Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Meet the Bandit of the Prairie

There is only one animal in North America that can be called the "Bandit of the Prairie."Meet the Black-Footed Ferret.


The Black-Footed Ferret is one of the most endangered mammals in North America, but that was not always true. In the 1800s, they were pretty common on the prairie, but that was before people started plowing up the prairie to make homes, farms, and towns.  

Losing their habitat to people was one reason they started disappearing. The other reason has to do with prairie dogs. Black-footed ferrets are predators of prairie dogs. Prairie dogs are their food supply. Farmers started killing prairie dogs, and the food was hard to find. By 1986, there were no black-footed ferrets left in the wild, and only 18 alive in zoos. But people cared, and now there are over 600. Here are some things you might not know about the black-footed ferret.


  • They are a member of the weasel family.
  • Their black mask keeps the glare of the sun from hurting their eyes.
  • They can twist and turn through any tunnel.
  • They spend most of the time underground.
  • They make prairie dog tunnels their homes.
  • They hunt at night.
  • They like to be alone.
  • Females have one to six babies in May or June.
  • Their babies are called Kits.
  • Kits are born blind, and stay in the tunnel for two months.
  • Kits can be on their own before winter.


Animal Girl says, "Some think this is cool, but I think it's cruel!"

Hey! I am still not allowed to have my own blog until I am 13, but I now have an email. You can send me mail at  


animalgirlsnature@gmail.com



For more information, check these web sites.





Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Meet the Spotted Chirper


What chirps, hangs out in trees, lives in Africa, is the fastest land animal on earth, and is Africa's most endangered big cat? The spotted chirper is . . .the African Cheetah!


You would think a big cat like the cheetah would roar like a lion, right? But the cheetah actually makes chirping sounds like a bird. Sure it can growl, hiss, and purr like all big cats, but it keeps in contact with other cheetahs by chirping. Here are some facts you may not know:

  • The cheetah's long legs and slender body makes them built for speed.
  • Cheetahs can run up to 70 mph, but only for about half of a minute because that speed takes a lot of energy.
  • Their long tail helps their balance.
  • They have black lines that look like tears that run from the corner of their eyes to their mouth. These black lines keep the sun's glare away, and help the cheetah sight on their prey.
  • They hunt during the day because they don't see very good at night.

Like so many other animals, cheetahs are endangered because of loss of habitat, hunted for their fur, and killed to protect livestock. One hundred years ago, there were 100,000 cheetahs in Africa. Now there are less than 10,000.To find out how you can help save the cheetah from disappearing, check out Cheetah-Namibia Wildlife Conservation.



Animals are here to share our world with us. Wouldn't life be boring without them? 

Here's what I, Animal Girl, think about our disappearing animals.

"Some think it's cool, but I think it's cruel."