Wildlife Resources for 3 rd & 4 th Grades

Transcription

1 Testing Resources: Wildlife Resources for 3 rd & 4 th Grades an environmental education partnership 118 Pleasant Acres Road York, PA Telephone (717) Fax (717) yorkccd@yorkccd.org habitats and 12 target species from Wildlife of Pennsylvania Coloring Book and 50 Birds and Mammals of PA 1. Wetland 2. Beaver 3. Mink 4. Otter 5. Forests 6. Black Bear 7. White-tailed Deer 8. Elk 9. Farms 10. Cottontail Rabbit 11. Red Fox 12. Woodchuck 13. Neighborhoods 14. Chipmunk 15. Gray Squirrel 16. Raccoon 17. Wildlife of Pennsylvania Coloring Guide (Download a free color copy from the Wildlife of Pennsylvania Coloring Book at > Education >Wildlife for Kids.) 18. Characteristics of Mammals 19. Ten Ways to Help and Be Safe Around Wildlife (Source: Wildlife Coloring Book) 20. Learning about Rabies 21. Identifying Animal Footprints Vocabulary List: Habitat Rodent Mustelid Restock Hibernate Nocturnal Predator/Prey Melanism Mammal Vertebrate Warm-blooded Mammary Glands Carnivore Herbivore Insectivore Omnivore Rabies Virus Saliva Vaccinate Focus: Students recognize the target species when presented with mounts, photographs or pictures. Students identify physical adaptations for living in the preferred habitat of each target species. Students understand the basic features that distinguish mammals from other animals. Students demonstrate and explain safe ways to help and be around animals. Students know key facts about rabies its cause, extent, carriers, signs, and preventive measures. Students use size, shape, claw marks and number of toes to distinguish among six pictured animal tracks. Students relate terms on the vocabulary list to the target species. Sample Questions: 1. An animal gets rabies from the blood of an infected animal. True False 2. Which animal creates a wetland habitat where other animals can live? A. Beaver B. Black Bear C. Mink D. Otter

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3 This busy rodent creates a wetland where many other animals can live. Beavers cut down trees with their teeth. They use the trees to make dams and a house called a lodge or may build streambank burrows. The beaver eats the bark and branches from trees. One of the world s largest rodents, beaver may weigh up to 60 pounds. Webbed hind feet propel him through water; a broad flat tail serves as rudder. Gone from Pennsylvania before white settlers arrived, beaver were restocked beginning in 1917, protected for a while, and now have healthy, trappable populations. Usually four kits are born in May, fully furred and with eyes open. Beavers have long been prized for their fine fur. 3

4 The small, quick mink hunts along the edges of wetlands, but tracks in snow show they also roam the winter woods. They are good swimmers. Their soft fur is thick and keeps them warm and dry. About two feet long, weighing 1 to 1 ½ pounds, minks have strong scent glands, like other mustelids (weasels, skunks, otters). Mink eat fish, frogs, crayfish, small mammals, birds, insects and snakes. A mink may den under a large tree, in a muskrat lodge or in a stream burrow. Four to eight young are born in April, naked and blind. Domestic minks are raised on ranches. 4

5 Intelligent, playful sleek, powerful all describe otters. At one time the otter was almost gone from our state. The Game commission brought some otters from other states to live here. Once again, they play and swim in our wild rivers. Otters need clean water and freedom from too much human disturbance. An adult otter is about three feet long with a one-foot tail. A blunt muzzle contains sharp teeth for eating aquatic animals and plants. Otters are shy and are active mostly at night, so are seldom seen. Some fishermen resent their eating occasional game fish (otters eat more crayfish and small nongame fish); others feel otters are worth a trout now and then. 5

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7 The black bear is the only kind of bear that lives in PA and is most common in northcentral and northeastern counties. Some are brown ( cinnamon ) rather than black. Preferred habitat is forests and dense swamps; but sometimes visits farmlands. Common foods are plants, animals, insects, berries, nuts, fruit, honey and corn. Bears eat almost anything, including garbage, and will freeload if given a chance. In winter, bears hibernate in nests or dens in hollow stumps, caves and under trees. One to four cubs are born in January while the female is in winter cave. Most females have cubs every other year. Average adult weights: male, pounds; female, pounds. 7

