Page 7 - Kind News, Jan/Feb 2021

CURIOSITY CORNER

CRITTER
CLUES

1 I like to burrow, or dig a tunnel,
to create my home where I live
and have babies.
2 I hibernate in my burrow during
THE the winter. During hibernation,
my heart rate slows to about
5 beats per minute!
TALES 3 Even though I am an omnivore,
opposite page: redrover; this page, from top: websubstance/bigstock; amy moore/pixabay.
TAILSTell! 4 I am a solitary animal, so I spend
I mainly eat plants. I can eat up
to a pound of plants per day!

most of my time alone. My babies
leave the burrow at around two
months old!
Dogs and cats “talk” to us, but not with words! They use 5 I sometimes stand up on my
lots of body language to express how they feel. Have you back legs to look for danger.
ever felt confused about what a dog or cat is trying to say
with their tail? You are not alone! 6 When I move out of my burrow,
other animals, like snakes or
Cats and dogs use their tails very differently to communicate. rabbits, often use it.
When dogs are happy and relaxed, they wag their tails like a person
happily waving a flag. When dogs are alert to possible danger, their 7 When there is danger, I warn
tails stand up straight and don’t move. When cats are feeling happy others by making a high-pitched
and friendly, their tails stand up straight and make a shape like a whistle! This has earned me the
question mark. Sometimes when they are feeling friendly, their tails nickname “whistle-pig!”
also quiver, making small movements back and forth. When cats
feel angry or annoyed, they might flick their tail. The more annoyed
they feel, the faster the flicks, and sometimes their whole tail starts
flicking. Watch out — this could mean that a cat is asking you to back
off, or they might bite as a way to say, “Leave me alone, please!” What am I?

fun animal

videos made
by kids.
Ask an adult if you
can subscribe!

ANSWER: HIDE AND SQUEAK. Jan/Feb 2021 | 7