"" CARD 131 I

WATER VOLE
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Rodentia
FAMILY
Muridae
GENUS
Arvicola
Water voles are aquatic mammals that look like large rats.
They live mainly in meadows, but some kinds can be found along
the banks of rivers, ponds, and canals.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 6-9 in. Tail, to 6 in.
Weight: 5-11 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5 weeks in
females in some locations.
Breeding season: March to
October.
Gestation: 20-22 days.
No. of young: Usually 4-6.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives in small family groups.
Diet: Mainly grasses and
waterside plants.
Call: Rasping squeak when fright-
ened; high, shrill squeak when
fighting.
lifespan: About 5 months in the
wild; up to 5 years in captivity.
RElATED SPECIES
There are 3 species of water vole
worldwide.
Range of water voles.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in most of Great Britain, Europe (except Scandinavia
and southern areas), and part of the Soviet Union. Also in
southwestern Canada and northwestern United States.
CONSERVATION
Water voles are hunted for their fur in the Soviet Union but
are considered pests in Europe. In Britain their numbers have
declined in the last decade.
THE WATER VOLE'S AQUATIC LIFE
Smoke screen: When chased
underwater by an enemy such as an
otter, the vole raises a cloud of mud
that acts as a smoke screen.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Burrow: There are several underwater
entrances to the burrow, providing
easy access-and a good escape
route if chased by a predator.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200341 PACKET 34
As their name implies, water voles are at home in
water. But in central Europe and further east, water
voles are often found living far from water, in gardens,
orchards, and meadows. Altogether there are three
species of water vole, located in Britain, continental
Europe, Siberia, southwestern Asia,
and northwestern North America.
In the British Isles water voles
live in burrows that they dig
in the banks of slow-flowing
lowland rivers or in ponds
and streams-wherever the
water level remains fairly con-
stant. They are also occasion-
ally found further upland.
Within their burrows they
build ball-shaped nests of
grass and other plant materi-
al. They may also build these
nests under driftwood or on
the water bank, if there is
thick vegetation.
In central Europe, the Soviet
Union, and parts of Asia,
water voles are more similar
to moles in their lifestyle. In
these regions they may be
found far from water, burrow-
ing close to the surface in
woodlands, meadows, and
even gardens.
North American water voles
are semi-aquatic. In the sum-
mer they often build tunnels
that link their burrows to
nearby waterways. In winter
they move away from the
water and build their nests
under the snow.
~ BEHAVIOR
The male water vole has a
range of over 425 feet of
water bank; the female
somewhat less. To mark its
territory, the male rakes its
hind feet over its flank gland
and pushes out a secretion
that it then stamps into the
Below: Water voles swim and
dive with great skill.
Breeding generally begins in
March and may continue
until late fall. Females usually
have three or four litters a
year. The young of the first
litter may produce litters of
two by the end of summer.
The water vole's gestation
period is 20 to 22 days, and
up to eight young may be
born. By 5 days the young
have their furry coats, and 3
days later they open their
eyes. They are weaned at 14
days, by which time they are
about half the adult size.
ground with its hind feet .
Water voles generally do
not form large colonies.
Those that live on dry land
may form groups consisting
of the adult pair and two
generations of young.
Water voles will fight if they
are overcrowded, uttering
high, shrill squeaks.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Active by day and night, the
water vole eats mainly
grasses and waterside plants.
It tears at the plant stems and
pushes them into its mouth
with its front paws. It will also
eat twigs, buds, bulbs, roots,
and fallen fruit.
In Europe, when seasonal
conditions provide plenty
of food for several years,
"plagues" of water voles may
occur. They eat greedily,
leaving green pastures
looking almost like deserts,
undermined with burrows.
The population then drops
I NATUREWATCH
l
it is easy to confuse a water
vole wit h a water rat , but in
fact its muzzle is blunter, its
I
tai l is shorter, and its back is
not quite as arched. Also, its
fu r is soft and shaggy, while
I t he rat's is stiff and sleek. Li ke
t he rat, t he water vole is usu-
dramatically, probably be-
cause of a lack of food.
ally brown, but it can also
be black.
A water vole' s presence
can often be detected by
its greenish, cylindri cal
droppings. These tend to
be deposited around t he
edges of its range.
Above: Water voles gnaw the
roots of young trees.
