Wildlife Center Classroom Series

Wildlife Center Classroom Series Bringing Home the Gold: Wildlife Winter Olympics

Wednesday February 14, 2018

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to this month’s Classroom Series… Wildlife

Winter Olympics!

Alex Wehrung, WCV

1:00 Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Human athletes from around the world have been competing throughout the past week in

PyeongChang, South Korea during the 2018 Olympic Winter Games; has anyone here been

watching? Any favorite events?

Comment From David in VA

Half Pipe... Goooo Chloe and Shawn!!!

Comment From BarbG

love figure skating

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

There have certainly been some impressive performances so far, but today I’d like to talk

about a different group of athletes – wild animals!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Most of us are probably familiar with how different species have adapted to survive in

winter conditions in a basic sense.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Some animals hibernate, some animals migrate, and others just tough it out despite the

cold…

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…but which ones do it best? Which species have what it takes to not only survive, but

thrive?

Comment From BarbG

Polar bears

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Today we’ll be having a bit of fun answering that question. In the spirit of competition,

we’ll take a look at four real-life winter Olympic events and put a wildlife-themed twist on each

one.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

(mostly related to North American wildlife)

Comment From Kris in VB

Will there be medals awarded?

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Of course!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Let the games begin!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

First up: the Biathlon.

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Getty Images

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This event combines two sports -- cross-country skiing and rifle-shooting.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Rooted in the survival skills practiced in snowy Scandinavian countries where people

hunted on skis with rifles strapped to their backs, today’s athletes are challenged by the power

and aggression required during skiing and their ability to quickly transition to the calm and

precision of marksmanship.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

In the wild, predators must be able to navigate snowy environments and be precise

hunters at the same time – especially during the coldest months when meals may be few and far

between.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

So, which species takes the gold for this event?


Fox?

Comment From BarbG

owls

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

The snowy owl!


Bobcat

Comment From Michelle

coyote?

Alex Wehrung, WCV

National Geographic Photo Ark

Comment From BarbG

I saw a snowy owl yesterday!!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

You did?! That's so cool!


How do they manage the skis?

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Metaphorically :)

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Snowy owls are supremely well adapted to move through snow-covered environments.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Where other animals would get bogged down trudging through thick snow, these hunters

can fly through the air at speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour on a wingspan that can reach 5 feet

across.

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Owl World

Comment From BarbG

saw one flying-just gorgeous

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Their "marksmanship" is just as impressive!

Comment From Carol

Has the Wildlife Center ever admitted a Snowy Owl?

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Not to my knowledge, no. We're pretty far inland for migrating Snowy Owls to show up

in our area, but they're regularly spotted on the coast during winter in VA.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Using their incredibly accurate sense of hearing, Snowy Owls can pinpoint their prey’s

location beneath the snow before diving down for the catch.

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They’re so precise that an adult may eat more than 1,600 lemmings in a year – three to

five every single day.

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Tim Laurence

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Next event!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Ski Jumping

Alex Wehrung, WCV

NHPR

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

This event is one of the most iconic events at the Olympic Winter Games, in my

opinion.


This is very clever Alex...good way to present info that will be remembered

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It's kind of festive, right? I love the Olympics!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

During this event, skiers hurtle down a steep slope and launch themselves off a ramp at

the bottom, aiming to travel the furthest distance in the air.


Good teaching strategy and festive

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Wind speed, jump-timing, and posture all come into play for the athletes participating in

this event.

Comment From GN

Festive!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

In the animal kingdom, many species have the ability to fly... but gliding? That's a

different story, one where on species stands out among the rest...

Comment From Doris

Eagle


flying squirrels?


Turkey vulture

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The Northern Flying Squirrel takes the gold medal!

Comment From RB

Flying squirrel

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Center for Biological Diversity


LOVE those yard visitors!!!!! Adorable

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One of three species of the flying squirrel family, the Northern Flying Squirrel is the only

member that’s native to North America (go team USA!).

Comment From Deb in PA

Alex, we have Flying Squirrels come into our birdfeeders at night. We have to pull them up high

at night because of bears in the area and it's perfect for the flying squirrels!

Comment From RB

Team Canada


The southern species is not native?

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

(I think the southern and northern species are considered close enough to be lumped into

a single grouping, but I'm not positive...)

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Found in mature forests, they’re diet and behavior is similar to more common squirrel

species found throughout the United States, but they have a special physical adaptation that helps

them move from treetop to treetop hardly ever touching the forest floor.

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Folds of skin that stretch from forelimb to hind limb create a wide, flat surface called a

patagium perfect for one thing – gliding!

Alex Wehrung, WCV

nature.ca

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Thanks to their efficient form, these squirrels can achieve a glide ratio of up to 1.98. That

means for every one meter of vertical height lost while falling, they can move forward about 1.98

meters.

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The longest glide ever recorded? Over 45 meters; 147 feet!

