If a bee stings you it will die.
If you are at all like me, then you have heard someone say this before. But, that is not actually true for most bees. There are about 25,000 different kinds of bees in the world with about 4,000 in the USA and even fewer in the Rocky Mountains. Of all those different kinds of bees, there is only one kind that dies after it stings you – the honey bee. Continue reading
Ribbit. Ribbit.
I know that is the sound a frog makes. At least I think it is a frog. I guess it could be a toad. Here in the Rocky Mountains we do have both frogs and toads.
A frog or a toad…I know they are two different kinds of animals, but they are really similar. I do remember that in one fairy tale the prince gets turned into a toad and stays that way until his true love give him a kiss. Or is it a frog that he gets turned into? Continue reading
Rabbit tracks
Sometimes during winter in the Rocky Mountains it feels as if the world is simply asleep while everything is coated in a blanket of white snow. Many animals, including me, are either not active are are less active. However, there are still some animals in the Rockies that are active and search for food during winter.
Any time you are out in nature you may not see many animals around, but you know they are out there. You know this either because you can hear them or because you are able to see evidence of them in the landscape, such as tracks or scat. Continue reading
In all of the time I have spent in the Rocky Mountains running around with my owners I have noticed one thing that all parents could do to make their kids really enjoy the outdoors. It is not being an expert in plants or mammals. It does not involve wearing the latest high tech shoes and jackets. It does not mean being in super shape so that you can run twenty miles. Continue reading
It is cold outside during winter in the Rocky Mountains and before my owner takes me outside for a walk he always grabs a nice, warm coat. That coat keeps him warm during the cold temperatures. Luckily for me I don’t need to put on a coat since I am already wearing a nice coat of fur.
I wonder how other animals stay warm during winter? What about birds? I know that in the fall there are a lot of birds that go south for winter – so their strategy to stay warm is to migrate. But, not all birds migrate. How do those birds that stay in the Rocky Mountains during winter stay warm? Here is a fun nature fact for you. Continue reading
I always wondered what exactly happens to ants in the Rocky Mountains during winter? I see them all over in the summer, then I don’t see them during the cold, snowy winter, yet they are back the next spring and summer. It makes me wonder what they are doing all winter. Continue reading
At their core the Rocky Mountains are made up of rocks. The very name of the Rocky Mountains tells you how important rocks are to the area. If you go for exploring, you will always come across rocks of some kind.
Think of the cliff faces, big boulders, and the many rocks along rivers. They are everywhere and it seems that rocks are these super solid objects. But, as difficult as it may be to believe, rocks are actually always changing. Continue reading
This blog of mine is all about helping children and parents have fun in the Rocky Mountains. I have been explaining all kinds of interesting things about the natural world in the Rocky Mountains because I think it is important for people and especially children to have a better appreciation and wonder of the world around them.
Remember though that all this information you can read about should not serve as a replacement for actually spending time outdoors. Parents can read or talk to your children about mammals, about the difference between a bird nest and bird roost, or common fish of the Rockies. But, nothing, yes absolutely nothing, can replace spending time outdoors exploring with your child. Continue reading
Snow covered Rocky Mountains in winter
Last week I went for a walk in the Rocky Mountains on a snowy trail that wandered through some evergreen trees and ended up at an ice covered lake. The ice was thick enough for me to run on, although it was hard because every time I tried to slow down or turn I slipped and fell down.
The funny thing is, I remember hiking to that same lake in the Rockies during the summer and watching my owner catch fish. He must have caught ten trout in that lake and a couple more in the stream that leaves the lake on the way up the valley. But, now I see nothing except ice and snow.
It makes me wonder where are all of the fish? Here comes another fun nature fact. Continue reading
As we have talked about before all animals main goal is life is to survive, which includes having babies. This means that animals have their babies at the time of year that gives them the best chance of surviving.
For the majority of animals that means timing it so that they have their babies when the there is the greatest abundance of food resources – meaning the springtime. When we think of spring time we think of new plants growing and babies – baby birds in nests, baby coyotes and wolves…and baby bears emerging from their dens (?) Continue reading