NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Is the tree house turning into a zoo? No, but the tree house detectives are learning a lot about animals. It all begins when Catherine and Bianca find a hurting animal while riding an airboat in Orlando, Fla. The tree house detectives decide that they should learn more about animals and how to protect them. So begins The Case of the Zany Animal Antics.

Image to left: Dr. D took a safari at Busch Gardens® in Tampa, Florida. He learned all about animal migration and even got to feed a giraffe! Credit: The NASA SCI Files™

They visit the zoological manager at Busch Gardens® Williamsburg. He introduces Kali to the grey wolf. He also explains how animals are classified. All living things can be organized into groups. The largest groups are called kingdoms. Two of the kingdoms are the animal kingdom and the plant kingdom. The next groups within kingdoms are called phyla. Dr. D explains eight of the phyla of invertebrates to Kali when they meet at the Virginia Marine Science Museum.

Meanwhile, Catherine and Bianca go to NASA's Kennedy Space Center or KSC. There they meet a wildlife ecologist and later a wildlife biologist. The ecologist describes five classes of vertebrates. They get to meet a real live vertebrate -- a reptile! She also explains why it is important that NASA monitor the animals that live near KSC.

Why do animals live at KSC? Are they going on the Space Shuttle? No, KSC is a National Wildlife Refuge. Between May and September, thousands of endangered sea turtles come ashore on the island to lay their eggs. The wildlife biologist monitors the sea turtle population. He helps the detectives learn about the food chain.

RJ and Dr. D go on a "safari" at an Adventure Camp at Busch Gardens® Tampa. Dr. D explains migration and reasons that animals migrate. Then RJ feeds Dolly, a giraffe, and meets the zookeeper at the park. She explains how animals reproduce.

Back at the tree house, the detectives use what they are learning about animals to help Kali with her Girl Scout badge. Dr. D later helps her build a bat house for her wildlife badge. They also investigate building a wildlife preserve in Jacob's backyard. Can it be done?

As they build the bat house, Dr. D explains the differences in animal populations. To learn more about how to count animals in a population, the tree house detectives call on a NASA Explorer School. The class at Carol City Elementary School in Florida has just learned about random sampling. The students explain why and how to use sampling to estimate a population. The detectives also call a wildlife ecologist who is studying the endangered birds, scrub jays, at KSC. He helps the detectives understand how nature and man can affect habitats.

Image to right: The tree house detectives learn about the program at Sea World® that helps nurse injured and sick animals back to health. Credit: The NASA SCI Files™

The detectives are now more interested in endangered animals. So, they call the head of the aquatics program at KSC. He explains the levels of endangerment and what causes some animals to become threatened or extinct. Now, the detectives are curious about when and how animals are rescued. They visit a veterinarian at Sea World® in Florida. She tells them about rescue efforts for injured and sick animals. RJ goes to Sea World® and learns about a fund to protect wildlife. Finally, the detectives and Dr. D visit Mr. Cutchin's backyard. It has been certified as an official backyard habitat. They review what they have learned. They believe that they are ready to turn Jacob's backyard into the perfect habitat. They may even be able to help Kali with her final requirement for her Girl Scout wildlife badge.

Catch all of the zaniness as the detectives solve The Case of the Zany Animal Antics. It began airing on TV on Feb. 16. It will be on NASA-TV, PBS and some cable channels. Look for the NASA SCI Files™ in your local TV listings to find the time in your area. You won't want to miss the fun!

Related Resources

See some of the animals at KSC.
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Play Migration Concentration at the Space Place.
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Get help with your scout badges at the Space Place.

Space Place: Girl Scout Badges
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Space Place: Cub Scout Achievements
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Denise Miller/MSFC
NASA SCI Files™