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Transcript of Habitat Mural Guide Deciduous Forest - Exploring Nature … · Habitat Mural Guide Deciduous Forest...
Habitat Mural GuideDeciduous Forest
Enlarge, color and cut out deciduous forest animals and plants to construct an educational mural for your classroom.
@Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
White-tailed DeerOdocoileus virginianus
White-tailed deer are found across Southern Canada and
throughout the eastern U.S., mid-west and Rocky Mountains
in forests, farms and open, brushy country. They are brown in
summer and gray in winter. They have a large tail that they raise
when they are running away, the bright white underside waving
like a flag. Males reach up to 200 pounds and 7ft long. They
grow spiked antlers that they lose each winter
and grow back every spring. They travel in
small groups. They are active mostly at early
morning and late evening. Though they can be
seen at all times of day feeding on twigs, grass,
and acorns.
Females are
pregnant for
6 months
and have
1-3 fawns.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
White-tailed DeerOdocoileus virginianuswww.exploringnature.org
White-tailed deer can reach 5-7 feet long if blown up to full size. Place deer in the background at smaller sizes.
©Sheri Amsel
Mink Mustela vison
Minks are found throughout the U.S. and Canada. They
live in forests along streams, lakes and ponds near brushy,
rocky shores. They have a long, thin body up to 2’ long, a
pointy face and a soft, dark coat with white on their throat
and chest. They are active at night, dawn and dusk. They
swim, climb trees, and dig burrows at the edge of the water.
They live alone and feed on small mammals, birds, frogs,
and crayfish. Females are pregnant for 40-75 days and
have up to 8 young in April or May. They live up to 10 years
in the wild and are not endangered.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Min
k M
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la v
ison
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©Sheri A
msel
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
The red fox is common in many places all over the world,
including Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America in all
habitats; including woodlands, farms, urban and coastal areas.
They are easy to identify with their reddish body, white tipped,
fluffy tail and black legs. They weigh about 10 pounds and are
mostly active at night (nocturnal). Red fox are also often seen
during daylight hours on golf courses or open fields, trotting
along with their fluffy tails held out. They travel alone. They are
scavengers, eating what they can find, but will also hunt and kill
small animals and raid nests for eggs. Females
are pregnant for about 7 weeks,
having 4-5 pups in dens
dug under trees roots
or piles of brush.
They will also
den in tree
cavities or
rocky
crevices.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Red
Fox
Vu
lpes
vul
pes
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Red
foxe
s ca
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ach
35 in
ches
long
.
©Sheri A
msel
Beaver Castor canadensis
Beaver are found all over Canada and the U.S. on forest
ponds and rivers. They are the largest rodents in North
America with 2 pairs of sharp front teeth (incisors) that never
stop growing. They weigh up to 100 pounds, have a large,
flat, scaly tail that they slap on the water when startled
and webbed back feet. They are active at night (nocturnal)
cutting down trees to build dams. This makes a beaver pond
where the beavers build their lodge. To protect their young,
the only entrance is underwater. They eat water lilies roots,
leaves and the green bark of softwood trees. They mate for
life and both care for their babies. Females are pregnant for
4 months (gestation) and have up to 4 kits a year. They live
for about 10 years in the wild and are plentiful.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Full-
size
d b
eave
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4 fe
et lo
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ith th
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il.
Bea
ver
Cas
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ensi
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Sher
i Am
sel
Black Bear Ursus americanus
The black bears of North America live in old forests, swamps
and scrubby places where fires have burned all the trees.
Their fur can be many colors from tan to brown to black. Male
black bears weigh about 300 pounds. Females weigh about
150 pounds. The largest black bears reach up to 600 pounds.
Black bears are active mostly at night (nocturnal). They eat
plants and animals (omnivores). They eat small mammals,
fruits, nuts, roots and insects. They spend the winter in a den
sleeping (hibernating). They have 1-3 babies called cubs. They
have their babies in January or February. Female black bears
are pregnant for about 71/2 months (gestation). The babies
nurse on milk for about 8 months.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Bla
ck B
ear
Urs
us a
mer
ican
usw
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.exp
lorin
gnat
ure.