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Our next event will be Short Track Speed Skating!

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Getty Images

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

During this event, athletes race around an oval track for relatively short distances, but at

high speed.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

What makes this event more interesting is the fact that it’s not simply a race against the

clock – because there are multiple skaters on the ice at once (and no defined lanes), athletes must

strategically secure the best positions throughout turns and straightaways in order to come out on

top.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Similarly, animals in the wild must use both raw power and cunning technique when it

comes to chasing prey and evading predators. The gold medal-winner for this event is…

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…the Arctic Hare!

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Steve Sayles

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

This species of hare is highly adapted to survive in the Arctic tundra. Short ears (for a

hare, at least) and a small nose reduce the loss of body heat, and a thick coat allows them to live

where other hares and rabbits couldn’t.

Alex Wehrung, WCV

IUCN

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Despite living in some of the most remote habitat on Earth, these critters are prey items

for a number of predators. Arctic Foxes, stoats, Gray Wolves, Canada Lynx, Snowy Owls,

Gyrfalcons, Rough-legged Hawks, and humans are all well-documented predators that hunt

Arctic Hares.

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What’s an Arctic Hare to do in the face of such overwhelming odds? Run. Fast.

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A fully grown Arctic Hare can bound at speeds exceeding 40 mile per hour in bursts, an

impressive feat when considering the icy and snow-covered terrain. To put that in perspective, a

Gray Wolf (a much larger animal with much longer legs) has a top speed of about 35 miles per

hour.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

While Arctic Hares are mostly solitary animals, during winter months they may gather in

large groups known as a “flock” – sometimes made up of up to 3,000 individuals!

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Dave Weimer

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Dave Weimer

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

It’s thought that in similar fashion to a school of fish or flock of birds, being in a large

group offers some protection from predators. The more eyes watching out for predators, the

better!

Comment From BarbG

impressive pictures

Comment From RB

wow!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

The fact that these little guys are not only quick on their feet, but use strategy to avoid

becoming lunch is pretty neat.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

For our final event, let’s move to Cross Country Skiing.

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Outside Online

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

For centuries, humans have used skis to travel over snow-covered terrain in order to

survive – hunting, gathering firewood, and simply moving from place to place would be nearly

impossible without them.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Today, Olympic athletes test their physical stamina and endurance during long-distance

races, the longest of which is the 50 km (30 miles).

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

A test of stamina and endurance easily translates to our wildlife-themed Olympics when

we think about migration.

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In the simplest terms, migration refers to the seasonal movement of animals from one

region to another – usually in search of warmer climates, better food availability, or an absence

of natural predators during mating season.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

The winner might surprise you! Does anyone know what animal makes the longest non-

stop migration?


Elk?


non-stop?

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Non-stop.

Comment From RB

Arctic tern

Comment From BarbG

a bird? or mammal

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Here are some hints; It’s a bird…

Comment From Denise in Iowa

Osprey? Hummingbird?

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

It’s a shore bird…


Penguin?


I don't know shore birds at all.

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The word “bar-tailed” is in its name…

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The answer: the Bar-tailed Godwit!

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Andreas Trepte


The what?

Comment From BarbG

wow never heard of it


Learning a lot today making is a good day

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

This was my favorite thing to read about while writing this class up -- it's really

incredible:

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Many birds make unbelievably long migrations, but make stops along the way to refuel,

rest, and avoid harsh flying conditions.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

What makes the Bar-tailed Godwit our gold medal winner is the fact that they migrate

from their summer breeding grounds in Alaska to winter feeding grounds in New Zealand

without stopping a single time.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

In 2007, a GPS tracking unit traced an individual that flew 7,145 miles non-stop across

the Pacific Ocean during this migration.

Comment From BarbG

that is fascinating

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

It’s important to remember that godwits are not seabirds – they can’t rest on open water

or feed at sea.

Alex Wehrung, WCV

Robert Gill


wow..I wonder how many don't make it

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

One researcher, Rob Schuckland of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, is quoted

describing this feat as, “the equivalent of a human running at 43 miles per hour for more than

seven days” without stopping.


Amazing!!!!!


Wonder how much weight they lose?

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Probably a lot!


or how much weight they put on to make the journey

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Gold medal-winner indeed!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Well, folks, that concludes our Wildlife Winter Olympics. If you’re planning to watch the

remainder of the winter games this week, keep in mind that some of the most impressive athletic

performances might not be on television, but in your own backyard!

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

Thanks for tuning in and joining the discussion today, and thanks for all the great

questions and conversation!


Thank you!!


Fun and fascinating session today Alex, thank you...

Comment From BarbG

that was so interesting-thanks so much Alex


Interesting class Alex!

Comment From RB

Interesting!

Comment From BarbB in NJ

Amazing facts! Thanks for making us aware of the wonders of the animal world.

Alex Wehrung, WCV:

I'm logging off for now, have a great afternoon!

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