DID YOU KNOW?
- During its first week the
water vole gains more
than a quarter-ounce.
- A fema le water vole can
give bi rth 22 days after its
previous litter.
- More than 40 water
voles may live on one acre.
I
-In Holland, water voles
can threaten the tulip
harvest because they eat
Hl'e tuli p bulbs in winter.
Left: Babies are born blind and
naked, weighing less than two-
tenths of an ounce.
MOUNTAIN ZEBRA
... ORDER
"11IIIIIIII Perissodactyla
FAMILY
Equidae
CARD 132
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECI ES
Equus zebra
The few mountain zebras left in the wild live in the mountain
grasslands of southwestern Africa. The pattern of their distinctive
stripes is as individual as a human fingerprint.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height t o shoulder: 3-4 ft.
Length: Head and body, 7 ft.
Tail, 1 ~ ft.
Weight: 570 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Mating season: Usually spring.
Gestation: 11 ~ -12 months.
No. of young: Usually 1 .
LI FESTYLE
Habit: Lives in small herds.
Diet: Mainly grass.
Call: Neighs like a horse.
Lifespan: Up to 28 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The family Equidae has 7 living
species in 1 genus, Equus, which
includes horses and asses.
THE ZEBRA AND ITS STRIPES
Range of the mountain zebra.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in the wild only in the two mountainous regions of
southwestern Africa. Once common in South Africa's Cape
Province and southern Angola.
CONSERVATION
The Cape mountain zebra, a subspecies, nearly became ex-
tinct. The whole species is now protected but is vulnerable.
STRIPES OF THE GREVY'S
AND PLAINS ZEBRAS
Experts argue over why the zebra has a striped coat. It
was once thought to function as camouflage, but this
under its neck,
caUed a dewlap,
is not found on
the two other
species.
explanation is no longer generally accepted. It is more
likely that the coat acts as a bright signal to others in
the herd. It may also help foals identify their mothers.
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Grevy's zebra: Narrow vertical
stripes on body but none on belly.
Stripes curve up on the haunches.
Plains zebra: Broad vertical
stripes extend around belly.
Horizontal stripes on haunches.
0160200361 PACKET36
The mountain zebra is found in Angola, Namibia,
and western and southeastern South Africa.
It is well adapted to arid conditions and can survive
for up to three days without water. Later,
when searching for water, it may dig down
as far as three feet in a riverbed.
~ HABITS
The mountain zebra is an
agile climber ideally suited to
southwestern Africa's moun-
tainous grasslands.
This member of the horse
family lives in small herds, of-
ten with some antelopes. The
zebra's keen hearing and eye-
sight make it quick to warn
others in the herd when their
main enemy, the lion, is near.
A herd usually consists of a
stallion with one to six mares
and their young. The noma-
dic group is led by a mare.
The stallion follows at the
rear or walks on one side to
defend the herd.
In their second year males
leave to form a bachelor
herd. Later, they collect
mares to form their own
herd, or they take over an
existing herd from a weak,
older stallion.
Right: Mountain zebras are social
members of the horse family that
gather in small herds.
~ FEEDING
The mountain zebra spends
many hours a day grazing,
always remaining alert to
predators. It searches for
tender shoots of grass but
often has to fill up on coarser
grass. If necessary, the zebra
left: The mountain zebra's rump
has narrow horizontal stripes.
I DID YOU KNOW?
The three zebra species
are no more closely related
to each other than they are
to horses and asses, which
belong to the same family.
Zebras graze for 60 to 80
percent of the day.
Zebras mix with other
eats the bark, leaves, buds,
and fruit of trees. It has sharp
incisor teeth to cut the grass
and ridged cheek teeth to
grind it to a semi pulp.
The mountain zebra has
adapted to its extremely arid
habitat and can go without
water for three days or more.
grass-eaters such as wilde-
beest since they eat grass at
different stages of growth.
When grooming itself, the
zebra likes to roll in mud.
When the mud dries and is
shaken off, it pulls loose hair
and dry skin away with it.
~ MOUNTAIN ZEBRA & MAN
Farmers once regarded the
mountain zebra as a pest be-
cause it competed with cattle
for grazing. They shot zebras
in large numbers and were
given a reward for each tail.
