As a federation that includes birdwatchers and naturalists, we often come across wildlife with traits and behavior that prove the adage “truth is stranger than fiction.” From super hearing to incredible speed, some species exhibit fascinating ー and sometimes downright weird ー traits that Nintendo could use as inspiration for future Pokémon!
Super Hearing and Color Changing:
Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
At just 8 inches tall, the northern saw-whet owl may be one of the smallest raptors in the United States, but its hearing gives it a big advantage. With the ability to hear sounds as low as -20 decibels, this tiny predator can easily locate small rodents hidden beneath deep snow and forest debris.
Niangua Darter (Etheostoma nianguae)
This fish, which typically resides in the Midwest, will change colors during spawning. Its belly becomes orange-red, and its sides develop iridescent blue-green bars. Unfortunately, this fish is threatened by habitat destruction from dam construction.
Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
These little lizards are native to the southeastern United States and have color-changing abilities similar to those of a chameleon. Green anole are able to change from green to brown in order to blend in with their surroundings.
Super Speed:
Coyote (Canis latrans)
The coyote lives across in North America, and this agile canid can reach speeds of 43 miles (70km) per hour! It can catch fleet-footed prey such as rabbits and birds, but its speed really comes into play when escaping predators. Even an injured coyote can outrun a human being ー a study of several three-legged animals showed that they can reach speeds of 25 mph (40 kph)!
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
North America’s fastest land mammal is the pronghorn ー worldwide, they’re second only to the cheetah! Not only can this speedster sprint at 55 mph (88 kph), they’re also talented long-distance runners and can travel for miles at 25 mph (40 kph).
Just Really Cool Ways of Getting Around:
The Earthworm (Lumbricus)
While over 6,000 different species exist worldwide, one of the most recognizable worms is the good old-fashioned “nightcrawler.” It has a fascinating ability to excrete a lubricating fluid that keeps its skin moist and allows it to easily move through underground burrows. One Australian species can shoot fluid as far as 12 inches through skin pores!
Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
There are about 20 species of armadillos in total, but the only species in North America is the nine-banded armadillo. Despite being covered in armor to protect them from predators, water is no obstacle for these amazing creatures: They can hold their breath for up to six minutes and can swim or “walk” along the bottom of rivers and streams!
Lastly, but certainly not least … the rumored inspiration for Pokémon’s famous yellow mascot, Pikachu:
American pika (Ochotona princeps)
The adorable American pika is a fuzzy, potato-sized herbivore that inhabits the tops of western mountains. Frantic workers, these rodents collect large piles of wildflowers and grasses during summer ー a process called haying ー to eat during winter. But unlike their fictional counterpart, they are not yellow and cannot generate electricity.
American pikas are particularly threatened by climate change, as warming temperatures force them to migrate to higher altitudes, eventually pushing them entirely out of certain regions.
With the Pokémon franchise more popular than ever, we can’t wait to see whether any of these magnificent species inspire new digital counterparts.
Imagine how the species of our country might inspire future generations’ fictional and creative work! Donate today to protect endangered species in the U.S.
Completing your bracket is easy, but make sure you get it in before submissions close on March 15th! We’ll be announcing the winner on March 16 to close out our celebration!
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Learn more about National Wildlife Week
Round 1, 32 competitors: February 27th – March 6th
Round 2, 16 competitors: March 7th – March 10th
Round 3, 8 competitors: March 11th – March 12th
Round 4, 4 competitors: March 13th – March 14th
Championship Round: March 15th – March 16th
Winner Announced: March 17th
It’s time to get going on Round 1! These 32 North American native species aren’t just fierce competitors, they’re also available for adoption! Symbolic adoption, that is. Symbolic adoptions support the National Wildlife Federation’s work conserving and protecting North American wildlife, while helping you learn more about your favorite animal (and as you’ll see below, some of them come with very cute stuffed animal replicas). Read on for the Round 1 match-ups and click through the photos to symbolically adopt one of our Final Fur competitors!
Beasts of the Northeast
HUMPBACK WHALE vs GREAT HORNED OWL
The humpback whale packs a mighty punch, but don’t count the great horned owl out just yet. The soft feathers on these birds give them the ability to sneak up silently on their prey, giving the owl a much-needed advantage against his massive opponent.
