Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, a martyr who was executed by the Roman Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century. This holiday’s history has stories in both Roman and Christian tradition, but they tend to feature executions (in particular, beheadings).
This may lend credence to the saying “love is stronger than death,” but depending on the species, there are different approaches to love… and reproductive success. This history, although somewhat disturbing, may pull from violent mating behaviors known for many wildlife species.
Take the beautiful Sea Slug Siphopteron makisig, for example. These hermaphrodites (having both male and female reproductive organs) have a very interesting technique to conquer their love…stabbing. This species stabs its partner directly in the center of its head with a venomous spur called the penile stylet, which injects a complex cocktail of hormones directly into its lover’s brain that scientists believe may improve its odds of mating success. There are many animals that use aggressive behaviors as a part of their reproductive behavior, but not many involve stabbing their mates between the eyes.
As we jump into some native wildlife love stories, we hope you enjoy our puns and learn about each species’ approach to their happily ever after…
I give a DAM about you!
Let’s dive into a more romantic story in the rodent world- North American Beavers (Castor canadensis)! Beavers are monogamous, typically mating for life– unless their partner dies. During their courtship, they can be seen grooming each other and making sure to leave their scent to keep other potential mates away. With each litter, they have on average four kits (weighing only about 1 lb). These newborn beavers can swim just a mere 24 hours after birth. Can you imagine if human children could walk within a day of birth?
Interestingly, beavers also commonly live in colonies, which are often family units. Kits stay with their parents up to two years, which means the colonies can include new offspring as well as kits from the previous year. Beavers live about 10-12 years in the wild, avoiding predation by humans, bears, coyotes, and cougars while navigating cold winters, water fluctuations, and limited food resources in the winter.
I OTTERLY adore you!
Otters are very playful animals, and that translates to their mating behavior. Male sea otters engage a receptive female in playful behavior that turns aggressive during breeding season. Researchers often identify female otters by the pink scars present on their noses that originate in mating behavior when the male bites the female’s nose.
Similar to beavers, otters have dens– sometimes they even use an old beaver lodge. Their young are helpless (blind, toothless, and 4-6 oz). Once they are old enough to leave the den, the male otter may return to help raise the pups, but until then, it’s all mom.
Otters have been particularly difficult for scientists to observe in the wild, so information on their breeding behavior is somewhat varied. Some studies show that pairs only stay together for a few months and do not build strong bonds, while other research has found that otters mate for life.
Glad I found SALMON to love!
The journey of salmon upstream brings a whole new definition to long distance relationships. After spending several years in the ocean, salmon migrate upstream to spawn, typically returning to their birthplace to lay their eggs. This migration can be hundreds of miles, and they must overcome barriers and strong currents to reach their final destination. Female coho salmon (a species native to the Rogue) dig out gravel nests called redds where they lay their eggs. The male courts a female by quivering, swimming back and forth over them, and opening their mouths wide (gaping). Male salmon will fight to win the right to fertilize the female’s eggs.
It’s a love worth dying for…After undertaking this arduous journey into freshwater streams, both male and female will die within a few days. They expend a life’s work of energy reserves swimming upstream and spawning.
I love you so much it should be ill-EAGLE!
Known for their ‘death-spiral,’ bald eagles are carefully (and excitedly) observed across the country. Bald eagles form long-term bonds, going through intense courtship rituals before their mate is selected. The so-called ‘death spiral’ involves an aerial show of cartwheeling, locking talons and spinning together while falling (in love).
Together, the swooning couple begins to build a nest. These architectural feats are about 6 ft across, but once you put a few birds in there it can be crowded! The nests can also be pretty deep, typically about 2-4 feet (although one in Florida reached 22 feet!). Once the nest is built, the pair can return to the same nest and add more sticks each year. When the female is ready to lay eggs, the pair will gather soft materials in the nest like a blanket underneath the soon-to-be eaglets. Most pairs lay 1-3 eggs per year, and the eaglets fledge, or leave the nest, at about 12 weeks.
One of the reasons we know so much about eagle reproduction is their significant decline in population through the 1950s and 60s. Humans were the major threat in both causes for this decline- hunting and pesticides. The insecticide, DDT, would bioaccumulate in eagles as they consumed contaminated fish– where the DDT would run-off and be absorbed by aquatic plants and fish. This toxin specifically affected the strength of eggshells, making them so thin they would break before hatching. Without reproductive success, the population declined drastically (only 417 pairs across the country in 1963) until DDT was banned in 1972 and eventually led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was passed in 1940 and prohibits the hunting or collection of any type of these species. According to the most recent estimates in 2020 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, there are currently over 71,000 nesting pairs across the continental US. This is a fantastic example of species recovery facing extinction, and it gives us hope that, if we choose, humans can help limit threats and increase recovery of many similarly threatened species today.
Without you I’m blue...
The noble Great Blue Heron is a species synonymous with wetlands across the country, and they symbolize wisdom, grace, and good luck. Similar to bald eagles, this species exhibited a bit of a comeback in the last few decades following the outlaw of DDT. One of their main threats, ironically, is predation and harassment by bald eagles. To help protect their nests, herons look for isolated areas with friendly neighbors– more blue herons. This strength in numbers provides support as they undergo courtship and nesting rituals. Pairs don’t necessarily mate for life, but they do go through an intense mate selection process. Their aerial displays include flying in circles, stretching their neck forward and snapping the bill. The male gathers nesting material and brings it to the female, and they often lock bills and rub their bills on the other bird’s feathers before mating.
The female lays 3-5 pale blue eggs, and the pair takes turns incubating for about a month before their chicks hatch. After about two months, the chicks take their first flights. Within a few weeks, they leave the nest and the protection of their parents. In their third year, these herons repeat the cycle of their parents and ensure the continuation of their species.
We’re wild about you…
Wow, you made it to the end after all our egg-sellent puns? We’re whale-y grateful for your support. We’d be lion if we said we didn’t get a few laughs writing this, and we hope you did too. Have a fin-tastic Valentine’s Day!
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