Bath Time!

How Do Animals Wash Up?

Would you rather take a bath in dirt or oil? What about a spit bath? A sun bath? Animals all over the world bathe using some of these methods.

Tongue bath?Take your cue from the  family cat—and also from  bobcats, wolves, dogs,  and many other mammals.  Bobcats finish bath time by  licking their paws and then  using the wet paws to wash  their faces. And don’t  forget bats. They spend  an hour or more of each  day on tongue baths.

Oil bath?Beavers can’t clean up  until they get out of the  water. Watch a beaver:  He waddles out, and then  uses a toenail to comb  his fur. He sits, and then  reaches for the oil in a  gland under his tail.  Mr. Beaver rubs the oil  all over his fur. Now he’s  clean, waterproofed,  and ready to dive back in.

Cheryl Reynolds

Sun bath? Imagine you’re a vulture who needs a bath.  You pick up plenty of germs from  all the dead animals you eat!  Land on a high branch. Spread  your wings. Feel the warm sunlight  on your feathers. This doesn’t just  feel good. It also kills germs.

Dirt bath?Dirt makes you cleaner —sort of. Rabbits and  squirrels prove it. These  critters look for soft,  powdery dirt. They lie  down and roll around in  it. (Horses do this too.)  Then they shake it off— and any parasites get  shaken off too. Many  types of birds also  bathe this way.

Big manta rays are cleaned by small fish at a cleaning station

Feeding station bath? How does a fish take a bath? That sounds like a joke! But God really gave every creature a way to remove parasites and stay healthy and clean—even the ones that live in water. In both fresh and sea water, “cleaning stations” form. Larger marine creatures (hippos, sea turtles, and big fish) gather. Smaller creatures (such as cleaner shrimp and neon gobies) eat the gunk off them. Win-win!

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. — Psalm 51:7