6 animals that recycle in their everyday lives
Most animals live in a delicate ecological balance with their natural surroundings. It's simply the most efficient formula for survival: Take only what is needed, and waste as little of it as possible. But a few animals take "reduce, reuse, recycle" to the next level. It's a good thing, too: Someone needs to help clean up the mess that so many humans leave behind.
Dung beetles
It's a dirty job, but somebody's got
to do it. Yes, even poop is too valuable a resource to let go to waste,
and perhaps no animal understands this better than the dung beetle. This
insect lives to collect and repurpose your poop. Not only do dung
beetles build their homes out of feces, but they also eat it and lay
their eggs in it.
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Many dung beetles are actually referred to as "rollers," since
their waste-collection strategy is to roll excrement into balls so that
it can be easily wheeled away.
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The environmental value of dung beetles shouldn't be understated.
For instance, it's estimated that dung beetles save the United States
cattle industry $380 million annually by repurposing livestock feces
alone. The amazing recycling ability of dung beetles has even been proposed as a way to help curb global warming.
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See all 6 animals at Mother Nature Network
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