Each week, CatchMark Community features a Wild Animal Fact from Montague native Seth Simon, the creator of the popular bite-sized wildlife series. Seth is known for his upbeat personality, love of animals, and knack for turning fascinating facts into fun, 60-second reads. His goal is to spark curiosity, encourage conservation awareness, and bring a little joy to everyone who follows along. We’re proud to share his work and add a touch of “wild” to your week.
As part of this weekly feature, Seth brings his signature enthusiasm straight to our readers with a fresh creature spotlight—packed with quick facts, habitat insights, and the unique quirks that make each animal extraordinary. His posts combine education and entertainment in a way that’s accessible for all ages, making wildlife learning both fun and memorable. Enjoy this week’s feature below!
Hey 
Wild Fact Fans, Seth here with the new Friday Feature creature. Don’t forget to please like 
, share and comment 
questions 
down below 
If you have any on this weeks animal ^^ or any creature you’d like me to do a post on in the future
I wanna wish everyone out there a happy new year 
as we now begin 2026. Another year of creature features has gone by & now a
New one starts today; and i hope all of you out enjoy the wild ride as we continue onward ^^ with this Happy New Year
Or in one of the Peppermint Narwhal’s cases sometimes; Happy “Newt” Year ^^ 
And speaking of which, to kick off this new year; This weeks feature creature is a cool 
blooded aquatic animal slow moving freshwater rivers, streams, ponds, & moist forests & woodlands of southern Europe; specifically of the Danube River area, where this creature got its name. Tiny yet standing out with its spiky back relating to its kind & its wide color array adorning its body; it spends its days searching for small prey weather among the leaf litter on land or thru the pond weed & water plants 
underwater, similar to a little dragon 
; minus the fire 
.
This weeks feature creature is the Danube Crested Newt
1. Measuring in with males being at 5 inches long & females being bigger at 7 inches; Danube Crested newts are the smallest of Europe’s Crested Newts. What was once considered a subspecies of the Great Crested specie’s, its now considered a solo species within the group
2. While most newts have 10 to 14 ribs ; danube crested newts have 16 to 17; the most of any newt!
3. Along with size, main differences between the Danube with the Great Crested newts also include more slender bodies, narrow heads, shorter limbs for an aquatic life, and more bold dark throats with white spots. Their reddish orange bellies also are different since most other crested newts have yellow bellies
4. When threatened, Danube crested newts assume a defensive posture called the Unkenreflex; where they arch their backs to show their bright reddish orange coloured belly 
and secrete toxins 
to ward off predators like water birds 
like ducks 
, herons & kingfishers, small mammals like foxes 
, hedgehogs 
, badgers 
, shrews , frogs 
, snakes 
, fish 
, water spiders 
, & predatory Aquatic Beetles
5. Like other newts & salamanders ; if they loose a limb like an arm, leg 
or tail; they can regenerate it after some time!
6. While mainly solitary; they do tolerate others in their space when food is plentiful
7. Like other newts, Danube crested newts are strictly carnivorous from the moment they’re born; eating tiny invertebrates at first. When full grown they’ll eat bigger insects 
, worms 
, tadpoles of frogs , toads and other newts, tiny fish , & smaller full grown newts. They hunt by stalking prey thru the water plants & then grab them with them front legs and bite into their prey.
8. For half the year (during the breeding season), they spend their time hunting in the water 
& actually spend the longest time of all crested newts in water 
! After that season is over, they spend the rest of the time before the winter 
hunting on land amongst the leaf 
litter & living under logs 
, rocks 
and in small animal burrows; especially while hibernating
9. In Februrary & March; these newts travel to breeding areas in calm clean waters to breed with females. During this time, males not only develop a prominent, jagged crest between the eyes to the tail base plus a bluish-white stripe on the tail; but will start to act aggressive towards each over for the chance to mate. After battling, males will track females down and then mate on land
10. After mating, females begins laying & wrapping their 200 eggs 
amongst aquatic plants to keep them safe & hidden while she guards them till they hatch 
in 2 to 3 weeks time. Between 2 to 4 months, they’ll go thru their metamorphosis from a tadpole all the way to a full grown newt . They’ll be full size & mature in 2 to 3 years
Next weeks feature Creature hint 
: this migratory bird is a very familiar, well known and popular sight in many urban areas across North America 
. This sweet singing 
& rockin 
bird is so popular; its a main icon for Michigan, Wisconsin & Connecticut
Wild Animal Facts: Great Hammerhead Shark
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