Pets In A Jar..Helping Children Learn to Care for Wild Critters

Summer is the time of year when many of us spend more time outside.

Our children run in all excited about this critter or that and how

they caught it. Somewhere in the conversation many will ask, "May

I keep it?"

Keeping the little critters is a lot of fun and can provide hours of enjoyment

as well as be a valuable learning experience.

However, sometimes small animals and critters suffer unnecessarily 

because the information necessary

to keep the pet alive.

Some pets fair very well in captivity and others don't. Some are illegal

to keep in captivity. In researching the Horned Lizard, I found that in Texas,

it is against the law to keep them. It is said that

those who have tried have not been very successful.

Here is a Horned Lizard (aka Horney Toads) that we found on our property in Arizona

this past July. They are often the color of their surroundings.

A bit smaller horned lizard.

A very small garter snake.

The snake next to my little finger. It's the smallest one I have

ever caught.

(As you can tell, I like critters, too!)

I don't like to kill wasps. As I picked this one up to put it outside, it found a

bead of water and started drinking. It was during a very dry period here.

I also enjoy putting a drop of honey on my finger and watching them

eat. Wasps do not become easily threatened and will usually sting

only if one sits on them, puts a hand on them or something similar.

Pets In a Jar: Collecting and Caring for Small Wild Animals

Imagine having a pet that will never learn to recognize you, that will in fact ignore you,

yet that is fascinating in a thousand different ways. With very little expense and a lot

of imagination, you can find, catch, and keep in a glass jar many small animals such

 as water bugs, hydras, toads, star-fish, and crickets. See for yourself how these creatures

live in the environment you create for them. Pets in a Jar will give you your own window

 to nature.

This book is available at Barnes and Noble

Order a used copy from Abe Books. If you are not familiar with this bookseller,

they sell used books at very reasonable to low prices and the condition of the books

are usually pretty decent.

We purchased the book years ago and have used it many times. It has been very 

fascinating to learn about God's little creatures. Our children have enjoyed just

reading the book. It's very informative and a great little supplement to Science.