The hunting nearly killed off
one subspecies-the Cape
~ BREEDING
The female comes into heat (is
ready to mate) several times
a year, but she usually mates
so the birth coincides with
spring's abundant grass.
During courtship the stal-
lion nips at the mare's legs,
kneels down in front of her,
and makes squealing noises.
She signifies acceptance by
angling back her ears and
opening her mouth wide.
A single foal is born and is
up on its feet within an hour.
mountain zebra. In 1913 the
last 27 animals received pro-
tection in a national park near
Cradock in South Africa. The
population has since grown.
Zebras are popular in zoos
and circuses, but they are not
easily tamed.
After a few hours it is ready to
move with the herd, so that
there is little chance for a lion
to make a kill. The foal can
graze within a month or two,
although it may not be fully
weaned for a year.
The young stay with the herd
for about two years. Then the
males are driven out by the
stallion. Some females may be
lured away by another stallion.
Below: The foal is up and active
from the day it is born.
'" CARD 133 I
BANDICOOT
' ( - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~
ORDER
Marsupiala
FAMILY
Peramelidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Various
The bandicoot spends the night rooting around and digging holes
in search of food. An active, alert ground dweller, it belongs to
that diverse mixture of pouched mammals, the marsupials.
~ KEY FACTS
f'El SIZES
I:.J Length: 6 in.-2 ft.
Weight: ' /2-10 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, from 3
months. Male, from 4 months.
Mating: Varies by region.
Gestation: From 12 days. 50
days in the pouch.
No. of young: Up to 7.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Nocturnal, ground-
dwelling, solitary, territorial.
Diet: Invertebrates, small
vertebrates, seeds, berries, tubers,
and fungi.
Lifespan: 3 or more years.
RELATED SPECIES
The 2 species of bilby that form
the family Thylacomyidae are
closely related. Also known as
rabbit-eared bandicoots.
SOME BANDICOOT SPECIES
Short-nosed golden bandicoot, Isoodon auratus:
Inhabits arid, sandy plains and open woodland in
central and northern AustFalia. Glossy golden coat
with white belly.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM
Range of the bandicoot.
DISTRIBUTION
Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea and the nearby Kai, Aru,
Bismarck, Ceram, and D'Entrecasteaux Islands.
CONSERVATION
The impact of introduced animals has helped drive two
Australian species to extinction and reduced the range of
several others. Bandicoots are protected by law, and some
are restricted to reserves.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Short-nosed brindled bandicoot,
Isoodon macrourus: Inhabits coasts
of northeastern Australia and
southern New Guinea.
Long-nosed eastern barred
bandicoot, Perameles gunnii: A
small bandicoot with a patterned
rump. Lives in both arid areas and
woodland; prefers the grasslands of
Victoria, Australia and Tasmania.
0160200231 PACKET 23
Bandicoots are native to forests, plains,
and deserts throughout Australia and
New Guinea. Once there were 17 species,
but two of these are already extinct. Others
have declined sharply and, as a result of
habitat loss through farming and other
disruptions, are unlikely to recover.
~ CHARACTERISTICS
Members of the bandicoot
family range across Australia,
New Guinea, and outlying
islands. Some are the size of
small rats, others are as big as
rabbits. All are strictly ground-
dwelling.
New Guinea bandicoots,
including the spiny bandi-
coot, live on the floor of the
island's tropical forests. The
smallest species, the mouse
bandicoot, and the largest
species, the giant bandicoot,
also live there.
The Australian species have
varied habits. The golden
bandicoot prefers dry areas.
The northern brown bandi-
coot, the long-nosed bandi-
coot, and the eastern barred
bandicoot live in humid
habitats including grassy
plains, scrub, and woodlands,
and even in town gardens.
All bandicoots spend the
daytime resting, usually inside
a nest of grass on the ground.
In the evening they come out
to forage, yet they stay near
cover so that they can hide
from snakes, dingoes, and
foxes, their chief predators.
Bandicoots are solitary by
nature, pairing only to mate.
Right: The golden bandicoot lives
in dry regions and has a coarse but
lustrous coat.
~ BREEDING
Bandicoots reproduce faster
then most other marsupial
species. In a moderate climate
adults may mate at any time
of the year. Gestation is rapid
-as short as 12 days-and
the tiny young are well
developed at birth. They
immediately crawl into their
mother's pouch and feed on
her milk. As the young grow,
the mother's pouch enlarges
left: Bandicoots have powerful
hind legs, a rough coat, and a
tapered snout.
