October 19, 2011
- Animal Stereotypes
- Family Fun
- Upcoming DEC Events
- Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
- Capital District - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center
- Central New York - Rogers Environmental Education Center
- Western New York - Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
Animal Stereotypes
Certain animals have undeserved bad reputations. People think they are scary or dangerous or just plain creepy. There is a bit of truth to some stereotypes, but many of these animals are more beneficial than harmful. Let's take a look at a few misunderstood animals:
Snakes
Often feared, snakes are legless reptiles whose long, flexible bodies are covered with scales. These scales can be smooth or contain a ridge that gives the snake a rough appearance. Snakes are found in forests, gardens, rocky areas, deserts, water and islands-everywhere in the world but Antarctica. Snakes move quickly and quietly across both land and water by using their bodies in a special way called lateral undulation in which the snake's body flexes to the left and to the right. Valued for their ability to kill rodent and insect pests, snakes are also very interesting creatures to watch. Imagine all the mice and rats that would be running around if there were no snakes!
Spiders
Thought by some to be creepy and crawly, spiders are actually fascinating creatures. All spiders have eight legs and two body segments, making them easy to distinguish from insects, which have six legs and three body segments. Spiders have hollow fangs which inject venom to immobilize or kill their prey. Most spider prey includes small insects or other spiders. Unable to swallow solid food, spiders use their chelicerae (pronounced ki-li-se-re)-pointed appendages-to crush their prey. Spiders eat more prey than all other terrestrial (land) predators combined. An acre of land can contain millions of spiders. Without them, insect populations would explode and eat many of our agricultural crops and trees.
Bees
Did you know that one-third of all our food-fruits and vegetables-wouldn't exist without bees? Bees pollinate the flowers on these plants, ensuring that they will eventually produce fruits and vegetables. Bumblebees are large, plump and fuzzy, with black and yellow stripes. You can see them drinking nectar from flowers in the summer. Honeybees often get the credit for pollinating flowers, but bumblebees are the chief pollinators of alfalfa, beans, peas, tomatoes and, in some areas, raspberries, apples, plums and strawberries.
Bats
Bats eat 20 to 50 percent of their weight in insects like mosquitoes every night; that's about ten per minute. Imagine how many bug bites you would have if bats weren't cleaning up the sky for us. And that old wives' tale about bats flying into your hair-don't believe it! Bats are nocturnal mammals that hibernate or migrate during the winter. Groups of bats ranging from only a few to millions roost in caves or trees. Bats hang upside down when they sleep and can tilt their heads so far back they can look behind themselves. There are nine species of bats in New York State.
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Learn the best places to view wildlife at DEC's Watchable Wildlife pages.
Family Fun
Visit an Environmental Education Center
Environmental education centers are great places to learn about these creepy creatures. Check out the Upcoming DEC Events and attend a program about spiders, bats or "animals of Halloween."
A Field Guide to Snakes
In New York State, there are 17 species of snakes-three are venomous, most snakes are rarely seen. If you want to know more about snakes, you can create your own field guide. Using DEC's brochures "Snakes" and "Lesser-known Snakes" along with books from the library, look up a variety of different snakes. In a notebook, write down as much as possible about each species: its physical characteristics, habitat, range, speed, size, prey, predators and behavior. You can even include a picture, drawing and piece of string that is the same length as the snake.
Read Conservationist for Kids for more information and activities!
Upcoming DEC Events
Hudson Valley
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
Programs at Stony Kill are now offered by the Stony Kill Foundation; there are no DEC education staff at the site due to fiscal constraints.
Native American Artifacts for Kids
Saturday, October 22 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
For youngsters entering grades 4 to 6
Halloween Party for Kids
Saturday, October 29 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
For youngsters in kindergarten through 5th grade
Norrie Point Environmental Center
Discover Norrie: Nuts about Wildlife
Saturday, October 22 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Capital Region
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Movie: Climbing Giant Redwoods
Friday, October 21 at 7:00 PM
Complimentary popcorn and cider. Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 19.
Family Fun: Make Your Own Solar Cooker
Saturday, October 22 at 10:00 AM
Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 19.
How To Do It: Use a Map and Compass
Saturday, October 22 at 1:00 PM
Bring a compass if you have one and dress for the outdoors. Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 19.
Family Fun: All About Bats
Saturday, October 29 at 10:00 AM
Parents and children must accompany each other. Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 26.
Family Fun: Halloween Open House
Saturday, October 29 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Come in costume if you wish. Youth groups are welcome, but must call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 26.
Event Descriptions at Five Rivers
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center
Spectacular Spiders
Sunday, October 23 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Call 518-456-0655 to register. Cost: $2.00/person, $5.00/family, children under 5 free
More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center
Central New York
Rogers Environmental Education Center
Programs at Rogers are now offered by the Friends of Rogers; there are no DEC education staff at the site due to fiscal constraints.
Animals of Halloween
Friday, October 28 at 6:30 PM
Western New York
Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959.
After-School Escape
Thursday, October 20 and 27 at 4:30 PM
For children in grades K-5. No registration required.
Owl Prowl
Friday, October 21 at 6:30 PM
For adults and children age 8 and older.
Nature Journaling
Saturday, October 22 at 10:00 AM
For adults and children age 8 and older.
Outdoor Skills
Saturday, October 29 at 10:30 AM
For adults and children age 8 and older.