RIVER OTTER vs NORTHERN CARDINAL
Waves and sky face off again in this match up. The river otter might look friendly, but her agility and speed will help her keep up with her flighty, brightly colored competitor.
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It’s wings against arms in this battle of the water beasts. The mallard may have flight on his side, but don’t underestimate the disorienting power of an inky cloud!
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The competition heads to the sky as everyone’s favorite airborne mammal takes on the cheerful sea parrot. Choose sides as these two battle for supremacy in the air.
It’s a Southern Thing
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MONARCH BUTTERFLY vs BROWN PELICAN
Float like a butterfly…or soar like a pelican? These two warm weather-loving creatures are taking this match-up to the skies.
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WESTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE vs FLORIDA PANTHER
Reptiles or mammals? Baseball or hockey? Desert or swampland? These two southerners don’t agree on much, which makes for an excellent match up. When the dust from Round 1 settles, will we be hearing a victory rattle? Or a purr of contentment?
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NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO vs BLACK BEAR
With a series of bony plates guarding his back, the nine-banded armadillo is ready to put on a solid defense against his formidable, fuzzy opponent: the black bear. But will a strong defense be enough to keep the bear at bay? Or will larger paws prevail?
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GREEN SEA TURTLE vs BARKING TREE FROG
From the depths of the sea to the tops of the trees, this match up has a little bit of something for everyone. Only you can decide if the barking tree frog will be able to hop over the competition or if the green sea turtle will swim on to victory.
Home on the Range
MOUNTAIN LION vs DESERT TORTOISE
The tortoise might have been able to beat the hare, but will he be able to best the stealthy mountain lion? Expect the desert tortoise to dig in and stand his ground against his feline foe.
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BISON vs BALD EAGLE
It’s the battle of American icons! In May 2016, the bison was named national mammal of the United States, and the bald eagle has been the national symbol since 1782. Expect this patriotic match up to be one for the ages.
Both highly social mammals native to the Great Plains, the pronghorn and the prairie dog each have a large extended family in their corner. This face-off is sure to be quick-moving and well attended.
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AMERICAN PIKA vs BIGHORN SHEEP
The pika may be small, but that doesn’t give her much of an advantage against her opponent on the rocky, narrow ledges both of these animals favor. The bighorn sheep is able to balance on shelves as small as 2″ across! This high-altitude battle is sure to be anything but boring.
You CAN Handle the Chill
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The hyper-intelligent orca faces off against the nimble mountain goat. Will echolocation be able to help the “sea wolf” locate his opponent? Or will the mountain goat’s camouflage and climbing abilities lift him to Round 2?
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The elusive Canada lynx will need to use all her wiles when going up against the walrus and his powerful tusks. Don’t count this small cat out yet, though. The Canada lynx has been expanding her range lately, recently spotted as far south as Vermont, so it’s not much of a stretch to think she might just stake her claim to victory, as well.
POLAR BEAR vs MOOSE
A true battle of the titans. Here the largest land carnivore on earth is facing off against the largest member of the deer family (and at over 1000 lbs, that’s a lot of deer). These massive northern mainstays virtually guarantee an earth-shaking competition.
Arguably our cutest match up, the harp seal has size on his side (a full grown seal can weigh 600 lbs!) but the arctic fox is quick and cunning. Expect these winter warriors to be well matched in their battle.
Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, it’s time to get this party started! The road to the Final Fur opens on Monday, February 27th, don’t forget to vote for your favorites!
These TV segments always go by too quickly, and I can never get in all the cool facts about the animals and conservation messages that I want to. So, watch the clip and then keep reading to get even more info about each of these cool wild animals.
Don’t forget to let us know which one was your favorite in the comments section!
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Here’s more info on each of the animals featured in the segment.
