When I Grow Up, I'm Going To Be A...(Round 1)

National parks are bustling with different kinds of life, from the tiniest of creatures to the largest on the planet. Follow these basic safety tips for watching wildlife in parks and Leave No Trace principles to keep their habitat healthy for future generations of life in parks.

Can you identify what species each of these youths found in national parks grow up to be? Slide the arrows on each image to the left or right to see if you guessed correctly. Use the dropdown menus to learn more about each one.

When I grow up, I'm going to be a...

Left image
Credit: NPS

Right image
Credit: NPS

  Answer

...a full-grown mountain lion. Kittens are about the size of house cats, but not for long. They can grow to 7 to 8 feet long from their noses to the tips of their tails as adults! Litters of kittens usually stay with their mother and siblings until old enough to venture out on their own for a solitary life from other mountain lions.

When I grow up, I'm going to be a...

Left image
Credit: NPS (left), NPS / Daniel Peterson (right)

Right image
Credit: NPS / Daniel Peterson

  Answer

...a full-grown bald eagle. Juvenile bald eagles are transitioning from furry gray chicks to their iconic appearance matching their scientific name, which translates to "a white-headed sea eagle." These eaglets have among the fastest growth rates of North American birds and are sometimes confused for other adult birds of prey.

When I grow up, I'm going to be a...

Left image
Credit: NPS

Right image
Credit: NPS

  Answer

...a sea turtle. Specifically a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, one of the most endangered species of sea turtles. Kemp's ridley sea turtles dig nests on the beach to lay their eggs. Hatchlings head straight to the ocean after exiting their shells. Most females return to the same beach when they are much older and larger to lay eggs each year.

When I grow up, I'm going to be a...

Left image
Credit: NPS / Mike Vogel (left), NPS / Kent Miller (right)

Right image
Credit: NPS / Kent Miller

  Answer

...a full-grown moose. Moose are the largest members of the deer family. Calves grow up to be bulls (males) that can weight 900-1400 pounds or cows (females) that can weigh 700-1100 pounds. Bulls grow their signature antlers each spring and shed them in early winter.

When I grow up, I'm going to be a...

Left image
Credit: NPS (left), NPS / Michael Liang (right)

Right image
Credit: NPS / Michael Liang

  Answer

...a park ranger! Kids of all ages can become Junior Rangers at almost all of the national parks across the country. Adults can become rangers in many career fields, volunteer, or be stewards by enjoying national parks and using Leave No Trace practices when visiting.

QUICKLINKS

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  Games and Challenges

  Test your knowledge or learn something new about national parks with games and challenges for all ages.

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  Find Your Virtual Park

  Stay connected with national parks across the country with online resources and virtual experiences.

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  Kids in Parks

  National parks are great places to go on adventures exploring nature and history. Check out online resources for kids of all ages.