Rochester Hills, Michigan

LOOK UP. LOOK DOWN.

LOOK ALL AROUND

All kids love to spy and play detective. Move the mystery and enthusiasm outdoors and encourage your children to spy on the wildlife that makes its home near you. Lots of animals coexist with people, from wee spiders to grazing deer. It's simply a matter of uncovering the evidence of wildlife that lives nearby. Time to sleuth!

Encourage you child to look for these signs of wildlife:

  • A spiderweb
  • A slimy snail's trail
  • A chewed or nibble leaf
  • A track in the dirt or sand
  • A feather
  • A nest
  • A burrow entrance
  • A cracked nutshell or birdseed

Look for other signs tht animals share your environment. Can you find blooming flowers and grasses? Without pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and bats, flowers wouldn't exist.

What other evidence can you find that animals, tiny or large, coexist with you? Gently look under rocks or fallen logs to discover what might be living beneath. Back at your home, look closely as well. Can you find evidence of animal life on or around your home? What has been there? Be a detective, and discover wildlife at work.