Animals (Fauna)
There are many types of animals in the deciduous forest like...
Red-Tailed Hawk
The Red-Tailed Hawk is very common in North America and lives in various types of biomes (deciduous, deserts, taigas, etc...
Red-tailed hawks have adapted to survive in a wide variety of habitats, climates and altitudes.
The Red-Tailed Hawk has keen eyesight to spot prey from great distance. They have sharp curved beaks and yellow feet with sharp talons for catching prey. Red-Tailed Hawks have a red square shaped tail, large body and powerful wings.
It is about 48 to 58 cm (19-23 in) long, with a wingspan of about 1.2 m (4 feet).They can weigh up to about 2 kg (4.4 pounds). It's feathers are brown to grey-brown with pale markings and a white chest.
The Red-Tailed Hawk eats most of the animals that are in the deciduous forests such as Rodents (like mice, muskrats, and squirrels), opossums, moles, weasels, reptiles, amphibians, and other birds (like pigeons, quail, crows, ducks, and woodpeckers).
The Red-Tailed Hawk's have adapted to building nests made out of sticks, bark and leaves. It is usually located high in a tree. This reduces the exposure of the eggs and chicks to predation. The female is usually the more aggressive partner around the nest; the male defends the territory boundaries.
Red-tailed hawks have adapted to survive in a wide variety of habitats, climates and altitudes.
The Red-Tailed Hawk has keen eyesight to spot prey from great distance. They have sharp curved beaks and yellow feet with sharp talons for catching prey. Red-Tailed Hawks have a red square shaped tail, large body and powerful wings.
It is about 48 to 58 cm (19-23 in) long, with a wingspan of about 1.2 m (4 feet).They can weigh up to about 2 kg (4.4 pounds). It's feathers are brown to grey-brown with pale markings and a white chest.
The Red-Tailed Hawk eats most of the animals that are in the deciduous forests such as Rodents (like mice, muskrats, and squirrels), opossums, moles, weasels, reptiles, amphibians, and other birds (like pigeons, quail, crows, ducks, and woodpeckers).
The Red-Tailed Hawk's have adapted to building nests made out of sticks, bark and leaves. It is usually located high in a tree. This reduces the exposure of the eggs and chicks to predation. The female is usually the more aggressive partner around the nest; the male defends the territory boundaries.
Opossums
The opossum is North America's only marsupial (pouched mammal). They are very skilled tree climbers. They possess sharp claws, hind feet equipped with opposable thumbs, and long tails that can hold onto branches and aid the animal balance. Opossums escape many of their predators in trees.
Opossums are omnivores so they are able to live on a wide variety of foods. They hunt small prey, such as birds, insects, mice and snakes, and also feed on carrion. They scavenge through human garbage, eat pet food and forage for grass, fruits and nuts.
When an opossum comes to an attack by it's predators (such as foxes, coyotes, dogs, and cats) they may "play possum". It's when they role onto their sides and play dead. This coma-like state can last up to four hours. The opossum will become stiff, drool, and have extremely slow, shallow breathing. Most predators will give up the attack, believing the opossum to be dead.
Opossums catch rabies far less frequently than most other wild animals do. Their average temperatures, which range from 34 to 36 degrees Celsius (94-97˚F), may contribute to their resistance because their bodies are too cool for the disease to survive.
Opossums are omnivores so they are able to live on a wide variety of foods. They hunt small prey, such as birds, insects, mice and snakes, and also feed on carrion. They scavenge through human garbage, eat pet food and forage for grass, fruits and nuts.
When an opossum comes to an attack by it's predators (such as foxes, coyotes, dogs, and cats) they may "play possum". It's when they role onto their sides and play dead. This coma-like state can last up to four hours. The opossum will become stiff, drool, and have extremely slow, shallow breathing. Most predators will give up the attack, believing the opossum to be dead.
Opossums catch rabies far less frequently than most other wild animals do. Their average temperatures, which range from 34 to 36 degrees Celsius (94-97˚F), may contribute to their resistance because their bodies are too cool for the disease to survive.
American Black Bear
The American Black Bear can run up to 25 miles per hour, which is very quick for a 100 to 270 kilograms (220-595 lbs) body. They have rounded ears, a short stubby tail, and short claws that are useful for climbing trees. The American Black Bear is usually black but can have phases of brown, cinnamon, beige and even a bluish-white in its fur. The length of this bear's body is usually 152 to 183 centimeters (5-6 ft) from nose to tail and 81 to 100 centimeters (32-40 in) from paw to the top of its shoulder. They live in most of North America.
The average black bear lives up 25 years. The female black bear reaches maturity at the age of four or five; the male reaches maturity at 5 to 6 years after birth. They usually have 2 or 3 young. Their mating season is in the summer and they will give birth to their young during January or February. The cubs are blind at birth and weigh 8 ounces to 11 ounces. The males do not help raise the cubs, but they leave to mate again. The Mother bear can be quite territorial if it involves her cubs. If any animal gets between her and her cubs, she will attack it until it is dead. The average black bear lives up 25 years.
The black bear's coat is well adapted to the cold weather in winter because of its many layers of fur. Its claws are also very adapted to its environment because they can climb the trees that surround. The black bear also hibernates to avoid the cold weather and having to find food in the winter.
The black bear has a very nutritional diet. They can eat virtually anything, but 75% of its diet is made up of plants and other vegetation, while the other 25% is made up of, carcasses, honey, small mammals and insects.
The average black bear lives up 25 years. The female black bear reaches maturity at the age of four or five; the male reaches maturity at 5 to 6 years after birth. They usually have 2 or 3 young. Their mating season is in the summer and they will give birth to their young during January or February. The cubs are blind at birth and weigh 8 ounces to 11 ounces. The males do not help raise the cubs, but they leave to mate again. The Mother bear can be quite territorial if it involves her cubs. If any animal gets between her and her cubs, she will attack it until it is dead. The average black bear lives up 25 years.
The black bear's coat is well adapted to the cold weather in winter because of its many layers of fur. Its claws are also very adapted to its environment because they can climb the trees that surround. The black bear also hibernates to avoid the cold weather and having to find food in the winter.
The black bear has a very nutritional diet. They can eat virtually anything, but 75% of its diet is made up of plants and other vegetation, while the other 25% is made up of, carcasses, honey, small mammals and insects.