Hi Green Kids!Welcome to the Green Kids Club Newsletter where you can keep up with the Green Kids Club happenings each month, learn some new things, and challenge yourself as a true Green Kid ambassador for the planet! Photo courtesy of the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
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Mireya Mayor
Mireya Mayor is an incredible scientist! Her deep passion for animals and nature has led her on remarkable adventures, ranging from the study of enigmatic primates in lush rainforests to the quest for hidden creatures in remote jungles. During one of her research expeditions, she played a pivotal role in discovering a new species of lemur, the smallest primate on Earth.
Dr. Mayor's talents and unwavering dedication played a vital role in convincing the leader of Madagascar to safeguard the habitat of this newfound species by establishing it as a national park. She stands as an inspiring role model for young individuals aspiring to follow in her remarkable footsteps. We had the privilege of asking her a series of questions. Be sure to check out our exclusive interview!
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Wild Green Kids Club
Holiday Contest
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Green Kids Club has been hard at work!
Author Sylvia Medina has finished work on three books! Lek, The Elephant Whisperer is based on the true story of the amazing and wonderful Lek Chailert, who founded Save Elephant Foundation, and features illustrations from former Disney animator, Andreas Wessel-Therhorn. Andreas also illustrated our updated version of Danger in the Arctic, in which the Green Kids help teach about the impact of global warming.
Sylvia teamed with Kristin Combs, Executive Director of the Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, to write Learning about Grizzlies. With illustrations by Morgan Spicer and amazing bear pictures provided by acclaimed photographer, Thomas Mangelsen, this book teaches all about grizzly characteristics, habitat, diet and behaviors!
Stay tuned for future giveaways and links to purchase these fabulous new books! |
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| Check out our books on Kindle and Amazon! |
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Stories We Have Been Following
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Wolf Hunting in Idaho
In May 2023, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved a new 6-year wolf management plan aiming to reduce the state's wolf population by more than 60%, from an estimated 1,300 wolves to around 500, with a low of 350 in late winter. This plan, criticized for lacking scientific justification, prioritizes lethal measures over nonlethal deterrents and is considered out of sync with modern scientific knowledge and public opinion.
A group of environmental organizations is asking the U.S. government to stop people from shooting wolves from helicopters, calling this method "barbaric." This request comes after Idaho's Wolf Depredation Control Board decided to consider plans for aerial gunning of wolves at two ranches in the Wood River Valley. The plans were proposed by a predator control company without the ranches' knowledge. The groups want the U.S. Forest Service to ban this kind of wolf hunting on national forest lands, especially since some of these lands overlap with areas where wolves live.
The groups argue that shooting wolves from the air isn't helpful for wildlife or farm animals. They say that elk populations in Idaho are healthy, and the ranches involved haven't lost any livestock to wolves recently. They also worry that this kind of hunting could be dangerous for people enjoying outdoor activities and could harm other endangered animals like grizzly bears, wolverines, and Canada lynx. If the Forest Service doesn't listen to their request, the groups are thinking about taking legal action.
Click here to read the petition.
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Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Wolverines are Threatened
After years of effort by wildlife conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed wolverines as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, a big win for those fighting for their protection since 1995. Wolverines, who live in high-altitude areas, are suffering because their snowy habitats are shrinking and getting fragmented, mainly due to climate change. Once widespread across the northern U.S., wolverines now have small populations in states like Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. This new status means that the government must create a plan to help wolverines recover, protect their habitat, and possibly reintroduce them to areas. This decision is celebrated by conservationists, as it offers hope for the future survival and recovery of these solitary, snow-dependent carnivores.
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December Animal & Environment Observances
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2023 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Christmas Bird Count Week - December 14, 2023 - January 5, 2024
2023 Days: (Date Order)
- International Cheetah Day - December 4
- World Wildlife Conservation Day - December 4
- International Day of Veterinary Medicine - December 9
- National Llama Day - December 9
- International Animal Rights Day - December 10
- National Day of Animal Rights - December 10
- Monkey Day - December 14
- Visit the Zoo Day - December 27
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Alright! Imagine you're at a farm, and you see two fluffy animals. One is a llama and the other an alpaca. How do you tell them apart? First, look at their size. Llamas are like the big cousins in this fluffy family. They're taller and heavier than alpacas. Think of a llama as a tall basketball player, while an alpaca is more like a soccer player.
Now, check out their faces. Llamas have a longer, more banana-shaped face. If they took selfies, llamas would have those long, model-like faces. What about their hair? Llamas have coarser, longer hair. If they were at a hair salon, the llama would be asking for a simple trim. Llamas are also like the guards of the farm. They're known to be a bit more independent and can be used to protect other animals. Alpacas are more of the chill, hang-out-in-groups kind of animals. This month we celebrate National Llama Day!
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Featured Environmental
Non-Profit/NGO
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The Murie Ranch, a National Historic Landmark district located in Grand Teton National Park, is renowned for its association with prominent conservationists Olaus and Mardy Murie, and scientists Adolph and Louise Murie. This historic site, purchased in 1945, has been pivotal in shaping the environmental conservation movement.
Described by Olaus as the "heart of American wilderness," the ranch served as a critical backdrop for discussions and debates that contributed significantly to the conservation movement, including the passage of the Wilderness Act and the protection of numerous nationally designated wild areas!
In 1997, the Murie Center was established as a non-profit to steward the ranch and the Murie legacy. The ranch's transformation into a campus of Teton Science Schools in 2015 further emphasizes its ongoing role in promoting conservation and place-based education, hosting intimate retreats and engaging the public in conservation discussions through its Front Porch Conversations series.
Go to their website to learn how you can support their efforts.
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Believe it or not, in the Pacific Northwest bears are still out and about preparing for hibernation! This long, deep sleep helps bears survive when food is scarce and it's freezing outside. Bears find or make a cozy den, which can be a cave, a hollow tree, or even a big pile of leaves. While they're all snuggled up, their heartbeats slow down and they hardly move at all. They live off the extra fat they stored up until spring, when they wake up from their long nap, hungry and ready to explore the world again!
We are giving away copies of our book Grizzly 399's Hibernation Pandemonium. We will send books to the first 3 people we hear from at contactus@greenkidsclub.com with the subject line: HIBERNATION. |
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We want kids to join our Wild Green Kids Club! Children learn about animals and their environment and they can win books and toys through fun contests! Click on the link to find out more!
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About the author
Green Kids Club