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…
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
…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
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
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?
Comment From David in VA
Fox?
Comment From BarbG
owls
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
The snowy owl!
Comment From Kris in VB
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!
Comment From David in VA
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.
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
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.
Comment From Michelle
This is very clever Alex...good way to present info that will be remembered
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
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.
Comment From Michelle
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
Comment From Michelle
flying squirrels?
Comment From Kris in VB
Turkey vulture
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
The Northern Flying Squirrel takes the gold medal!
Comment From RB
Flying squirrel
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Center for Biological Diversity
Comment From Michelle
LOVE those yard visitors!!!!! Adorable
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
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
Comment From Michelle
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.
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
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
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
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.
lex Wehrung, WCV:
The longest glide ever recorded? Over 45 meters; 147 feet!
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
Our next event will be Short Track Speed Skating!
Alex Wehrung, WCV
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…
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
…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.
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
What’s an Arctic Hare to do in the face of such overwhelming odds? Run. Fast.
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
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.
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
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?
Comment From David in VA
Elk?
Comment From Michelle
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…
Comment From David in VA
Penguin?
Comment From Michelle
I don't know shore birds at all.
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
The word “bar-tailed” is in its name…
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
The answer: the Bar-tailed Godwit!
Alex Wehrung, WCV
Andreas Trepte
Comment From Kris in VB
The what?
Comment From BarbG
wow never heard of it
Comment From Michelle
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
Comment From Michelle
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.
Comment From Michelle
Amazing!!!!!
Comment From Denise in Iowa
Wonder how much weight they lose?
Alex Wehrung, WCV:
Probably a lot!
Comment From Michelle
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!
Comment From Michelle
Thank you!!
Comment From David in VA
Fun and fascinating session today Alex, thank you...
Comment From BarbG
that was so interesting-thanks so much Alex
Comment From Denise in Iowa
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!