Tool use isn't just for humans. In the wild, a surprising number of animals have figured out how to use sticks, stones, and even bait to make life a little easier. Here are some of the cleverest creatures that know how to get the job done:

Octopuses

Veined octopuses carry coconut shells and use them as armor or shelters—a rare example of tool use among invertebrates.

Green Herons

They use bait—like insects, feathers, or bread crumbs—to lure fish to the surface. Yes, birds that fish with lures.

Chimpanzees

Chimps use sticks to fish termites out of mounds and rocks to crack open nuts. They’ve even been observed sharpening sticks to hunt small animals. It’s not just tool use—it’s tool innovation.

Capuchin Monkeys

These clever primates use stones to crack nuts and dig, and have even rubbed themselves with crushed millipedes, possibly as a natural bug repellent.

Orangutans

Known for their problem-solving skills, orangutans craft leafy umbrellas and use branches to poke at insects or retrieve fruit. They've also been observed using broad leaves like megaphones—holding them in front of their mouths to lower the pitch of their calls, possibly to sound larger or more intimidating.

New Caledonian Crows

These birds are tool masters. They fashion hooks from twigs and leaves to fish insects out of bark—and can solve multi-step puzzles that stump some primates.

Egyptian Vultures

One of the few birds known to use tools, these vultures toss rocks to crack open ostrich eggs.

Sea Otters

Sea otters use rocks as hammers to crack shellfish on their bellies. Some even keep a favorite rock tucked in a loose patch (or pocket) of skin under their forearm.

ElephantsThey’ve been observed using branches to scratch themselves, swat flies, and plug water holes—tool use with real intention.

Burrowing Owls

These clever birds scatter animal dung near their burrows to attract dung beetles—essentially setting baited traps.

From primates to birds to sea creatures, nature has its own toolkits. Intelligence takes many forms—and sometimes it comes with a rock in your pocket or a stick in your beak.