A shout out to my Mom, pictured here some years ago with me in Niagara Falls, and to all Moms out there wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day! Whether you have human kids, dog kids, cat kids, caterpillar kids or plant kids, it’s your day to shine.
Let’s celebrate some animal Mothers who go above and beyond the call of duty. I bet some of these animal facts may surprise you.
Did you know RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD MOMS go it all by themselves? Dad is M.I.A, for every part of the process of raising babies except giving his sperm. Mom hummers are super Moms, keeping their two jellybean-sized eggs warm and safe, and then later, finding insects to keep them growing until it’s their time to fledge.
Did you know BLUE GHOST FIREFLY MOMS will protect their clutch (of about 30) tiny, smaller-than-a-poppy-seed-eggs? They curl their abdomen around their eggs, keeping them moist and safe. She will do this until her death.
Did you know WOLF SPIDER MOMS will carry their large egg sac attached to her spinnerets until they hatch, and then! The Mama will let her tiny babies ride on her back until they are large enough to hunt and fend for themselves.
Did you know most BAT MOMS carry their growing pup as they fly out to forage? Bat pups can weigh up to a third of the Mom’s weight, and that’s BEFORE they begin to drink milk and grow! Imagine flying through the sky carrying a growing kid attached to your chest! Talk about commitment, and strength.
Did you know ELEPHANT MOMS have the longest gestational period of any animal, at 22 months? Can you imagine being pregnant for nearly two years before finally giving birth?
Did you know TURKEY moms start talking to their babies while they are still inside the egg? They get to know her long before they even enter the world. After they hatch out, she is the center of their universe and the siblings will remain close to their Mom for four to five months before making a life of their own.
Did you know OPOSSUM MOMS can give birth to as many as 13 kids and then, guess what? They have to allow those 13 joeys, as they’re called, to nurse and even more amazing, hitch a ride on top of Mama as she moves about. When born, joeys are only the size of a honeybee and will crawl to Mom’s pouch where they will stay for 2-3 months. Joeys stay with Mama opossum for about 3 months before they’ll head out on their own.
Did you know PIG MOMS will stay with their kids for their entire lives? (when they are allowed, such as at a farm sanctuary) Pigs make up to 20 distinct sounds and are super smart, able to play games, solve puzzles and even recognize themselves in a mirror, something only a handful of other animals is able to do. They are smarter than most animals--including our beloved dogs.–said to be on a cognitive level similar to primates. They have deep social connections and show empathy towards pigs and even other animals.
Did you know COW MOMS, like human Moms, are super protective of their kids, forming a strong bond with them that can last a lifetime, when they are allowed, such as at a farm sanctuary. (In the dairy industry, baby cows are taken from their Moms, usually within 24 hours after giving birth so humans can take her milk.) Cow Moms will nurse their babies from 6-12 months, ensuring a strong, lasting bond with their kids–just like human children form a bond with their Mom. Sometimes Mama cows will adopt orphan cows who have lost their birth Moms, just like humans might adopt children. Mama cows frequently use their sandpaper-like tongue (think cat tongue) to clean and groom their calves and like dogs they love a good belly rub.
Did you know HUMPBACK WHALE MOMS travel up to 3000 miles from Alaska to Hawaii so they can give birth in warm, predator free waters? After a gestation of 11-13 months, Mom whales give birth to babies, called calves, that are 12-15 feet in length and weighs1-2 tons. 1-2 TONS!! Imagine how big that is!! Moms must provide up to 100 gallons of rich, thick milk every single day. Talk about a lot of milk!!
Our world is full of amazing MOMS who make the world go round and dedicate so much of their lives to raising babies. I hope your Mother’s Day is full of joy and love, as it should be, and that you feel appreciated and special.
Will you consider the animal MOMS out there and how your actions impact them every day? Will you consider how the choices you make –especially three times per day–affect the other MOTHERS on this Planet? Should our kindness be selective–(We LOVE dogs, but steal cow babies from their Moms so we can drink their milk, or we LOVE cats, but imprison pig Moms so we can raise her babies for bacon?) Shouldn’t we extend our compassion and kindness to ALL MOTHERS?
There are many questions to consider. Maybe now is the time.