8 The white-tailed deer is the state mammal of PA. Whitetails had virtually disappeared here by 1900, but now have become a common sight across the state through careful management, including regulated hunting. Male deer, or bucks, shed their antlers yearly and grow a new set each spring. Well nourished females, or does, often have twin or triplet fawns every year. Fawns are covered with white spots that look like spots of sunlight. In spring and summer, deer eat green plants; in fall and winter they switch to acorns and other nuts, twigs and buds. If fed rich food such as corn in winter, they may get sick and die. Like cattle, deer are ruminants. 8

9 Elk look like white-tailed deer but are much larger. Elk were extinct in PA by mid-1800s; the PA Game Commission released Rocky Mountain elk between 1913 and Today, elk inhabit portions of Elk and Cameron counties, and are seen in Clinton and Clearfield counties. Male elk, called bulls grow large antlers every year. Antlers are bones and are sometimes used to fight other bulls. In March, when the antlers drop off, squirrels, mice, and porcupines gnaw and chew on the shed antlers. The elk is the second largest member of the deer family in North America; only the moose is larger. A mature male elk stands inches at the shoulder and weighs pounds. Females, or cows, weigh pounds. 9

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11 Rabbits eat grass, clover, leaves, and fruit. The rabbit s legendary love for vegetables gets him into trouble with home gardeners, but, along with voles and mice, rabbits are a vital part of Pennsylvania s food chain. They re taken in large numbers by foxes, hawks, owls and other predators; to make up for this, their breeding rate is also legendary. Rabbits live in brushy places where thorny briars protect them from danger. They also hide in woodchuck holes. Rabbits can jump far and run fast, too. With suitable habitat, rabbits flourish despite animal predation and hunting. Cottontails are most active at dawn and dusk. Young up to 6 or 7 litters a year are born naked and blind. Can you guess how this rabbit got its name? 11

12 The red fox is really more orange than red. It has black ears and legs, and white throat, belly and tail-tip. Favorite habitat is rolling farmland interspersed with woods. The red fox hunts farm fields for mice, birds and other small animals. Foxes also eat insects, berries, and some kinds of fruit. This fox may dig its own den or use old woodchuck burrows. The bark sounds like a small dog. Usually 4-7 pups are born in April, with woolly fur but eyes closed. Both parents care for pups. Length: 3 to 3 ½ feet, including a bushy 16-inch tail. The female is slightly smaller than the male. Fur is quite valuable. 12

13 Woodchucks or groundhogs can be seen along roads or standing in farm fields. These large rodents eat grass, clover, leaves and fruit. They live in holes they dig in the ground called burrows, usually found near farmland but may be found in the woods. These holes may later become homes for many animals, but cause problems for farmers. The grizzled brown chuck is a true hibernator. The groundhog, about two feet long and weighing about 10 pounds, whistles when alarmed. Young are born blind and naked in April, 2-6 per litter. Woodchuck meat is edible. 13

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15 Chipmunks carry acorns and seeds in their cheek pouches. Chippies dig long, complicated burrows where they store food, sleep, and bear young 3 to 5 per litter, born naked and blind. Chipmunks are forest animals that also live in neighborhoods. They sit on stumps, rocks, etc. to eat seeds, nuts, berries, insects and small snakes. In winter they sleep soundly except on warm days when they may frisk about. Chipmunks spend most of their time on the ground rather than in trees. They are 9-10 inches long including tail and weigh 3-4 ounces. 15

16 Squirrels live in hollow trees and in round nests made of leaves. Most squirrels are grizzled gray (more or less rusty along the back) with a white belly, but the black color phase (called melanism) is common in northern PA. The nickname bushytail refers to his fluffy tail, almost as long as his body, which lends balance in his amazing acrobatics. The hind legs are powerful; the front paws dainty and agile for handling nuts, seeds, fruits, and occasional insects and mushrooms. Squirrels bury acorns in the ground to eat in the winter. If they forget to dig up an acorn, it might grow into a big oak tree. Young (4-5) are born in a tree cavity or manmade nest box. Adults weigh 1 to 1½ pounds. The meat is quite tasty. 16

