The Natural Habitat of Animals

If a detective were tracking down a criminal, hewoodpeckers.
would first find out about the mans habits andThe Deer
customs of living so he would have some idea ofShape of Hoof: Oval, smaller than all other hoofed
where to start his search. To track animals, too,animals, 3/4 "- 1" long, 11/8"-11/2" wide. Dewclaws
you must know about their way of life.visible only in tracks while fleeing.
It would be most unusual to find a fox in a cityDroppings: Dark brown, longish acorn shape, up to
park or a badger in the deepest forest, nor would3/8" thick, 3/8 "-1/2" long, found in sparse woods
you ever suspect a swamp animal of makingand forest.
tracks in a dry, fallow field. Every animal has itsFeeding Grounds: Clearly visible in the winter as
own natural habitat, which of course frequentlytrough-shaped spots scraped through the snow in
cuts across those of other animals. In general wethe woods. In the summer: spots dug through the
have a pretty good idea of where differentleaves.
animals make their homes.Traces on Trees: Strips of bark torn off between
Foxes, rabbits, mice, jays, and birds of prey can20" and 35" from the ground.
be found in or over open countryside. Deer (up toAntlers of the Buck: The buck deer drops his
about 6000 feet), rabbits (mountain hares up toantlers in the late fall and, beginning in March (April
8000 feet), mice, moles, weasels (up to 8000is the high point for this), rubs the velvet off
feet), and woodchucks can be found in theagainst young softwood trees. The bark is
mountains and hills. Mice, otters, polecats,scraped off and branches are broken. In front of
mouse-owls, plovers, storks, cranes, wild ducksthe tree you might also find spots where leaves
and geese live near the water.and earth are thrown up and scraped to the rear.
In the forests and woods you find: Deer, stags,Voice: Deep, loud bellow: burr, burr, burr, burr is
rabbits, squirrels, moles, foxes, badgers, martens,the scolding of a frightened buck. A lighter, loud
polecats, mice, finches, thrushes, crows, hawks,"boy, boy" is the doe cry.
magpies, pheasants, buzzards, wood-owls, andTracking of animals become more easy if you are
woodpeckers.well aware of thier habitant. Sometimes due to
The following live in meadows, fields, and sparselythe lack of awareness of animals habitant many
wooded spots: Rabbits, field mice, hamsters,people often fails to recognized the habitant of
moles, foxes, weasels, polecats, occasionalanimals and waste their times in seaching in
badgers wandering through, partridges, magpies,different other places.
buzzards, falcons, crows, mouse-owls, and