Wild Animals/Animal Claws

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Expert: Jonathan Wright - 7/3/2009


Question
Hello,
  
  Just a quick question for you. How do wild animals care for their claws? Do they clean them? Trim them (if they do trim them then how? examples are favoured here)?

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions.
                        -Tonisha

Answer
Dear Tonisha

Thank you for your questions. I also wish to thank the authors of the websites I used.

Dana Krempels (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Wild-Animals-705/2008/7/claw-sharpening.htm) says that animals sharpen their claws by rasping them against a hard surface. Wild cats sharpen their claws by dragging them through wood or other similar substance. They don't usually dig the tips into the hardest part, but tend to find a groove and pull the claw down the groove.

Most cats protect their claws by retracting them into a sheath of skin when the claws are not in use. Cats also use their tongues to clean their paws. Anteaters rest their paws on their knickles when walking, so that their claws do not male contact with the ground.

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/smgame/lemmings.php says that the collared lemming grows enlarged claws on the third and fourth digits of its forefeet to dig through wind-packed snow. The claws slowly wear away and all claws have the same shape by spring.   

Please note that there is not much information about claw care, but if claws are broken or lost, they can replace themselves, in the same way as human finger nails.

All the best

Jonathan  

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Jonathan Wright

Expertise

I can answer questions about wild mammals and other animals, as well as extinct animals and zoos. I am not an expert about every animal species. I can look up information from books and the internet, but can't verify if all the information is true. Please don't ask questions about: 1. Pets. I am not a vet. Please contact a vet if your pet is ill. You may need to spend some money if you want your pet to live. Don't get a pet if you don't know how to look after it and if you can't provide it with the space, food and possible companions that will help it live a healthy life. Don't take animals from the wild, unless they are ill and/or injured and you can protect them until a wildlife charity can help. It is cruel to take animals from their parents, especially if the parents will look for the babies, while putting their other babies at risk. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals or you may need a licence to look after some species. Please check with a local wildlife group. 2. Eggs: Please don't remove eggs from nests. The mother birds provide the right temperature for the eggs and won't sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them to see if they are fertile. If theys aren't fertile, they won't hatch. 3. Fights: Please don't ask about fights between different animals. These questions assume that individuals of two species fight each time they meet and that one species will always be victorious over another. This is untrue. There are cases where a live mouse has been fed to a venomous snake, bitten the snake leading to the snake's demise. 4: Diseases: Please ask doctors or other medical experts about diseases that you may catch from animals. I can't advise on how to deal with viruses, bacteria etc.

Experience

I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.

Organizations
WWF. ZSL. Natural History Museum. RSPB. London Bat Group.

Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group

Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' level in Zoology. 'O' Level in Biology.

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