DID YOU KNOW?
Bandicoots sleep so
soundly in their nests that,
in the days before they were
protected, hunters could
pin them down with their
feet and pick them up.
In rainy weather, the
northern bandicoot may
kick a layer of earth over its
and eventually bulges along
her body length.
As early as seven weeks af-
ter birth the young are ready
to leave the pouch; they are
weaned about 10 days later.
The female can mate again
before her young leave the
pouch, so as soon as they are
weaned she may be ready
to bear the next litter. Three
litters per year are usual.
Right: The female's pouch opens to
the rear, enabling the young to
climb in and out easily.
nest as an umbrella.
Rival male bandicoots
fight by locking jaws and
wrestling.
Certain bandicoot
species have the shortest
pregnancy period known
for a mammal: a mere 12
days of gestation.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Insects, spiders, and worms
form the principal diet of ban-
dicoots, but these marsupials
are opportunists and will eat
other types of available food.
They sometimes catch small
rodents and often forage for
seeds, berries, tubers, and
fungi. One species forages
over most of its home range
left: A rare
glimpse inside
the female's
pouch reveals
young that are
small and
hairless. Even
in this state
they seek out
and latch
tightly onto a
teat to suckle.
each night. Where there is
little water, bandicoots get
enough moisture from dew
and the fluids in their food.
Though bandicoots pick
some of their food from the
ground, they are best known
for digging conical holes in
the soil with their strong fore-
feet. They then poke their
long snouts into the holes to
catch invertebrates or chew
plant roots and tubers. The
pointed muzzles are also used
to probe crevices around
roots and under logs.
left: The bandicoot turns over the
topsoil, sniffing out and eating
roots and worms.
'" CARD 134 I
AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE
, , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
.... ORDER
~ Perissodactyla
GENUS & SPECIES
Equus cabal/us
The American quarter horse is bred for short, straight-line sprints
and is the fastest horse in the world. From a standing start, it can
cover a quarter of a mile in a little over 20 seconds.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 14.3 to 15.1 hands
(1 hand = 4 in.)
Weight: 1,100 to 1,300 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Mares, 11/2-2
years. Stallions, 2-3 years.
Mating: April to July.
Gestation: 11 months.
No. of young: Usually 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Naturally sociable. In the
wild, mares and young live in
herds with a dominant stallion.
Diet: Grass, low-growing
vegetation, supplemented with
hay. Natural diet is oats, barley,
wheat, and bran.
Lifespan: 20-30 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The American quarter horse is
related to every other breed of
horse, but it has close links with
the English thoroughbred.
Origin of the American quarter horse.
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread throughout the United States. Quarter horses
have been exported throughout the world.
CONSERVATION
The American Quarter Horse Association's objective is to
preserve the horse's unique nature. Within the breed
standard, however, the emphasis is on different qualities that
produce horses better suited to racing, showing, or riding.
FEATURES OF THE QUARTER HORSE
Head: Short and broad with
small ears, wide-set eyes, and
large nostrils.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Back: Short and powerful. Also
fairly broad, which helps to support
a heavy saddle.
Average height to withers: 14.4 hh
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Hindquarters:
The rear of the
horse is broad
and very
muscular. The
powerful hind
legs are thickly
muscled.
0160200321 PACKET 32
)
Height in
hands
15 hh
10 hh
5 hh
)
o hh
The American quarter horse was first bred
around 300 years ago, but its breed association was
only founded in 1940. Since then the quarter horse
has become the most popular riding horse in
the world, with a breed register of over
a million horses.
~ O R I G I N
The quarter horse is the best
known Western horse in Amer-
ica. It was first bred in Virginia
during the late 1 700s by cross-
ing native ponies with English
settlers' running horses.
The chickasaws were the
wild offspring of horses that
were brought to the New
World by the Spanish. The
harsh environment and
generations of inbreeding
caused a small but hardy horse
to evolve. The early colonists
crossed them with their im-
DID YOU KNOW?
The quarter horse acceler-
ates so quickly that jockeys
have to grip the mane so
they do not fly off.