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Black bears can reach 4.5 ft long.
©S
heri
Am
sel
RaccoonProcyon lotor
Raccoons are found throughout the western hemisphere
from Canada to Argentina in woodlands near water and also
in farmlands, neighborhoods and cities. They den in trees
and sometimes in abandoned burrows or caves. They will
also den in attics, barns, and garages. Raccoons are 4-feet
long including their tails and in the wild weigh from 15-30
pounds. Raccoons in the north tend to weigh more. Urban
raccoons feeding on trash can reach 60 pounds! They have
a ringed tail and black mask on their face. Raccoons are ac-
tive year round at night (nocturnal), but can be seen at dawn
or dusk. Raccoons are omnivores and will eat frogs, cray-
fish, fish, birds, eggs, fruits, nuts, grains, small mammals and
insects. Females are pregnant for 2 months and have 3-7
young in the early spring.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Rac
coon
Pro
cyon
loto
rw
ww
.exp
lorin
gnat
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org
Rac
coon
s ca
n re
ach
4 ft
long
with
the
tail.
.
©S
heri
Am
sel
Gray SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Eastern gray squirrels are found in eastern Canada and
the U.S. down through the Midwest into Iowa, Kansas and
Texas in hardwood and mixed forests (as long as there
are trees that produce nuts). They especially seem to like
oak and hickory nuts. They are gray with lighter fur on
their bellies. They have a flurry tail with silver tipped hairs.
They are about 9 inches tall and weigh up to 2.5 pounds.
They are active in the daytime (diurnal), especially in
the morning and evening. They are active all year. Gray
Squirrels den in trees cavities in the winter and leaf nests
in the summer. They eat nuts: hickory, beech, acorns,
and walnuts. They bury nuts they collect, so act as tree
planters. Females are pregnant for 6 weeks and have 2-3
young born in the spring.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Gra
y S
quirr
elS
ciur
us c
arol
inen
sis
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©S
heri
Am
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Snowshoe HareLepus americanus
Snowshoe hares are found throughout most of North
America in conifer and leafy (deciduous) forests and
brushy areas where there is lots of food and shelter. They
have large feet for traveling on top of the snow. Their brown
fur turns white in winter. They have long ears, though much
smaller than jackrabbits. They are active all winter. They
eat deciduous trees and shrubs, some conifers, grass, and
wildflowers. Snowshoe hares usually have 2-3 litters a year
from April to August. Females are pregnant for
about 35 days, having up to 8 young.
Snowshoe hares live about 3 years in the wild.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Snowshoe hares can reach about 20 inches long.
Snowshoe HareLepus americanus
www.exploringnature.org
©Sheri Amsel
BobcatLynx rufus
Bobcats are found from Canada to Mexico in all habitats
from forests and swamps to scrubby desert. They weigh up
to 45 pounds and have a light spotted coat with stripes on
their short, stubby tail. They have smaller ear and cheek
tufts than their relative, the lynx. They are active both day
and night hunting at dawn and dusk for rabbits, hares,
squirrels, chipmunks, birds and sometimes, even deer.
Females are pregnant for about
60 days. They have up to 6 kits at
any time of the year. They live
for about 12 years in
the wild.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
BobcatLynx rufus
www.exploringnature.org
Bobcats can reach 2.5 ft long.
©Sheri Amsel
Red SquirrelTamiasciurus hudsonicus
The red squirrel is found in Canada and the northern United
States down to the Appalachian Mountains in coniferous,
deciduous, and mixed forests. They are reddish-brown on
top and have white bellies with a black stripe where the two
colors come together on their sides. They have ear tufts in
the winter. They are about a foot long including their tail and
weigh about 8-9 ounces. Their tail is not as bushy as the
gray squirrel’s tail. They are active during the day (diurnal)
and all year round. They live much of their lives in the trees
(arboreal). They eat pine seeds, nuts, fruit, insects, bird
eggs and even small animals. Like the gray squirrel they
bury seeds for later so are important tree planters and see
dispersers. They nest in tree cavities
or underground in tunnels. They
live alone except to breed in
the spring. Females are
pregnant for about 5 weeks
and can have 2-6 young.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Red SquirrelTamiasciurus hudsonicus
www.exploringnature.org
©Sheri Amsel
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
Hairy Woodpeckers are found from Central Alaska across
Canada to Newfoundland, south to Florida and Central
America in deciduous forests, mixed woods, parks and
yards with trees. They are about robin-sized with a white
back, black and white striped (barred) wings and a red
patch on the head. They have a long, slender bill. Their
tail is black with white outer feathers.