Caiman Lizard (Dracaena guianensis)
- Native to South America
- Common in the Amazon basin
- Spends most of time in water and is a strong swimmer
- Long, flat tail similar to that of crocodilans (such as caimeas, for which they are named) and aid in swimming
- Also good climbers and hang out in trees overhanging the water
- Predatory with powerful jaws used for crushing shells of their primary prey, snails
- Also feed on crabs, insects and sometimes fish, small mammals and amphibians
Fisher (Martes pennanti)
- Native to North America
- Found in northern forests in across Canada and the northern U.S. with some small populations in California and western mountains
- Member of the weasel family
- Also called the “fisher cat” even though it is not a cat
- Males twice the size of females and tend to have more golden or grizzled fur
- Found in forests across Canada and northern U.S.
- Arboreal (lives in trees) but often hunts on the ground too
- Predatory and opportunistic, feeding on squirrels, rabbits, birds, mice and even foxes
- One of the few predators of porcupines – attack the face and flips them over to feed on their quill-less bellies
Three-banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)
- Native to South America
- Live in dryer, more open woodland and grassland environments in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina
- Back is covered by thick, leathery shell made up of a front dome and back dome separated by 3 segments (hence the animal’s name)
- Can roll into a tight ball to use shell to protect head, limbs and belly from predators; only armadillo species that can do this
- Doesn’t dig its own burrows like other armadillos but instead uses burrows of other animals
- Feeds on insects, particularly ants and termites, but also eats fruit
- Near-Threatened Species – due to hunting by humans and habitat loss
Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans)
- Native to North America
- Found throughtout eastern half United States wherever there are woods
- Very common but almost never seen because they are nocturnal and live way up in the trees
- Doesn’t really fly but rather glides using special skin flaps called patagium
- Uses tail as a rudder to steer and turn in mid-air
- Feeds on usual squirrel fare of nuts, seeds, buds, but this species is also highly carnivorous, preying on insects, birds, and even other rodents
- Preyed upon by owls and other nocturnal predators
- Will visit bird feeders and also pile into bird nesting boxes in the winter for warmth
Cane Toad (Bufo marinus)
- Native to South America
- Toads are a type of frog
- Frogs are declining worldwide due to habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, disease
- Cane toads are NOT declining and in fact are one of the worst invasive exotic species in Australia, where they were deliberately introduced to control cane beetles but instead ate the native endemic wildlife
- Large parotid glands produce toxins to deter predators – so big they can cause fatal poisoning in pets and other predators that try to eat them
When I was asked to help work on this year’s list of EXTRA-Ordinary wildlife species, the very first animal I wrote down was my favorite: the nine-banded armadillo. I’ll tell you why this adorable mammal fits the theme for National Wildlife Week 2012, but first, let’s back up to the beginning of the story.
How did I fall so deeply in love with an animal that many people consider a nuisance? Probably not how you would expect—I didn’t stumble upon one in the wild, and I’ve never encountered one at the zoo. It all started in calculus class, freshman year of college…
Now, it could have ended there, but after you draw a few dozen armadillos, you start to wonder a bit about these small, strange-looking critters. Which, of course, is where Google came in. Do you know how many fun facts are out there about armadillos? Quite a few! Such as:
- Though covered with armor they are capable swimmers!
- They almost always give birth to identical quadruplets
- They have a horrible reputation for spreading leprosy, despite the fact that more people in the U.S. are struck by lightning each year than infected with leprosy.
And those are just to name a few! After you spend so much time coloring, researching, and talking about armadillos, that’s it—they replace panda bears as your favorite animal. Since then, I’ve adopted an armadillo into my family—symbolically—and have made it my mission to spread the word about how remarkable all armadillo species really are.
If you want to read more about the nine-banded armadillo visit the Wildlife Library. You’ll be amazed by what you find out! And P.S., I passed calculus.
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Every year at National Wildlife Federation’s Headquarters office, we hold a Halloween party with prizes for costumes. I like making costumes from recycled materials because of the intellectual challenge and inexpensive supplies.
A few years ago, they even made a special prize for costumes from recycled items (other than secondhand clothing) to encourage this behavior. The prize is a carbon offset from Carbonfund.
Here are some of my award-winning costumes:
Certified Wildlife Habitat
The first time I participated in the Halloween costume contest was in 2001, and I had not figured out my passion for re-using garbage yet. But I did scour local secondhand stores for any little stuffed toys of wildlife, along with any small gardening knick knacks. I made a bird bath by attaching a large plastic lid to a hat.
