Extreme Survival Strategies

How do Polar vortexes, climate change, record storms, extreme weather of all kinds play havoc on our ecosystems and all the species that live there? Discover the answers by watching the four parts of this science show and reading the information below. And to take this learning adventure into your classroom, have your teacher download the free Discussion Guide at the bottom of this page so everyone can share in the fun of this inquiry based learning.

While some species thrive, like record hordes of mosquitoes, others like the loons or whooping cranes struggle to raise their broods when assaulted by record hatches of blood-sucking blackflies. Even though species have had to adapt to various stages of climate change such as glacial advances across the Midwest over the past 2.3 million years, it’s little consolation to some species enduring extreme changes each year that affect their chances of survival. And even with our modern technology, us humans must also develop new strategies to confront the challenges of surviving in the face of record snows, rains, and temperature extremes. While considering this fact, imagine what it must have been like historically for Native Americans.

So all this raises the question, “How do the species that live out in the wild survive these extreme conditions?” The answer is all about extreme survival strategies that different species have evolved over tens of thousands of years. Some strategies are similar between species while others are extremely different. To discover how many species use their unique survival strategies, watch the four segments of this exciting episode. You might even learn that you’re not supposed to mess with hibernating bears in their den as they can easily wake up and defend themselves. And for gosh sakes, don’t run from that bear!

To take this survival strategy learning to a whole new level, have your teacher download the free discussion guide so your entire classroom can participate while learning a few survival tricks from Mother Nature. If you’re an elementary or high school student, download the additional lessons we have provided to use with the discussion guide!

Plus, the educational partner noted below supported the video and lesson content here for all of us to learn from. They also offer other learning opportunities on their website. So click on their logo to discover more!

    Full Video

    Classroom Videos

    The Science of Torpor

    Classroom Assets

    Animal Adaptations Discussion Guide

    RElated Content

    Into Family Fishing in Your National Forests

    In this Into the Outdoors episode, witness the wonders you could experience while exploring our public lands as you watch four family fishing adventures taking place in...
    Mapping the Mysteries of the Great Lakes. Man and women walking on sand towards Great Lake

    Mapping the Mysteries: Great Lakes Careers

    When a school career fair leaves the team uninspired, Diane, Jack, and Terry split up to chase down real careers around the Great Lakes—from the harbors of Sheboygan,...

    Into Taking Aim With Shooting Sports

    When you hear conservation, you may think research, improving habitat and protecting wildlife, but shooting sports also are a driving force behind funding. Archery,...

    Game Bird Quest

    Pheasant hunting is in our heritage, and is an outdoor recreation that many people include in their lifestyles today. Huh, so what’s the big deal? Why are people so...

    Wild About Walleye

    Welcome to Wild About Walleyes as part of our Getting Families Fishing Series. As you’ll discover in this TV show and related classroom videos, walleye fishing offers...

    Shooting Sports Challenge

    Welcome to the Shooting Sports Challenge television show that's part of our America’s Conservation & Hunting Heritage Series airing nationally on 5 digital networks...

    Women Reshaping Conservation & Hunting

    Why are women becoming the fastest growing segment of hunters in America today? Their reasons for breaking the stereotype image of men in blaze orange range from...

    Into Safe and Smart Boating – Part 2

    As you'll see in this television episode, parents like to show how much they know... or what they think they know. We get it. It’s part of being a parent. So watch and...

    Into the History of Wolves

    In this Into the Outdoors episode, Adventure Team members, Zach and Mya, dive deep into the history and identity of wolves. They talk with a variety of environmental...

    Crazy for Crappies

    Okay, so there's several great ways to enjoy and share the fishing fun and education in this show. First, you can kick back with family or friends to watch this entire...

    Thank you, Partners!