17 The raccoon looks like it is wearing a black mask. Food is varied: fruits, nuts, corn, insects, grain, eggs, crayfish. Raccoons look for food along streams and rivers and often wash food before eating. At night, they sometimes visit towns to look for food. Raccoons like to raid garbage cans. Most adults weigh pounds. Young are born blind and naked in early April, 3-6 per litter, and stay with mother until late fall. Coons sleep deeply in winter but don t actually hibernate. Hollow trees make good dens. During the day, you may see one asleep in a high tree-crotch. Raccoon fur is valuable and the meat is edible. 17

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19 Characteristics of Mammals What are mammals? Mammals are a class of vertebrates. They are called vertebrates because they have a backbone. Mammals are also warm-blooded animals, which means they are able to keep their body temperatures stable whether it is cold or hot outside. Mammals live both on land and in water. There are about 4,500 species of mammals. They live in all parts of the world. What makes a mammal different from other animals? Most mammals have fur or hair that covers their bodies. The heart of a mammal always has four chambers. Mammals give birth to live young (except for the platypus and the spiny anteater, which lay eggs). The female has mammary glands, which secrete milk to feed the young after birth. Some mammals eat meat (carnivores) while others, like shrews and bats, eat insects (insectivores). Herbivores, like deer and rabbits, feed on vegetation. Omnivores, like bears and rats, will eat both plants and meat. Some examples of mammals are cats, dogs, bears, foxes, raccoons, and skunks. Rodents (rats, mice, beavers and squirrels) and hoofed animals (horses, deer, and cattle) are mammals, too. Other mammals include primates (monkey, lemur, humans), and others such as the bat and elephant. Aquatic mammals include the seal, walrus, whale, and dolphin. 19

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21 Learning about Rabies What is rabies? Rabies is a serious disease that is caused by a virus. Each year, it kills more than 50,000 people and millions of animals around the world. Is rabies a problem everywhere? Who gets rabies? How does an animal get rabies? How do you know if an animal has rabies? Can rabies be prevented? Rabies is a big problem in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. In the United States, rabies has been reported in every state except Hawaii. Any mammal can get rabies. Raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs, and cats can get rabies. Cattle and humans can also get rabies. Only mammals can get rabies. Animals that are not mammals -- such as birds, snakes, and fish -- do not get rabies. Rabies is caused by a virus. An animal gets rabies from saliva, usually from a bite of an animal that has the disease. You cannot get rabies from blood. Animals with rabies may act differently from healthy animals. Wild animals may move slowly or may act as if they are tame. A pet that is usually friendly may snap at you or may try to bite. Some signs of rabies in animals are: changes in an animal s behavior general sickness problems swallowing increased drooling aggression Yes! Rabies can be prevented by rabies vaccine and thorough cleaning of the wound. If you are bitten by an animal that could have rabies, tell your parents right away so they can clean the bite wound with soap and water and take you to see a doctor. How can I prevent rabies? Vaccinate your dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies. Keep your pets under supervision. Do not handle wild animals. If you see a wild animal or a stray, especially if the animal is acting strangely, call an animal control officer. If you do get bitten by an animal, wash the wound with soap and water for at least 5 minutes. Make sure you tell an adult and call your doctor to see if you need shots. Get your pets spayed or neutered. Pets that are fixed are less likely to leave home, become strays, and make more stray animals. 21

22 IDENTIFYING ANIMAL FOOTPRINTS Fox 4 toes front and back No claw marks visible Front and hind feet similar 4 toes front and back Definite claw marks visible Front and hind feet similar 5 toes front and back Distinct claw marks visible Elongated pad on hind foot 5 toes front and back Large size Distinct claw marks visible Hind foot has elongated pad Generally only 2 toes show Front and hind feet similar 4 toes front and 5 in back Claw marks usually visible Hind feet longer 22