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Coyote story

Sam asks: Right now I am studying all sorts of different frogs. I know that they died from birds eating their eyes that look like cherries. Why would the frogs have these big cherry eyes if they are just going to get eaten by the birds?

Sean Bell replies: I'd be interested to know where you got this information, Sam. I have kept these frogs you're talking about (red eye tree frogs) so I know from experience that they never open their eyes during the day if they can help it. The big red eyes are adapted for seeing very well at night, and the frogs are almost blind in regular daylight. As for birds that pick out the eyes of the frogs, I am very suspicious of that. Most birds are daylight oriented or hunt by sound at night--the frogs make calls, but they move very quietly. Mostly, I am very doubtful that a bird would take the time to stalk a frog, and then only eat the eyes. Eyes are not very nutritious and are incredibly small (the eyes of my big male were no more than about 3 millimetres across), and if a predator catches a frog to eat the eyes, it might as well eat the whole thing. I guess the warning here is to be careful what you read--sometimes even books and internet sites may not have correct or complete information.

Sam says: I decided to draw this sea otter because he is endangered. He is endangered because peopl pollute the water that he lives in.

Ms R-M replies: Sam, I once read that sea otters practically have no natural enemies and that humans were a primary predator. Why do you think a person might want to kill a sea otter? Ms. R-M   

Sam replies: People might kill sea otters for their skin. Mayeb people could eat their meat. Maybe some big boats that carry lots of oil might drop some barrels into the water and pollute the water. This may kill the sea otters by accident.