators where those eggs will eventually hatch providing a new population of grasshoppers to roam around the following summer. Grasshoppers are indepe...

I’m an Ant Ants are truly amazing creatures and a wonder and joy to children all over the world.  Ants fascinate us in how they live among us. If you ventured a guess as to how many species of ants there are in the world you would truly be surprised. It’s not a hundred. It’s not a thousand either. It’s actually over 12, 000 species of ants ranging in all types of sizes from the smallest ant, the little black ant measuring as small as 1 mm and the largest ant, the giant Amazonian ant, measuring 2 inches or 50 times the size of the smallest ant at 0.50 mm. Ants live in colonies according to species and each colony also varies in amounts of ants occupying them.  A typical ant colony can house a hundred thousand ants at one time. The super colonies can accommodate millions of ants while the smallest colonies as few as hundred or less.  Ants and bees are very similar in that they’re both very social and live in communities supporting each other with designated roles and their ...

I’m an Anteater Can you guess what I like to eat? Not many understand me. They’re curious but they don’t know what my existence is all about. Well I’m an animal that has a diet consisting mainly of ants, termites and small insects. I also eat small fruits, nuts and vegetables. My favorite delicacy though is a healthy heaping of ants. Giant anteaters can eat a whole colony of ants in one sitting. We’re considered nature’s pest control. Anteaters are usually found in South America. Anteaters have no teeth so they use their tongue when foraging for food.  Anteaters when not eating or on the move usually sleep during the day and are not known for their speed as they move around very slowly but when necessary can gallop up to a speed of 30 mph. Females usually give birth to one pup a year and are very protective of their baby. Anteaters carry their young on their backs piggybacking them when they travel and look for food and shelter. Anteaters live in forests and grasslands where they l...

I’m a Gorilla I’m a huge animal. I’m not the best looking. Sometimes I’m called a beast. Many who see me run in fear.  I don’t understand why because I’m very friendly. I have many traits similar to humans. I’m not wild like I’m portrayed to be. I’m tall with long arms and sometimes I pound my chest as I give a yell. I like to eat plants and vegetables.  I’m one of the biggest vegetarians you’ll ever meet. Gorillas are very intelligent creatures and they are very social. Female gorillas are very nurturing of their infants and have been known to care for wounded animals and human babies too as if they were their own. Young gorillas love to run around using their arms and legs and play and they are often seen climbing trees and having fun with their siblings and friends. They’re very much like little children. They’re so innocent and cute. They’re also very impressionable and expressive of their emotions. Gorillas are very family oriented and resemble a human family in many ways...