By: Carolina Labro, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Years of scientific research have discovered that animals use tools not only to find food, but also to build nests, for defense and even to enhance comfort. They have discovered that the use of tools does not imply special intelligence, as it was commonly believed, but in some species is a process of simple learning by associations in the environments, acquired by observing other animals. In other cases, it is due to genetic programming or instinct.

Below are some interesting examples:

Several species of Herons have shown a behavior called “bait fishing”. They pick a morsel of food, a small piece of bread or even a small stick with their beak and place it in the water to attract fish. ( American Fish Crows have shown this behavior as well)
Burrowing Owls accessorized their homes with dung from nearby animals like horses and dogs to attract dung beetles (not exactly a tool but very clever!)
Weaver ants use their larvae to produce silk that glues together the leaves from which they wave their nests.
The Bolas Spider makes a ball from the same silk it uses to spin a web. When an insect flies by, they throw it and it attaches to the insect because it's sticky and they reel them in.
The Brown-headed Nuthatch uses its beak to break off bits of wood then uses it as a tool to pry up tree bark and expose the insects hiding beneath.
The Sea Otter will strike mollusk shells against rocks to get at the food inside.
Octopuses have been observed carrying around coconut shells to hide in and turning them into instant shelters to protect from predators.

Nature is full of interesting creatures!