Mules aren’t the only animals that help with important jobs. Here are just a few examples of other creatures that do valuable work with and for people. 

When it’s hard to reach someone by phone or mail, homing pigeons can deliver messages. This was especially helpful during World Wars I and II. 

Need to track down something or someone? Bloodhounds or German shepherds get the job done. With up to 300 million sensory receptors in their noses, these dogs have an amazing sense of smell. They can pick up a scent thousands of times better than a human!

Bees also have a terrific sense of smell. Bees follow scents to track down flowers, of course. But they have also been used to detect cancer and to find bombs.

What if the bombs are underwater? The U.S. Navy trains bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions for this job. The animals spot underwater landmines and drop buoys to mark the locations. And if they spot a person in the water who might be an enemy, these marine mammals alert their trainers. 

Farmers also struggle with invaders. Wolves often attack sheep. So some farmers fight back with llamas. If a llama sees a predator like a wolf or a bear, it might make clucking sounds or herd the flock away from the danger. 

Recommended Reading: For more about dogs that serve and protect people on the front lines, read Paws of Courage by Nancy Furstinger.