• TheTetrapod@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    12
    ·
    2 months ago

    I want to know how polar bears figured out that they need an air hole in their dens. Is that passed down instinctually or demonstratively? Animals are so cool.

    • shalafi@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      2 months ago

      “Well this sucks, can’t breathe.”

      Punches hole in roof to get air

      “OK, that works. Come to think of it, that’s how momma did it.”

      The second Jurassic Park book had a neat idea. What if much of the animal behavior we see is taught and not instinctual? The dinosaurs start fouling their poorly made nests and stomping all over their eggs because they didn’t have parents to emulate or teach them. Been thinking on that for over 20 years.