Bobbie’s Amazing Journey

A dog named Bobbie wandered through the streets of a small town in Indiana, lost and scared and alone.

It was August 15, 1923. A week and a half earlier, the collie had set off on a road trip with his owners, Frank and Elizabeth Brazier. They were heading east from their home in Silverton, Oregon, to visit family in Wolcott, Indiana—a journey across seven states, over more than 2,500 miles. From his cozy perch on the luggage at the back of the car, Bobbie watched as towering mountains, green forests, and grassy plains sped by.

Finally, after 10 days, the Braziers made it to Wolcott. But as they were filling up their car at a gas station, a gang of scruffy dogs suddenly appeared. Growling and barking, they chased Bobbie away from the station—farther and farther, until the collie was hopelessly lost.

Frank and Elizabeth drove around Wolcott for days, honking and calling Bobbie’s name. But there was no sign of their beloved dog. Eventually, heartbroken, the Braziers had to return to Oregon and break the awful news to their two daughters, Nova and Leona.

That’s how Bobbie found himself a stray dog in a strange town, desperately missing his family. Would he be able to find his way back home?

A dog named Bobbie walked through the streets of a town in Indiana. He was lost and scared and alone.

It was August 1923. A week and a half earlier, the collie had set off on a trip with his owners, Frank and Elizabeth Brazier. They were driving from their home in Silverton, Oregon, to visit family in Wolcott, Indiana. Their trip would cross seven states and more than 2,500 miles. From his seat at the back of the car, Bobbie watched as mountains and forests sped by.

Finally, after 10 days, the Braziers got to Wolcott. But while they were at a gas station, a group of dogs appeared. Growling and barking, they chased Bobbie away from the station. He ran until he was very lost.

Frank and Elizabeth tried hard to find Bobbie. But they couldn’t find their dog. Eventually, the Braziers had to return to Oregon and tell their two daughters, Nova and Leona, the bad news.

That’s how Bobbie became a lost dog in a strange town. Would he be able to find his way back home?

You’re probably thinking, “No way!” After all, dogs can’t read street signs or ask for directions. 

But animals like Bobbie have amazing natural powers to figure out where they’re going. Think about it: Without being able to navigate, how would animals return to the safety of their homes? Or remember where to get food and water? Or find spots to hide from hungry predators? Being able to find their way around helps animals survive. 

Some creatures stay near home for most of their lives. But others travel far away. One example is sea turtles. Soon after hatching on a beach, baby turtles swim out to sea. Years later, when it’s time to lay their own eggs, female turtles swim thousands of miles to return to the beach—the same one where they were born.

Another example is homing pigeons. These birds were used to carry messages for thousands of years. That’s because they have an incredible superpower: They can fly back to their home nests from more than 1,000 miles away without getting lost.

And every fall, hundreds of thousands of monarch butterflies across North America migrate 3,000 miles south to spend the winter in Mexico—a place they’ve never been before. Yet they amazingly find their way. 

So how do animals navigate over such long distances? Scientists are just beginning to unravel this mystery. They’ve found that some animal navigation strategies are similar to the ones we humans use.

Maybe you know the tree where you have to turn on your walk to school. 

Well, the homing pigeon does the same. It looks at familiar landmarks like buildings, mountains, and rivers to help it find its nest. 

And one way salmon find their way home is by following the water’s smell. That’s like if you could get to your grandma’s house by following the smell of her cookies.

Some animals have even more powerful senses to help them: They can hear sounds that are too low for humans to hear. Or they can see patterns in sunlight that we can’t see. Others figure out which way to go by looking at the sun, moon, or stars. 

Each of these powers would be helpful on its own. But most animals have more than one. They switch from one to another during their journeys.

Then there are creatures that navigate so well, in such difficult conditions, that experts are still puzzling over how they do it. 

Take spiny lobsters, for example. You can blindfold these sea creatures, drive them around in circles in a truck, then put them on a boat and sail to a faraway location. But when you drop those lobsters back in the water? They’ll head straight back toward home, no problem. (Scientists know this because they’ve actually tried it.) 

How is that possible?

The answer may lie within Earth’s core, or center. There, superheated liquid metals swirl, turning our planet into a giant magnet—like the ones your parents use to stick your photos to the fridge. Just like a fridge magnet, the giant Earth magnet pulls certain metals toward itself. The force of this pull is strongest near the planet’s North and South poles. 

Scientists now believe that many animals have something inside them that responds to this force. That helps them figure out in which direction they’re going—even if the sky is cloudy, or landmarks are shrouded in fog, or a group of scientists have just driven them around in circles for hours.

Experts still aren’t entirely sure how this navigation superpower works. But more and more animals are now believed to have it, including sea turtles, homing pigeons, monarch butterflies . . . and maybe even dogs like Bobbie.

Then there are creatures that navigate so well, in such hard conditions, that experts are still wondering how they do it. 