Females have a black patch on head
instead of the red patch. They look like
the downy woodpecker but are bigger.
They peck for insects in trees. They
will also eat fruits and seeds and
come to bird feeders. They
nest in trees holes. Females
have 3 – 7 white eggs.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
www.exploringnature.org
Black-capped ChickadeeParus atricapillus
www.exploringnature.org
©Sheri Amsel
©Sheri Amsel
Black-capped ChickadeeParus atricapillus
Black-capped chickadees are found all across North
America from Southern Canada south to the middle
United States in mixed forests, open woodlands, and
wetlands to suburban areas. They have a black cap
and throat with white cheeks, a gray back, wings and
tail and a white belly. They are very common at feed-
ers all winter. They have a chica-dee-dee-dee call.
They form flocks in winter. They eat insects and seeds.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Barred OwlStrix varia
Barred owls are found all over eastern North America from
Southern Canada down to Florida. They have spread west
in Canada and Washington State in wooded swamps and
forests, especially when they are near rivers and streams.
They grow to about 20 inches tall. They have a big, brown
head, with rings around their eyes on a pale face. Their
back and wings are brown with white spots and their chest
and belly are white with brown bars.
Males and females look the
same. They hunt at night eating
eat mice, rabbits, birds and
frogs. They nest in tree holes
(cavities) or use old nests
left by a hawk or crow.
Female lays 1-5 white
eggs.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Barred OwlStrix varia
www.exploringnature.org
©Sher
i Amse
l
Deciduous Forest Amphibians
woodfrogred eft (newt)
American Toad
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Cottontail RabbitLepus sylvaticus
Cottontail rabbits are the most common and widely found
rabbits in North America. They like to hide in tall grass,
thickets, and along fencerows. They have a rounded body
with large back feet, long ears, and a round, white, fluffy
tail. They vary in color from grayish to reddish brown and
have white bellies. They weigh 2-3 pounds and are active
all year, mostly at night (nocturnal). They have good sight
and hearing and will freeze in place when sensing danger.
Their coloring helps them blend in (camouflage). If they are
flushed out of hiding they can run up to 18 mph for a short
distance. If caught by a predator they can make a loud, shrill
scream. They eat grass and green plants and in winter will
eat the bark, twigs, and buds of shrubs and young trees
(herbivores). Females are pregnant for about
28 days (gestation) and give birth to 3-8 young
in a nest built underground or under thick grass
and lined with grass and fur.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Cottontail RabbitLepus sylvaticus
www.exploringnature.org
©Sheri Amsel
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
Wild turkeys live in southeastern Canada south to Florida
and in some places throughout the west in open woodlands
and clearings. They are often seen along roadways. They
look like tame turkeys except they are thinner with rusty-
brown tail feathers instead of white. They are a huge bird,
weighing up to 25 pounds. Instead of feathers on their face
and neck, they have bumpy, loose skin. They have a large
fan-shaped tail and spurs on their long, strong legs. Males
are much larger and more colorful with a beard of loose skin
(wattle). They travel in flocks. In the winter, there can be as
many as 200 birds to a flock. They sleep (roosting) in trees
at night and run when startled. They can fly, but they don’t
unless they have to. They eat fruit, seeds, acorns, insects
and tree buds.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Wild
Tur
key
Mel
eagr
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allo
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Mal
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ild tu
rkey
s ca
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4 ft
long
with
tail.
©S
heri
Am
sel
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus
Ruffed grouse are found in Alaska, all over Canada and the
northwestern and northeastern U.S. down to Alabama in
mixed forests and are seen along roadways. They spend
the winter in conifer forests. They are a large, dark bird
with gray-brown dapples above. They are lighter below.
