Wild Dads Who Do It All

While it’s true that in many animal species, moms take the lead when it comes to raising the young, some animal dads go above and beyond in ways that are nothing short of inspiring. In honor of Father’s Day, we’re celebrating a few of nature’s most dedicated—and downright heroic—fathers in the wild.

🐎 Seahorses

Did you know seahorse dads are the ones who get “pregnant”? After a female deposits her eggs into a special pouch on the male’s abdomen, the dad carries them for several weeks—protecting, oxygenating, and nourishing them—until it's time to give birth. That’s right: dad goes into labor.

🐧 Emperor Penguins

In the icy expanse of Antarctica, emperor penguin fathers are the ultimate stand-ins. After the mother lays a single egg, she heads off to feed, and dad balances the egg on his feet for two months in freezing winds—without eating—until the chick hatches. Talk about commitment.

🐸 Darwin’s Frogs

These tiny frogs from South America offer one of the weirdest and most heartwarming parenting styles. Once the eggs hatch, the father scoops up the tadpoles and carries them inside his vocal sac until they’ve fully developed into froglets. Ribbit? More like real MVP.

🦊 Foxes & Wolves

In the canine family, dad’s job doesn’t end at mating. Fox and wolf fathers help feed the mother and pups, bring food to the den, and even play with their young—teaching vital survival skills and keeping them safe as they grow.

🎣 Smallmouth Bass

Some freshwater fish dads, like smallmouth bass, guard their nests with ferocity, fanning eggs with their fins to keep them oxygenated and chasing away predators until the fry hatch and swim off.

From underwater caretakers to arctic incubators, these wild dads remind us that fatherhood can come in many forms—and that sometimes, the best protectors, providers, and nurturers out there are covered in feathers, fins, or fur.

To all the human dads, adoptive dads, and father figures in our rescue family—thank you for being the kind of men who care.