The quarter horse was the
ported stock to produce a
slightly larger and more ride-
able horse, which still retained
the chickasaw's natural agility
and hardiness.
The resulting crossbreed
also possessed a quick, early
burst of speed. Soon they
were bred especially for the
popular "quarter races"-
straight sprints over one
quarter of a mile.
The hardy and quick quarter
horse proved useful to cattle
ranchers as they moved west.
first true North American
horse breed.
The race with the highest
stakes is the All-American
Futurity for three-year olds .
~ BREEDING
In the wild, horses usually live
in herds led by a dominant
stallion. The stallion fights off
rival males and mates with his
mares as they come into sea-
son (become ready to mate).
This assures that the strongest
and most intelligent males
are those that breed.
Breeding of domesticated
quarter horses is more selec-
tive. Through the careful
choice of both the stallion
(male) and the mare (female),
a certain type of offspring
may be produced. The traits
Left: The herding instinct is strong
even among those horses not
living in the wild.
Right: The quarter horse's
characteristics are the result of
careful crossbreeding.
of certain stallions are more
dominant, so they stamp
their offspring with their
own qualities.
The American Quarter
Horse Association sets a
breed standard by which to
judge all quarter horses. A
horse that closely meets this
standard is more valuable
~ QUARTER HORSE &: MAN
The quarter horse and man
have always been closely
associated. Originally prized
for its amazing speed, it later
became the ideal stock horse.
It is fast, agile, and sturdy
enough to carry a man all day
over rough terrain. It also
possesses a special "cow
sense." This is the ability to
pick out a particular cow, fix
it with a hypnotic stare, and
keep it away from the herd
by blocking its every move.
This ability is highly valued
since it is an efficient way to
single out individual cows for
special attention.
For the pleasure rider, the
quarter horse's docile nature
and willingness to learn make
it popular.
than one that does not.
Some crossbreeding takes
place to produce a faster
horse suited to racing, or to
create a larger, more power-
ful animal for hunting.
Mares come into season
every four weeks, but usually
mate in the spring, bearing
one foal 11 months later.
Right: The
quarter horse is
prized by cattle
ranchers for its
speed and
agility, which
make it an
ideal horse for
herding cattle.
Left: The
quarter horse
is a favorite
at rodeos.
These popular
competitions
test the skiJIs
of the cowboys
and their
horses against
cattle and
obstacles.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The quarter horse can thrive
on a relatively poor diet of
range grass and scrub. Its
ability to make the most of
what food it can find while
living out on the range is
important to people who use
it as a work horse.
Today most quarter horses
are kept for pleasure riding or
for racing. They also get a
more varied diet. Apart from
grass from grazing, a horse
usually eats a mixture of oats,
barley, corn, and bran to give
it nutritional balance.
The quarter horse's stomach
is adapted for large quantities
of roughage, rather than small
amounts of feed, so it needs
plenty of hay to keep up its
roughage intake.
CARD 135J
FALLOW DEER
, , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~
ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Cervidae
GENUS Ex SPECIES
Damadama
The fallow deer, with its spotted fawn coat and broad, flattened
antlers, is one of the most familiar-looking deer. This nervous
creature most often grazes in quiet woodland glades.
Mal
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 21/2 -3 ft.
Weight: 85-225 lb.
Antlers: 2-3 ft. along curve.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Females, 16
months. Males, 4 years.
Mating season: September to
February. Peaks during the
September-October rut.
Gestation: 230-240 days.
No. of young: 1 (twins rare).
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, forming separate
herds outside the rut.
Diet: Grass, herbs, foliage,
berries, nuts, fungi, and bark.
Lifespan: 15 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The endangered Persian fallow
deer is considered either a
separate species or a subspecies
of the fallow deer.
Range of the fallow deer.
DISTRIBUTION
Native to Mediterranean regions and parts of the Middle
East. Introduced in Europe and in parts of North America,
South America, southern Africa, and Australia.
CONSERVATION
Generally common and increasing in some areas, the
adaptable fallow deer is less common in its original range
(southern Europe and the Middle East) .
E FALLOW DEER
Female: Smaller
than male but
has the same
coat coloring.
Winter coat:
The spots fade
in winter and
the coat be-
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.SA 0160200281 PACKET 28
Herds of fallow deer live in woodland
and parkland habitats. Adaptable in diet and
tolerant of a range of climatic conditions, they
have been widely introduced around the
world for both food and sport.
