PAWS Academy: What makes a wild animal, a wild animal?
June 29, 2020
Written by Madi Cook, PAWS Education Intern
The Beginning of the Wildlife Series!
Welcome to the first week of our wildlife series! In this week’s video, we cover the definition of a wild animal along with an exploration of how different wild animals satisfy their basic needs.
What is a Wild Animal?
A wild animal is undomesticated and able to get all their basic needs from the world. They do not need humans to survive and live on their own. Just because an animal is considered wild does not necessarily mean it must live in the wild. Many wild animals live in built environments alongside humans. North American raccoons and American crows are examples of wild animals that can likely be found outside of your home if you live in North America.
Wild Animals of Washington State
The American black bear resides in the forested habitats of Washington State which includes coastal rainforests and dry woodlands. When food is scarce and weather is cold, these animals can hibernate for up to seven and a half months. Hibernation is a period of slowed metabolism, which basically means that the bear can go without food and water. It is amazing to witness how wild animals have adapted to withstand the hardships of their habitat.
The Great Horned owl is native to North America and can be found in forest, desert, wetland, grassland, and city habitats as it is one of the most common owls on the continent. As it is able to live in many environments, it is not a surprise that the Great Horned Owl has the most diverse diet of all North American raptors. They prey on rodents, scorpions, hares, geese, bats, skunks, owls, reptiles, insects, fish, invertebrates, and more. They take advantage of their prey through nocturnal hunting, though they sometimes hunt in broad daylight.
North American raccoons originally lived in the forests of North America, but have since moved to inhabit mountains, coastal marshes, and urban areas like perhaps your neighborhood. Again, their ability to live in many areas is due to a diverse diet, like the Great Horned Owl. Raccoons are omnivores and will eat most things including insects and slugs, crayfish and birds, as well as fruits and vegetables. They also take advantage of garbage and pet food when they live in areas with humans. In the last 70 years, Raccoon’s brains have evolved more than in the previous 40,000 years. Living in built environments has given them the opportunity to learn how to turn doorknobs, open latches, open jars and untie knots. Some wild animals have been able to adapt to human encroachment, like the North American Raccoon, but others have not.
Wild Animals and Humans
While wild animals do not require humans to survive, humans can make their survival difficult. It is our responsibility to respect wild animals and avoid damaging their homes so that they can live without added struggle. Keeping the environment clean and safe is essential to caring for wild animals and plants.
This Week’s Activities
Visit paws.org/PAWSAcademy and you will find two sets of activities at different difficulty levels along with a word search and coloring sheet all about this week’s topic! Test your knowledge by identifying different wild animals and learn even more by completing this week’s activities.
Continue To Learn With Us!
Thanks for joining us for the start of PAWS Academy’s wildlife series! If you are unaware of our pet series, you can learn more from an assortment of videos at paws.org/PAWSAcademy. Check back next Wednesday for the next wildlife installment about what a habitat is and continue to learn how you can make a difference in animals’ lives!
If you have any questions or suggestions you can reach us at education@paws.org.