They have a fan-shaped tail with barred stripes. Males
make a “drumming” sound in the spring to attract a mate.
They spend most of their time on the ground but will burst
into flight when they are alarmed. This works to scare off
predators. They eat tree buds, and some leaves, nuts and
fruit and insects. They make a nest in the dead
leaves next to a tree or rock for cover. The female
lays more than a dozen (7-16) light brown
eggs that blend in with the dead leaves.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus
www.exploringnature.org
©Sheri Amsel
CoyoteStrix varia
Coyote are found all across North America in all habitats
from woodlands and fields to deserts. Their fur is frosty
gray to brown with a light-colored belly. They have a bushy
tail with a black tip. They walk and run with their tail hung
down. They weigh from 20-50 pounds. They are more ac-
tive at night (nocturnal). They live in dens. Coyotes are
survivors. They adapt better than wolves to living near hu-
mans. They can run up to 40 mph. They can jump 8-foot tall
fences. They eat what they can find. They are scavengers.
They also hunt small mammals and even deer. Females
are pregnant for about 60 days and can have more than 12
pups in one litter, though usually they have 6. They live up
to 15 years in the wild.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
CoyoteStrix varia
www.exploringnature.org
©Sheri Amsel
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
OpossumDidelphis virginiana
Opossum (possum) are found from southern Canada,
throughout the U.S., into Mexico and Central America (and
spreading) in woodlands, along streams and around farms.
They reach about 20 in long and weigh up to 12-14lbs. They
are mostly grayish colored with a white, pointed face, pink
nose and thin, round, hairless, dark ears. They have a long,
pink, hairless, rounded tail, like a giant rat’s tail. It can be used
to wrap around things like fingers (prehensile). They have
50 tiny teeth, the most of any mammal in N.A. Their back
feet have usable, clawless thumbs (opposable) that help in
climbing. They have a belly pouch where their young stay
protected and nurse (marsupials). They are the only marsupial
in North America. They are active at night (nocturnal). They
live alone except to mate or a female with young. They are
well adapted to living near people and will wander around
raiding garbage cans and grain bins. They will eat almost
anything; fruit, plants, nuts, eggs, insects,
rodents and poultry (omnivores) and even
dead animals (carrion).
Opo
ssum
Did
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©Sh
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Red-shouldered hawkButeo lineatus
Red-shouldered summer in the northeastern U.S. and northern midwest and some central and southern states in moist deciduous forests with a more open canopy. They are often seen perching in trees along the edges of waterways. Red-shouldered hawks are medium-sized hawks that reach up to 2 feet long. They have wide, roundish wings that they hold slightly forward when in flight. The wings and tail have dark and light banding. The tail’s banding has more dark color with thinner white bands. The shoulders are reddish. The chest and legsare light colored with reddish bars. They have long yellow lower legs and feet. They hunt for small mammals (mice, voles, gophers and chipmunks), amphibians and reptiles and sometimes songbirds from a perch, often hear the water’sedge where they watch for prey.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Red-shouldered hawkButeo lineatus
www.exploringnature.org
©Sheri Amsel
Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
Blue jays are found in southern Canada through eastern
U. S. to Gulf Coast, westward to central Texas. There are
small groups of them all the way west to Washington.
Some go south (migrate) in winter and some stay in the
north in oak forests and suburbs. They are bright blue on
their heads, back and wings with black stripes (bars) on
their wings and tail. They have a white face, chest and
belly. They have a blue head crest with a black line framing
the sides of their face. They have a loud call and can be
very aggressive. They eat nuts and seeds with some fruit
and insects. They build a nest of twigs and grass, with
mud. The female lays 2-7 blue to light brown eggs with
brownish spots.
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org
Blu
e Ja
yC
yano
citta
cris
tata
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©Sh
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Trees of the Deciduous Forest
Deciduous Forest Animals
black bear
bobcat
white-tailed deer
coyote
mink
cottontailrabbit
red fox
ruffed grouse
snowshoe hare
wood frog
toad
barred owl
raccoon
beaver
wild turkey
opossum
newt
chickadee
blue jay
hairywoodpecker
red squirrel gray squirrel
red-shouldered hawk
©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org