What will get teenagers interested in Wildlife?

[tigger]

Unfortunately an Otter was knocked down by a car in our village on News Years Day this year. When they did the post mortem they found that the penis bone had been broken at some point (and mended) Ouch! Apparently when fighting male Otters will also go for the scrotum as well.... (sorry any of you who are eating your breakfast!). Trying to put the enemy out of "action" I guess.

A list of horrible nature stories would be an interesting thing to compile... I might put something on my website. I may need to start another thread to get some "stories" from people.

Thanks. Jane

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by tigger

I really wanted to keep it to our village young people (so the v-team wouldn't really be applicable - but they are a really great organisation).

they cover the whole county and may even have local young people registered. Also any of your local young people 16-25 who get involved in organising would be eligible for the V50 certificates giving them something extra to put on their CVs

plus they can help with things like CRB checks for helpers and pointing you at affordable insurance and what have you

[KeenTeen17]

i don't care what anyone thinks! I like photographing orchids while all of my other friends either stand outside a spar

[galanthus]

Otters have bones in their penis ?? OMG

[vole-woman]

Just wanted to say, well done on this initiative! I've found, through standing like a weirdo on the same bridge by a youth centre night after night*, that a lot of young people are interested in wildlife, though they're sort of ashamed to admit it. I was going to suggest night activities, but can see you're already there. How about den/hide-building? Tracking's good fun, too - could you set up clay cartridges, like the ones in a Mink raft? And, as a one-off, how about a session with some small mammal traps? Most kids love to see animals close up, and you could teach them how to handle small animals properly.




*Looking for Water Voles, I should stress.

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by eeyore

they cover the whole county and may even have local young people registered. Also any of your local young people 16-25 who get involved in organising would be eligible for the V50 certificates giving them something extra to put on their CVs

plus they can help with things like CRB checks for helpers and pointing you at affordable insurance and what have you

Sounds like a great project Pete. I agree CRB checks will be vital for key staff and they can be costly and potchy.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by galanthus

I agree CRB checks will be vital for key staff and they can be costly and potchy.

... and take ages - I know they're essential if you are working with minors but the process is a joke, imo more little projects founder on this requirement than on anything else.

more info on CRB checks here http://www.crb.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=381

individuals cant apply to have them done and small groups cant register to be a registered organisation - so you will need a parent body like the wildlife trust, volunteer centre or similar to do them for you. Its supposed to be free for volunteers but some parent bodies charge to cover their admin costs

[thunder]

Originally Posted by galanthus

Otters have bones in their penis ?? OMG

Yep, lots of mammals do. In fact, most mammals do - I think primates are rather unusual in not having them - will look this up. Even bats have them - will see if I can get a photograph to post on WAB.

henrya

[Dan Salter]

I have one in mine every morning?....

[thunder]

Originally Posted by thunder

Yep, lots of mammals do. In fact, most mammals do - I think primates are rather unusual in not having them - will look this up. Even bats have them - will see if I can get a photograph to post on WAB.

henrya

Checking, it seems that humans are unique among primates in not having a baculum. Hyenas don't, apparently, nor do hares and Rabbits. Nor equids or marsupials. Will try and find a complete list. But most carnivores do.

henrya

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

I have one in mine every morning?....

Don't worry, it will go away.

[naturegirl]

Hi Dan, it's a condition called "Morning Glory" and is usually contagious among the male species!!!

Naturegirl

[naturegirl]

Thunder, a Pub quiz question recently was: 'Which animal alone has a bone in it's penis?'

The answer was 'a Racoon'!!!!!!!!

So this answer is not correct then?

Naturegirl

[village wench]

Originally Posted by naturegirl

Thunder, a Pub quiz question recently was: 'Which animal alone has a bone in it's penis?'

The answer was 'a Racoon'!!!!!!!!

So this answer is not correct then?

Naturegirl

Most certainly wrong,a quick glance at the baculum page on Wikipedia gives a brief list of the few mammals without one.
You need to sack that quiz master

[thunder]

Originally Posted by naturegirl

Thunder, a Pub quiz question recently was: 'Which animal alone has a bone in it's penis?'

The answer was 'a Racoon'!!!!!!!!

So this answer is not correct then?

Naturegirl

As village wench has said, very definitely not correct. I have seen a Walrus baculum, and a Stoat baculum. Hope to post a picture of a Pipistrelle baculum soon if I can get a good enough photog - but as you can imagine, they are quite small!

henrya

[Meta menardi]

Back on the subject of getting younger people interested in wildlife, I want to air a grievance. Why is it that if you look for books on Natural History, there are loads of books with very exciting layouts and fascinating things on "bugs" and mini-beasts, but they peter out at about the aimed at age of about 8. This means that the very things that are used to grab young childrens attention have no follow through into a more mature age. I am sure that some of the people who would carry on and then get a wider interest, just start to see it as being for kids and old fogeys.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by naturegirl

Hi Dan, it's a condition called "Morning Glory" and is usually contagious among the male species!!!

Naturegirl

Contagion: spread by contact.

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Contagion: spread by contact.

If i can be scientific for a moment...haha (me?)...its actually induced by the need to pee...or pushing/laying on a full bladder...and absoultely nothing to do with dreaming about ellie harrison and kate humble working in a car wash.....hmmmmm

Incidentally....the pub quiz question...what animal 'alone' has a bone in his penis....indicating that maybe racoons are the only ones who have a bone when alone when all the others only do it among friends? ha ha

[tigger]

God, I wish I'd never mentioned penis' now!

Any more ideas about how to get kids interested in Wildlife???

Ta! Jane

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by tigger

God, I wish I'd never mentioned penis' now!

Any more ideas about how to get kids interested in Wildlife???

Ta! Jane

Well talking about animals with penis bones would be a good place to start!

ohhh and that glow in the dark fungus...that even blows me away...kids would love to hear about that....and they wont believe you either!

[eeyore]

the paper nautilus has a detachable penis which swims off in search of a female on its own , before implanting and dying.

Ellie harrison is very very glad that dan isnt a paper nautilus i suspect

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by eeyore

the paper nautilus has a detachable penis which swims off in search of a female on its own , before implanting and dying.

Ellie harrison is very very glad that dan isnt a paper nautilus i suspect

mwuahahaha...

p.s..what is a paper nautilus anyway?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

mwuahahaha...

p.s..what is a paper nautilus anyway?

its an aquatic marine thing - like a small squid I think - see here Paper Nautilus or Argonaut Argonauta argo