Keeping nature in its natural state is best for us, and more importantly, it benefits the wildlife and vegetation that surrounds our beautiful waterfalls.
Litter is very harmful to wildlife. Animals do not know that if they eat that tasty snack and its wrapper, it could poison them or cause them to choke and die.
Litter can also contain harmful chemicals that could kill the plants, and it causes water pollution, which will affect the community at large and the creek critters that depend on clean water for their habitat. It is up to YOU to make good choices that will help our environment.
What in the world is this? North Carolina is home to the Eastern Hellbender, one of only a few giant salamanders found in the world. They like to live under large, flat rocks in our clear, fast-moving streams and can grow to over two feet long. They have lungs but breathe through the pores of their skin and they can live up to 50 years!
It is important to learn about the critters that live in the streams near waterfalls. When you are knowledgeable about what lives in our streams, you can help others understand why it is so important to take care of these animals’ homes!
Not all the critters you’ll see in or around the stream will be as big as a hellbender. Look around the bank near the water to spot salamanders, frogs, and other critters that live mostly outside of the water. Look in the water for fish, tadpoles, and macroinvertebrates, those little water bugs and creatures you can see with your eyes without needing a microscope. Some examples of macroinvertebrates you may see in your exploration of the stream are crayfish, worms, and snails. (Most streams are full of them!) They’re like the superheroes of the water because scientists use them to figure out if the water is clean and healthy for other animals to live in.
A lot of these macroinvertebrates are insect larvae. They live in the water – many under the rocks – for a period of time, then develop into adults. Mayflies, for example, live in the water for a year or two then they will emerge as adults with wings and only live for about a day on land. Others will either stay in the water (such as beetles) or emerge.
Macroinvertebrates include crustaceans (such as crayfish, which are related to lobsters and crabs), annelids (worms and leeches), and mollusks (snails, mussels, and clams).
If you want to search for macroinvertebrates in the streams, carefully lift up rocks and look at the underside of them to see what lives there. It is very important to observe the critters and then gently place the rock back down in the same spot you found it, with the same side facing down. This is how you can observe the macroinvertebrates without disturbing their homes.
You may also see some clear, gooey substances on some of these rocks. These are the eggs of salamanders, snails, and other creek critters. Make sure you do not touch them as they are very delicate. If you are lucky enough to spot some eggs, take a picture of your observation and be extra gentle placing the rock back down into the water where you found it.
Find out how much you’ve learned already about creek critters:
A _______________ is a creek critter with no backbone that typically lives under rocks. They can be insect larvae, annelids, molluscs, or crustaceans.
North Carolina is home to only one species of giant salamander, which is called a ________________.
Why is it a bad idea to move or stack rocks from the stream?
When searching the streams for critters, describe how to safely search under rocks without disturbing their habitat
Take a picture of three creek critters, like salamanders, crayfish, snails, worms, tadpoles, frogs, or any of the macroinvertebrates. (Remember, invertebrates are water bugs and other critters that are large enough for you to see with your eyes, without needing a microscope. Insects are a good example.)
Do one of the following:
* Download the Creek Critter coloring page. Color the page the way you think it’s supposed to look.:
* Download the Dot-to-Dot Salamandercoloring page. Connect the dots on the page and then color the salamander.
Learn more about hellbenders.
* Read some great information about the hellbender salamander.
* Watch a cool video about the hellbender.
* Draw a picture of a hellbender and write an interesting fact you learned from the video or website.
Now that you know about the tiny animals and insects living in the streams and have learned how to look at them without hurting them or their fragile habitat, try this: Draw a picture of one of them to hang on your wall to remind you to be gentle with all of nature’s living things (including yourself!)
Here’s a special Creek Critters challenge activity for our friends whose physical or other abilities may differ:
Play a guessing game with the other kids or adults with you. Pretend you are one of the critters you learned about (or saw) that live at a waterfall or in the stream. It could be bendy like a salamander, or jumpy like a frog, or shy like a snail. Use your imagination, then tell us below which critter you imitated.
(Parent or caregiver, please feel free to adapt this activity so your child can be included in the challenge. We will gladly work with you to tailor an activity for your child’s needs. We want all kids to enjoy waterfalls and the natural world!)
Ready to submit your photos, coloring sheets or voice recording to earn your badge?
Complete the Badge Challenge Submission form and upload them as scans, screenshots or attachments.
“To promote and advance the cultural, economic, ecological, and historical significance of North Carolina waterfalls; to serve as an educator and advocate; and to preserve waterfalls and facilitate their enjoyment in perpetuity.”
283 Inman Branch Road
Waynesville, NC 28786
The spray zone of a North Carolina Waterfall
Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (Tax ID 84-4464996) under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
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