My costume? A walking Certified Wildlife Habitat®, one of National Wildlife Federation’s most successful programs. When I won the top prize, my new Halloween costume hobby was born.
Octopus
In 2002, I collected the little plastic containers from the Keurig coffee machines. I cleaned out the coffee grounds and put them in my composter. I took four grey sweatshirts and stuffed the arms. Then I pinned the little coffee cups to the arms with safety pins. Finally, I put on all the sweatshirts at one time.
I loved this costume, although I wish now that I had chosen more colorful sweatshirts to make it more fun.
Armadillo
In 2003, I saved the metal discs from frozen juice containers all year long. My husband helped me punch holes in them and we threaded them together into something like a metal cape. Then I used medical supply bandages (the ones with the plaster embedded) on a recycled plastic milk jug to make the head. I painted it with beige paint and drew on the eyes. The nose was the jug handle turned around.
This was the year that my daughter Nora was born, and I was still on maternity leave during our Halloween party. So I carried her around during the Halloween party and I was “Nora’s pet armadillo.”
Raiser’s Edge Software
Raiser’s Edge is the software that National Wildlife Federation uses to keep track of our members and supporters.
In 2004, I noticed a box of old name tags that someone was throwing away because they were bent up and dusty from an outdoors event. It gave me the idea to be our Raiser’s Edge database. I wrote pretend descriptions of members on little cards and put them in the name tags. Then I pinned them all over my body.
My one-year-old daughter was a black poodle that year and was fascinated with all the name tags.
Spider Web
In 2005, I noticed a local cafe purchased their drinks with those plastic rings to hold them together.
You probably have heard about how these rings can choke wildlife if they are littered on the ground, and generally it is a good idea to cut the rings into bits before disposing of them.
I asked the lady at the cafe to save the rings for me to make my costume. My husband and I spent many nights tying these rings together with small bits of string into a web. Then we used poles from my tent to make a large ring. I made a hat into a spider out of Lean Cuisine lunch containers. I also made my two-year-old daughter a spider costume from a black t-shirt with legs I sewed on my sewing machine. It was fun having a joint costume!
Renewable Energy
I took a break from making costumes in 2006 because my son was born and he had colic, so I didn’t get much creative time. But in 2007, I made a renewable energy costume.
The wind turbine was made from a recycled oatmeal container attached to my bike helmet, with a plastic container on the front and cardboard turbine blades. The solar energy panel was my armadillo costume recycled onto a piece of cardboard wrapped in shiny wrapping paper. And the geo-thermal system running down my leg was my tent poles again.
Isn’t it cool to see how my daughter gets bigger every year in these photos?
Zebra
In 2008, I undertook my most complicated costume ever. I cleaned out even more Keurig coffee dispenser cups and pinned them on my clothing with hundreds of safety pins. It took about six hours to pin all the cups.
I recycled the armadillo head and made it a zebra head. I added padding on the nose and painted it black and white, adding a mane of black and white pipe cleaners. While it was not the most slimming costume, it sure was fun to wear, making a clip-clop sound when the cups bumped into each other.
Snow Flurry
In 2009, I could not have predicted that Virginia was going to get an unbelievable amount of snow, but my Halloween costume sure was on theme!
I saved plastic lids from yogurt containers. I cut snowflake designs out of paper, and then taped them to the lids. Using an exacto knife, I then cut the snowflake designs into the lids. I tried to be creative with this to make it more fun, so there were snowflakes with all sorts of wildlife, plants and other themes incorporated. I made the hat from a tube of cardboard painted blue, trimmed with cotton batting.
Unfortunately, I did not get to make as many snow flakes as I had hoped due to my crazy schedule, but it still was a fun costume.
Halloween 2010 – What Will I Be?
You might wonder – what’s the plan for this year? Well, it’s on my dining room table and I can’t wait until Thursday for our Halloween contest. I’ll give you a hint – it’s a colorful costume and it “caps” off my Halloween costume story. See you later this week when I unveil this year’s creation!