How to Find WATER BEARS: Advice from Experts!

Learn how to find (and PRESERVE!) water bears, aka tardigrades, in moss in your own backyard! Who doesn't love their cute bear-like nature?! They're adorable, live all over the world, and are positively indestructible when in the "tun" stage of cryptobiosis (aka shriveled like a raisin).
Learn how to find, preserve, and view them under a microscope!

Most of my sourcing came from the book "Tardigrade, Science Project Book" by Michael W. Shaw. However, after weeks of struggling to find a tardigrade, I was able to contact and recieve help from Jan van Arkel of the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. I credit finally being able to find a tardigrade to him and his expert advice, which I share with you in this video.

Jan van Arkel IBED
University of Amsterdam
The Life of Tardigrades featuring many species, how to find them and watch them"

My Amazon Affiliate Links for the items used in this video:

"Kids and Teachers Science Project Book: How to Find Tardigrades and Observe Them Through a Microscope" by Michael W Shaw

My Observation Microscope:

My pen light:

Other Helpful Videos:

"How to Find Water Bears" by Mike Likes Science

"Water Bear Being A Water Bear" by Mike Likes Science

"Hunting for 'bears' in the Backyard" by Dave Walker

Stuffed Waterbear Plushie by Giant Microbes (not sponsored or affiliated in any way)

Tardigrade Info:

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I'm Shelly and I'd love for you to join my unique DIY projects and farm animal fun! I make crazy cakes, creative DIY projects, science experiments with my 3 kids, and having fun with all the animals on our farm.
The name "ShadeTree" comes from "shadetree mechanic" or a "Do-It-Yourself-er". I'm passionate about life-long learning and empowering others to do-it-themselves too!
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Music:
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#thelittleblackshadetree

[MarK-iwxj]

Human: use acetone to euthanize the tardigrade

Tardigrade: HAHAHA...

[bradyoung]

I've never heard someone call a microbe cute before.... but there's a first for everything. Very cool discovery!

[justagenosfan]

first person who saw tardigrades: why are there invisible bears in my sample

[saepiole]

Great video. This should be shown in schools for making science lessons more fun

[napalmsf]

My 6 year old son has been excited about tardigrades and this video will definitely make our adventure more fun, thank you!

[asemaldaras]

This video quality is amazing it deserves millions of views

[kamranmahmood]

THIS S A FANTASTIC VIDEO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ONLY READ BUT NOT SEEN THIS TARDIGRADE YET. I AM SO AMAZED TO SEE THIS AND YOUR GREAT EFFORTS FOR FINDING THAT LOT OF THANKS

[newcalbeck]

Lol! I love it! Cutest little microbe ever!

[Mikeshawtoday]

That was an awesome video. You covered it all. I like that you showed some of the trial and error steps which you really have to go through to learn how to do this. Excellent job and really nice presentation. More videos on more topics please! Thanks, Mike

[Tacereus]

Super thorough video and method. This is very encouraging. My daughter thinks tardigrades are so cute and I may try this with them. I will say though what you are doing is not actually darkfield. Its actually epi-lighting. Dark field is a more complex style of microscopy that involves blocking all direct light from below and the subject is only visible from light from below that is refracted into the eyepiece. The different refraction capabilities of different things bend light differently so they show up as glowing and all the direct light is blocked. In other words the light still comes from below but it is reflected into the eyepiece by the microbes you are looking at. It requires a filter on a condenser or a special condenser. Great videos and thanks for making them.

[AmmaralAqsaYasser]

She did the impossible: she killed a tardigrade

[Jbonn]

What magnification did you use to see the tardigrade up close?

[wolfbanesons]

is it better to find them in fresh water? the moss here in malta is very hard to take apart and when i tried moss there wasnt anything.

[pabaprasangi]

That cartoon pic u showed of a tardigrade was cute

[dianamary]

What a cool thing to do with your kid. Love it! tfs. :)

[Howlingburd]

I love how strangely cute tardigrades are 😂

[marksmith]

What a great video for kids. Mix in some eco science with the study of microscopic creatures how fun!

[brandrewmiller]

New subscriber here! Two questions, totally unrelated lol What magnification were you using to find the tardigrade? I just bought a light and digital microscope and want to make sure I'm searching at the right magnification 😅 Also, I don't know if you know this but you totally have an accent, and my curiosity is demanding that I ask where it's from? 😂

[apocalypticblonde]

This was so fun and fascinating!! Makes even me feel like a scientist. 😄

[beefromashroom]

gosh they're the cutest microbes ever!! I wish I could have them as pets but I don't have a miscroscope so I wouldn't even know. if only they were bigger 😅