~ H A B I T S
In its native range around the
Mediterranean and in parts
ofthe Middle East, the fallow
deer dwells in deciduous wood-
land (where trees lose foliage
at the end of the growing
season), hilly pine woods,
and dense shrubland. When
introduced elsewhere, the
deer thrives in woodland
with open patches among
the trees.
Wild fallow deer live in small
herds, though groups of 70
or more deer are common in
parks and estates. Outside
the mating season, males
form their own roaming herds
separate from the females
and young.
With its keen senses of sight,
hearing, and smell, the fallow
deer can detect an intruder
and alert other members of
its group.
Right: During the rut, the male
rounds up a small herd of females
into his territory.
~ BREEDING
Mating occurs from September
to February, but most fallow
deer mate during the fall rut
(mating season) .
The male marks his territory
by scraping the soil with his
hooves and antlers, urinating,
and breaking branches. He
struts back and forth bellowing
loudly, hoping to attract and
mate with as many females as
possible in the territory.
Pregnant females give birth
DID YOU KNOW?
Fallow deer living in parks
and preserves often forage
in trash cans. Many die after
swallowing garbage such as
ribbon, nylon threads,
cigarette butts, balloons,
and plastic bags.
NATUREWATCH
The fallow deer has been
introduced into habi t at s all
over the worl d, incl uding
many woodland parks of
North America.
the next spring away from
the herd and under dense
cover. The spotted fawns
hide in this cover until they
are strong enough to run
with the herd.
Only males have horns,
which begin to grow after
t he age of two. Every April
the fallow deer sheds its
antlers. The antlers regrow
slightly larger and more
elaborate each year.
The fallow deer's relative,
the Persian fallow deer, was
believed to be extinct until
a tiny population was later
"rediscovered" in 1955
along the border of Iran
and Iraq.
Males and females have
similar colors and markings,
but only t he male fallow
deer bear t he charact eri stic
palm-shaped antlers.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The fallow deer mainly feeds
on grasses and herbs in sum-
mer, sometimes browsing on
bushes and trees. In deer parks
a "browse line" four to six feet
high marks how far up the
trees the deer can reach
foliage. The trees are often
stripped bare below this line
because of the deer's vora-
cious feeding habits.
The fallow deer adapts its
feeding habits to the changing
seasons. In fall and winter it
Above: A
newborn fawn
lies in the safety
of long grass.
Far left: The
male eventually
develops an
impressive set
of antlers.
Left: The male
sheds its antlers
in spring. They
grow back
larger every
year.
eats nuts, berries, bark strips,
fungi, dead leaves, and holly.
It feeds throughout the day
and night, mainly during ear-
ly morning and evening in an
open clearing with plenty of
ground vegetation. The herd
grazes across it slowly, but
not long enough to exhaust
the food supply. When not
feeding, the herd rests under
dense cover. The fallow deer
rarely drinks-dew and plant
moisture supply its water.
"" CARD 136 I
PRONGHORN
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Antilocapridae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Antilocapra americana
The pronghorn IS name comes from the unusual shape of its horns.
It can outsprint a horse and is the fastest land mammal
in the western hemisphere.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 3-5 ft.
Tail, 3-7 in.
Height: 2 1/2-3 1/2 ft.
Weight: 80-150 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Both sexes
mature at 15 months, but male
seldom breeds until 5 years.
Breeding season: March to
October.
Gestation: 252 days.
No. of young: Usually 2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Territorial grazer; lives in
herds.
Diet: Shrubs, grass, and cacti.
Lifespan: 9-10 years in the wild.
Up to 12 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Subspecies include Antilocapra amer-
icana americana, A. a. sonoriensis, A.
a. mexicana, and A. a. peninsular is.
Range of the pronghorn.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout western parts of North America, from
Canada south to northern Mexico.
CONSERVATION
By the 1920s hunting had reduced the pronghorn' s
population from 35 million to 20,000 animals. Conserva-
tionists have now raised the pronghorn's numbers t o
about 450,000, but some subspecies remain endangered.
FEATURES OF THE PRONGHORN
Horns: The male has backward-
curving horns with small , forward-
facing prongs. When the female has
horns, they are small . The horns'
sheath (covering) is shed yearly.
""MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Female
Rump: When alarmed, the
pronghorn rai ses and spreads long,
white hairs on its rump to warn
other herd members. It also emits a
strong scent from glands at the base
of the rump hai rs.
Fawn: Coat is
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200271 PACKET 27
The pronghorn roams in herds across the open
grasslands of North America. When it senses
a predator nearby, the pronghorn raises the
fur on its rump and emits a strong scent
to warn the herd. The animals immediately
sprint away at full speed.
~ CHARACTERISTICS
The pronghorn inhabits open
grassland and desert from the
Canadian border to northern
Mexico. Although the animal is
not migratory, it covers an area
up to 10 miles wide as it
searches for food and water. It is
most active just before sunset
and after sunrise.
The pronghorn is constantly
alert for signs of danger and can
spot a moving object several
miles away. But it may not be
able to see a motionless predator
just a few feet away. When it is
alarmed, the pronghorn uses its
rapid sprinting ability to escape.
It can maintain a speed of about
30 miles an hour for two to three
miles over even ground.
Both sexes have horns, which
grow and are shed yearly. Some-
times the female does not have
any horns. Only the male's horns
have forward-pointing prongs.
Right: The pronghorn feeds mainly
on grasses and moves frequently in
search of fresh pastures.
~ BREEDING
Breeding season begins in the
spring. Pronghorn herds split
into groups, according to age
and sex. At three years, young
males begin establishing their
own breeding territories, which
can cover an area of almost two
square miles. Older males often
occupy the same territories year
after year.
The males mark their territories
with urine and feces and with a
scent produced from glands
below the ears. A male with an
established territory tries to herd
females into his area and keep
them there. He promptly drives
off rival males.
Competing males first confront
Left: The pronghorn's large eyes
enable it to detect movement
several miles away.
DID YOU KNOW?
A two-day-old pronghorn
can outrun a man. At four
days it can outsprint a
horse. An adult pronghorn
has been recorded at
speeds faster than 50 miles
an hour.
The female pronghorn has
each other with a steady stare. If
neither male looks away, the ter-
ritory holder bellows loudly and
may charge the intruder. Most
conflicts end with the weaker
male backing off. But when two
evenly matched males meet, the
result is often a violent battle.
Throughout the breeding sea-
son, small herds of females wan-
der through the territories of the
dominant males. Despite the
males' attempts to keep them,
the females seldom remain in
one male's territory very long.
Once they have mated, fe-
males give birth a little over
eight months later, usually to
twins. The young fawns develop
very quickly, and at three weeks
old they start feeding on grass
and shrubs.
only six scent glands, but
the male has nine.
Galloping at full speed,
the pronghorn's strides can
be more than 25 feet .
Hunters once attracted
pronghorns within range by
tying flags to bushes.
~ PRONGHORN & MAN
When European settlers first ar-
rived, there were about 35 million
pronghoms in North America.
Many thousands were shot for
food and sport. As farming
changed the prairies, habitat loss
led to a further decline in numbers.
By the mid-1920s, fewer than
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Throughout most of the year the
pronghorn feeds in herds. During
winter a herd may have as many
as 1,000 animals. The prong hom
roams desert scrub and flat grass-
lands to feed on a wide selection
of shrubby plants, grasses, and
even prickly cacti. To compensate
for the wear resulting from the
constant chewing of tough plants,
the pronghorn's teeth grow con-
tinuously throughout its life.
Grasses and other fleshy vegeta-
tion are especially important to
Above: The
young suckle for
only three
weeks.
Left: Young
fawns are left
under cover
while the
mother feeds.
20,000 pronghorns were left, so
conservationists began working
to protect the remaining herds.
As a result, numbers have risen
to 450,000, and a limited
amount of hunting is now per-
mitted. No more than 40,000
animals may be killed in a year.
the prong hom in spring and sum-
mer.ln winter, the prong hom
feeds more heavily on shrubby
plants. When the ground is cov-
ered with snow, the prong hom
digs until it reaches the buried
vegetation.
The prong hom always takes ad-
vantage of available water. But in
a drought when water is scarce
or unavailable, it can survive
entirely on the moisture that it
gets from the plants that it eats-
especially the cacti .
