The Right Tool for the Job

God created humans in his image, making us distinct from animals. We can think and create at a level no other creature can. But God gave animals the instincts, abilities, and intelligence to thrive in their environments, and sometimes that means reaching for tools to protect themselves or catch prey.

There’s a Branch for That

Branches are the Swiss Army tool for gorillas. These great apes have been seen using sticks to gauge water depth and to stay steady when crossing unsure terrain. Gorillas even build stick bridges to cross swampy ground.

Tase & Taste

Pom-pom crabs aren’t as cute as their name. These crafty crabs carry stinging sea anemones in their claws as defense against predators and eat the food the anemone catches.

Tasty Treats

Chimpanzees poke sticks into termite or ant mounds. When they pull it out, they eat the insects gathered on the stick—like a creepy-crawly version of Fun Dip candy.

Get Cracking

Watch out below! Large-billed crows drop nuts onto the road and wait for cars to crush the shells before retrieving the cracked nuts when the cars stop at a red light.

Nosing Around

A dolphin “nose” how to keep its nose safe. When dolphins dive in water with low visibility, they carry sea sponges. Some scientists believe the sponges protect a dolphin’s nose from bumping into rocks or spiny creatures on the sea floor. Other researchers believe the sponge stirs up food from the ocean floor for the dolphins to gobble down.

Sticky Back Scratcher

Nothing feels more satisfying than scratching a pesky itch. Puffins pick up a stick when they need to scratch a tickle just out of reach.

The “Otter” Silverware

Forget about a fork or spoon. In a pouch of skin under their front legs, otters stash a special rock that they use to crack open their favorite foods—oysters and crabs.

Bug Kabob

The woodpecker finch from the Galapagos Islands uses a cactus spine to impale an insect or goad it out of a tight space in tree bark.