Take spiny lobsters, for example. You can cover these sea creatures’ eyes, drive them around in circles, then sail them far away. But when you drop those lobsters back in the water, they’ll easily head back home. (Scientists know this because they’ve actually tried it.) 

How do they do it?

The answer may be within Earth’s core, or center. The core has hot liquid metals. This turns our planet into a big magnet—like the ones on your fridge. Just like a fridge magnet, the giant Earth magnet pulls some metals toward itself. The power of this pull is strongest near the planet’s North and South poles. 

Scientists now think that many animals have something inside them that responds to this pull. That helps them figure out in which direction they’re going. They can do this even if the sky is cloudy, or landmarks are covered in fog, or scientists have just driven them around in circles.

Experts still aren’t sure how this navigation superpower works. But many animals are believed to have it, like sea turtles, homing pigeons, monarch butterflies . . . and maybe even dogs like Bobbie.

On February 15, 1924, exactly six months after Bobbie went missing, the Braziers’ daughter Nova was walking through Silverton with a friend. Suddenly, the two girls noticed a skinny dog with matted fur limping ahead of them. He looked kind of like . . . But no, it couldn’t be.

Then the dog spotted Nova. He bounded toward her and covered her with slobbery kisses. Nova couldn’t believe it—it was Bobbie!

Bobbie had traveled more than 2,500 miles to make it back to Silverton. He would have had to cross over rugged mountains and rushing rivers, braving harsh winter storms. Today we know that Earth’s magnetic force may have helped guide him. But at the time, it simply seemed like a miracle.

News of “Bobbie the Wonder Dog” soon spread across the country. Parades and ceremonies were held in his honor, with thousands of fans showing up to pet him. He even starred in a movie about himself.

As Bobbie’s fame grew, dozens of people wrote letters saying they had seen him at different parts of his cross-country journey. Sometimes he stayed with a family for a meal or a rest, but never for long. Like many other creatures across the animal kingdom, Bobbie had incredible powers that were guiding him home.

As one person wrote, “He seemed to know where he was going.”

Six months after Bobbie went missing, the Braziers’ daughter Nova was walking through Silverton with a friend. Suddenly, they noticed a skinny limping dog. He looked like Bobbie. Could it be?

Then the dog saw Nova. He ran toward her and covered her with kisses. It was Bobbie!

Bobbie had traveled more than 2,500 miles to get home. He would have had to cross over mountains and rivers and through snowstorms. Today we know that Earth’s magnetic pull may have helped him find his way. But back then, it just seemed like a miracle.

News of Bobbie’s travels spread. Parades and events were held for him. Fans showed up to pet him. He was even in a movie about himself.

Many people wrote letters saying they had seen Bobbie at parts of his journey to home. Sometimes he stayed with a family for a meal or to rest for a short time. Like many other creatures, Bobbie had incredible powers that guided him home.

As one person wrote, “He seemed to know where he was going.”

Problem: After hatching on the beach, baby sea turtles follow the light of the moon and stars to the ocean. But as more buildings have been built near beaches, bright artificial lights have been guiding the babies in the wrong direction. 

Solution: Groups that help turtles work with local leaders and people living near beaches to turn off beachfront lights, close window blinds, and use special turtle-safe lighting.

Problem: Millions of birds each year accidentally crash into tall buildings. That’s because the shiny glass windows reflect the sky and trees, tricking the birds into thinking they’re flying toward open space.

Solution: More and more cities have passed laws that require new buildings be made with “bird-friendly glass,” which has a coating or pattern so birds can see and avoid it.

Problem: Millions of birds each year accidentally hit tall buildings. That’s because the shiny glass windows reflect the sky and trees. This tricks the birds into thinking they’re flying toward open areas.

Solution: More and more cities have passed laws that require new buildings be made with “bird-friendly glass.” This glass is made specially so birds can see and not hit it.

Problem: Monarch butterflies migrate toward specific fir tree forests in Mexico. But people have been cutting down the trees to sell for construction and to use as firewood.

Solution: Government leaders, scientists, and animal groups have teamed up to protect the forests and plant new trees.

Problem: Monarch butterflies migrate toward trees in Mexico. But people have been cutting down the trees to use the wood. 

Solution: Government leaders, scientists, and animal groups have teamed up to protect the forests and plant new trees.

Problem: In many rivers around the world, people have built dams—structures used to control the flow of the water. The dams often block salmon that are trying to travel to and from their home streams.

Solution: A company called Whooshh Innovations has come up with a long tube-like device that sucks up salmon from the water and shoots them out on the other side of a dam.

Problem: In many rivers around the world, people have built dams. Dams are structures used to control the flow of the water. The dams often block salmon that are trying to swim to and from their home.

Solution: A company has come up with a long tube-like machine. It sucks up salmon from the water and shoots them out on the other side of a dam.