Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
[music]
>> CLEANING HOUSES ISN'T MY
FAVORITE THING TO DO SO I'M GLAD
NATURE HAS ITS VERY OWN
CLEAN UP CREW.
IN THE AIR, ON THE GROUND,
AND EVEN IN THE DIRT CRITTERS
ARE HARD AT WORK CLEANING UP.
TURKEY VULTURES USE THEIR KEEN
SENSE OF SMELL AND SIGHT TO
LOOK FOR ROAD KILL.
THE TURKEY VULTURE IS ONE
OF THE FEW BIRDS KNOWN TO
RELY ON SMELL.
ITS FEATHERLESS HEAD ALLOWS
THE BIRD TO POKE INTO MESSY
CARCASSES AND CLEAN UP
AFTERWARD.
BLACK VULTURES PREFER CRUISING
OVER OPEN FIELDS USING THEIR
SHARP EYESIGHT TO LOOK FOR FOOD
ALTHOUGH THEY SOMETIMES FOLLOW
TURKEY VULTURES AND BULLY THEM
OUT OF A MEAL.
COYOTES DO THEIR PART AS WELL.
ANIMAL CARCASSES MAKE UP OVER
ONE THIRD OF THEIR DIET.
THEY ALSO KEEP THE RAT AND MICE
POPULATION AT BAY.
WHEN THE LARGE PREDATORS
ARE DONE THE INVERTEBRATES
TAKE OVER.
ANTS, TERMITES, EARTHWORMS,
MILLIPEDES AND BEETLES BREAK
DOWN ORGANIC MATTER.
ONE OF THE MORE FASCINATING
CREATURES IS THE DERMESTID
BEETLE.
THESE LITTLE GUYS ARE SO
EFFICIENT THAT MUSEUMS ACTUALLY
USE THEM TO CLEAN BONES
AND SKULLS FOR DISPLAY CASES.
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE
ROAD KILL, NEVER FEAR.
IT'S A TV DINNER, A TURKEY
VULTURE DINNER THAT IS, AND THE
CLEAN UP CREW IS ON ITS WAY.
[music]