Author: Lisa Mungovan

People living near Lake Erie in Ohio, reported an odor, that smelled like natural gas. Firefighters and energy crews investigated, and concluded it was just a lake inversion. Strong winds had caused gunk from the bottom of the Great Lake, to be swept to the surface. It smells bad, but isn’t dangerous.

A pair of Goffin’s cockatoos, joined a short list of animals who make tools, by creating a 3-piece set of tools, to eat mango seeds. They used a thick branch to pry the pit open, a thin stick to puncture the inner membrane, and a scoop to spoon the soft bits into their mouths.

Last year, 10-year-old Nandi Bushell challenged Dave Grohl to a drum battle. The drummer of Nirvana, and frontman for the Foo Fighters accepted, and was surprised to see how good she was! After a year of dueling by video, Nandi finally got to perform with the Foo Fighters onstage. What an epic ending!

Everyone needs a pet, but maybe you have allergies, or travel too much, or don’t have money for visits to the vet. Get a pet rock! In the 19 70’s, they were sold in a ventilated box, with a bed of hay. Today is Pet Rock Day, so adopt one from your garden!

Are you running late? Great! It’s Be Late For Something Day. Be sure to use your perfect excuse for being late. It’s Cheese Pizza Day too. It’s great when you’re late, because you don’t need a plate! It’s also International Day Of Charity. It’s never too late to do something for those less fortunate.

Barnacles are sea creatures that can stick to anything. They cling to the bottom of boats, wooden piers, and even whales. Scientists studied their extraordinary clinging abilities, to develop a gluey paste to close wounds. The material can seal a deep cut, to stop blood loss within seconds. That’s much quicker than stitches.

Today is National Wildlife Day. What animals are native to your area? Animals that seem normal to you might be exotic to people in other parts of the world! They might have to go to the zoo to see a squirrel. Sit outside quietly, and see how many animals you can spot in 15 minutes!

Turkey vultures, or buzzards, are gigantic birds with an important job. As scavengers, they’re essential in cleaning up dead wildlife. Their featherless red heads, help keep them cool, and stay clean when they eat. Turkey vultures have a 6-foot wingspan, so it’s easy to spot them circling in the sky. Happy Turkey Vulture Day!

Let’s celebrate World Beard Day. It can be tough to grow a nice beard, so just wear a fake one. You can even draw one on, with markers! Make sure your beard stays clean while you eat, for World Samosa Day. The fried pastry, is filled with potatoes, peas, and spices.

Macadamia trees are evergreens native to Australia, that produce nuts. The shells are so hard to open, that the only Australian animals who can get into them are cockatoos! Luckily, humans can open them with tools, because they’re delicious! Macadamia nuts are poisonous to dogs, so celebrate Macadamia Nut Day with your human friends.