141. 1st Grade SRR: Claws

People have flat nails on the tips of their fingers and toes. Many animals have claws instead. Claws may be long or short and can also be quite sharp.

Different animals use their claws to do different things. Claws can help an animal get food. An owl can grab snakes, rabbits, mice, or other small animals with its claws.

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A black bear uses its claws to get food. It digs up roots and rips into logs with its claws to get at insects and grubs. It uses its claws to dig into ant nests, too. Those ants look yummy to the bear.

A bear digs into the bark of trees with its claws to mark off for other bears the space it thinks of as its home.

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Some animals use their claws to dig. A mole digs tunnels and makes its nest underground where it is dark and cool. It digs in soil to find beetles, grubs, and other bugs to eat. It won’t take too long!

Moles do not see well, but they are one of the fastest kinds of animals for digging. A mole can dig faster than many animals.

Animals may also use their claws to hold things, cling to things, or hang in trees. The sloth’s claws are shaped like hooks. It hooks its claws on branches, hangs upside down, and eats leaves.

It moves slowly from tree to tree in this way. It is so slow moss can grow on it! It is one of the slowest animals in the world.

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A house cat can defend itself with its claws. It will swipe its sharp claws at a dog if the dog gets too close. Those claws could really hurt a dog. Cats that hunt depend on their sharp claws, too.

A cat’s claws stay inside its paw pads almost all the time. The cat pops them out when it needs them.

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Some animals use their claws to clean, or groom, their fur. Can you see this one grooming its pal’s fur? It uses its claws to clean out yucky stuff that gets stuck in the fur on its pal’s back.

Claws also come in handy if an animal has an itch. Claws can be quite useful for animals that have them!

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