EASTERN COTTONTAIL
RABBIT
ORDER
Lagomorpha
FAMILY
Leporidae
""CARD 137 J
GR'()uP 1: M A M M A L S ~
GENUS &: SPECIES
Sylvi/agu5 floridanu5
The most common rabbit in the United States, the eastern
cottontail rabbit is also found in South America. It gets its name
from the fluffy white fur on the underside of its tail.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 1-11/2 ft.
Ears, 2-3 in. Tail, 1-2 in.
Weight: About 2-4 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-5 months.
Breeding season: February to
September.
Gestation: 26-30 days.
No. of young: 1-9; usually 4-5.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Mainly solitary, but has
been observed frolicking in
groups.
Diet: Grass and leaves. In winter:
bark, twigs, and seeds.
Lifespan: 10 years in captivity;
2-3 years in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 13 species of rabbit in
the genus, 7 of which are called
cottontails.
FEATURES OF THE
EASTERN COTTONTAil
RABBIT
Body size: T ( female, or doe, is
larger than thw male, called a uck.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the eastern cottontail r(lbbit.
DISTRIBUTION
Eastern United States, except for New England, extending
west to North Dakota, Kansas, Texas, northern New Mexico,
and Arizona. Also in parts of Central and South America.
CONSERVATION
The eastern cottontail rabbit is the most common and
widespread of all cottontail rabbits, and it is not an endan-
gered species.
Hind legs: Its
Rowerful back
legs enable
it to reach
speeds of up
to 25 miles
per hour
and hop
over nine'
feet in
the air.
PRINTED IN U.SA.
COMPARISON OF SPECIES
Desert cottontail: Pale gray
fur with distinct yellow tinge.
Smaller than eastern cottontail.
Mountain cottontail : Paler gray
than eastern cottontail. Notice-
ably larger. Black-tipped ears.
0160200221 PACKET 22
The eastern cottontail rabbit is a grazing
animal that is adapted for quick movement.
It has strong hind legs that enable it to
quickly escape from danger. In addition,
its bulging eyes give it a wide field
of vision for detecting predators.
~ HABITS
The eastern cottontail rabbit
occupies a large area of the
eastern United States. It is
found in heavy brush, in
woodland areas near open
country, in cultivated fields,
and along swamp edges.
It is mainly nocturnal but
may be active from early
evening to late morning. It
usually spends its day in a
depression in the ground or
beneath a pile of under-
Above: The eastern cottontail rab-
bit is one of the most commonly
hunted small game animals.
growth. It does not live in
burrows, although in cold
weather it may find shelter in
another animal's abandoned
burrow. When the ground is
covered in deep snow, it
makes a network of runs
beneath the surface.
The eastern cottontail rab-
bit is not a territorial animal;
its range of 1,000 to 8,000
square feet overlaps with the
ranges of other rabbits. When
pursued by an enemy, it
usually runs in circles, often
jumping sideways to avoid
leaving a scent trail.
DID YOU KNOW?
If all the young from one
breeding pair of eastern
cottontail rabbits were to
survive, together with their
offsprings' young, they could
produce 350,000 rabbits in
five years.
The eastern cottontail
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Like all rabbits, the eastern
cottontail rabbit is a grazer,
eating mainly grass and
herbs. When grass and leaves
are scarce, it eats bark, twigs,
seeds, and roots.
Rabbits and hares eat large
quantities of green vegeta-
tion. Their digestive system is
adapted to process a large
amount of plant matter. They
also eat some of their own
feces in order to extract as
much nutrition as possible
from their food. Rabbits
produce two types of feces:
soft feces they ingest, and
hard pellets they leave
undisturbed on the ground.
Right: An eastern cottontail rabbit
can do major damage to crops
and gardens.
rabbit is not affected by
myxomatosis, a disease
that kills the European
rabbit.
Sylvilagus idahoensis, the
pygmy rabbit, is the only
species in the genus that
constructs its own burrow.
~ EASTERN COTTONTAIL RABBIT & MAN
The eastern cottontail rabbit is
a favorite prey of hunters. It
thrives in cultivated and pop-
ulated areas, making it easy
prey.
In the 1920s, wildlife agen-
cies, together with hunting
clubs, imported eastern cot-
tontail rabbits to Kansas, Mis-
~ BREEDING
Breeding season lasts from
February to September. