Amazing Animal Moms

Mother’s Day, which takes place on May 12 this year, is a great time to celebrate and honor the women who have made an impact in our lives. People around the world celebrate motherhood in different ways – and we’re not the only species with reason to celebrate! Many animal moms go to great lengths to provide for their young. Read on to learn about five amazing animal moms found right here in Michigan.

Nests aren’t just for the birds

Eastern Painted Turtle laying eggs – photo credit to F. Janzen

Early summer marks the beginning of turtle nesting season, when female turtles leave the water to lay their eggs. It’s a dangerous journey that puts them in the path of hungry predators and oncoming traffic (here’s what to do if you see a turtle in the road). After digging a hole with her hind legs, a turtle mom lays her eggs inside and covers them with soil before returning to the water. If you see a nesting turtle, remember not to get too close – moms need their space!

Male hummingbirds may be flashy and colorful, but females do all the hard work of raising their young. A ruby-throated hummingbird mom will spend a week or more constructing a tiny, cup-shaped nest from plant material and spider silk  – and that’s just the beginning. She lays one or two eggs and sits on them day and night, only leaving for a few minutes at a time to feed. Once the eggs hatch, she works nonstop to care for her hungry chicks, even continuing to feed them for a week after they leave the nest.

You might be surprised to learn that some salamanders have nests, too! Four-toed salamander moms seek out rotting logs or soft patches of moss to lay their eggs, and will often remain with them. The slimy secretions from a female salamander’s skin may help protect her eggs from fungus. Often, one mom will look after other females’ eggs in addition to her own.

Babies on board

Virginia Opossom – Photo via Pixabay

Virginia opossums are marsupials, meaning they carry their young in a pouch. Baby possums stay in their mom’s pouch for two and a half months, and then ride on her back for another few months while they learn to survive on their own. That’s no small feat, considering that possums can have up to 13 babies at one time!

Another animal mom with babies on board is the wolf spider. They might not be everyone’s idea of cute and cuddly, but female wolf spiders go above and beyond for their offspring. A spider mom wraps her eggs in silk and carries the egg sac attached to the tip of her abdomen. When the eggs hatch, the baby spiders ride along on mom’s back for a few days before setting off on their own.

Celebrate with us!

Every spring and summer, Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is home to nesting birds, turtles, and much more. Moms get in free on May 12 when visiting with their families, so come and join us!

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Ayley Shortridge is a Master’s student in the Janzen Lab at the Kellogg Biological Station and a 2023-24 Science Education and Outreach Fellow. She studies how turtles are impacted by their changing environment and enjoys writing about science and conservation.