Animal Badges
A separate badge can be earned for each of the following categories:
Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, marine biology, insects, and birds.
Otters - Do 4 requirements including the 2 starred
________1.* Find out as much as you can about the animal group you have chosen in your local environment by
reading, observing, and talking to others. If your chosen animal group does not live in your community, where is
the nearest place that they live naturally?
________ 2.* Be able to identify at least 3 species of your animal group. You may want to look at things like size,
shape, color or other distinguishing marks. Learn about their life cycle, what they eat, how they protect
themselves, their calls, and habits.
________3. Visit a zoo, pet shop, or other place where you can see your category of animal being fed and cared
for.
________4. Make something to attract, protect, or observe your category.
________5. Make a chart, poster, booklet, or other exhibit to teach others what you have learned while earning
this badge.
________6. Make a list of animals from your category that might make good pets. What special equipment would
you need to take care of them? What types of foods do they eat. Is this a pet that you would like to have? Why or
why not?
Dolphins - Do 5 requirements including the 2 starred
________ 1.* Find out as much as you can about the animal group you have chosen in your local environment
by reading, observing, and talking to others. If your chosen animal group does not live in your community, where is
the nearest place that they live naturally?
________ 2.* Be able to identify at least 5 species of your animal group. You may want to look at things like size,
shape, color or other distinguishing marks. Learn about their life cycle, what they eat, how they protect
themselves, their calls, and habits. (If you completed this badge for the same animal group at a different level, you
may not use species you have researched in the past.)
________3. Visit a zoo, pet shop, or other place where you can see your category of animal being fed and cared
for. Interview the caretakers and find out what they like/dislike about their job.
________4. Make something to attract, protect, or observe your category of animal.
________5. Research any state and federal laws that protect your animal category. What animals in your
category are on the endangered species list. What specific protection do they receive. How would the extinction of
this animal affect mankind?
________6. Make a chart, poster, booklet, or other exhibit to teach others what you have learned while earning
this badge.
________7. Make a list of animals from your category that might make good pets. What special equipment would
you need to take care of them? What types of foods do they eat? What type of medical care may be needed?
What are the most common risks to having this animal as a pet? Is this a pet that you would like to have? Why or
why not?
Butterfly - Do 6 requirements including the 2 starred
________ 1.* Find out as much as you can about the animal group you have chosen in your local environment
by reading, observing, and talking to others. If your chosen animal group does not live in your community, where is
the nearest place that they live naturally? If possible, observe your animal category in the wild on at least 3
different occasions. Take notes on their behavior and compare them to what you have learned.
________ 2.* Be able to identify at least 8 species of your animal group. You may want to look at things like size,
shape, color or other distinguishing marks. Learn about their life cycle, what they eat, how they protect
themselves, their calls, and habits. (If you completed this badge for the same animal group at a different level, you
may not use species you have researched in the past.)
________3. Visit a zoo, pet shop, or other place where you can see your category of animal being fed and cared
for. Interview the caretakers and find out what they like/dislike about their job. Find out what type of education or
special training is necessary to work in this position.
________4. Make something to attract, protect, or observe your category of animal.
________5. Research any state and federal laws that protect your animal category. What animals in your
category are on the endangered species list. What specific protection do they receive. How would the extinction of
this animal affect mankind? (If you researched this group at an earlier level, make sure all your data is up to date.)
________6. What local or national organizations are there that study or protect animals in your category? What
do they do? Make a poster showing how you can help to protect an animal from your category.
________7. Make a chart, poster, booklet, or other exhibit to teach others what you have learned while earning
this badge.
_______ 8. If your animal category is present naturally in your local community, find out which animals are
beneficial to humans, which are nuisances, and which are harmful. Explain how people interact with each of these
animals.
Eagle - Do 7 requirements including the 2 starred
________ 1.* Find out as much as you can about the animal group you have chosen in your local environment
by reading, observing, and talking to others. If your chosen animal group does not live in your community, where is
the nearest place that they live naturally? If possible, observe your animal category in the wild on at least 5
different occasions. Take notes on their behavior and compare them to what you have learned.
________ 2.* Be able to identify at least 12 species of your animal group. You may want to look at things like size,
shape, color or other distinguishing marks. Learn about their life cycle, what they eat, how they protect
themselves, their calls, and habits. (If you completed this badge for the same animal group at a different level, you
may not use species you have researched in the past.)
________3. Shadow an animal caretaker for a day at a zoo, pet shop, or other place where you can see your
category of animal being fed and cared for. What careers are there in working with these types of animals? What
education or special training would you need?
________4. Make something to attract, protect, or observe your category of animal.
________5. Research any state and federal laws that protect your animal category. What animals in your
category are on the endangered species list. What specific protection do they receive. How would the extinction of
this animal affect mankind? (If you researched this group at an earlier level, make sure all your data is up to date.)
________6. What local or national organizations are there that study or protect animals in your category? What
do they do? Volunteer at least 4 hours to working with one of these organizations.
________7. Make a chart, poster, booklet, or other exhibit to teach others what you have learned while earning
this badge.
_______ 8. If your animal category is present naturally in your local community, find out which animals are
beneficial to humans, which are nuisances, and which are harmful. Explain how people interact with each of these
animals.
________9. Design and carry out a service project that will benefit your animal group. This may be planting trees
or flowers for birds or insects, raising money for organizations that protect endangered species, gathering a
volunteer crew to help out at a local animal shelter, etc.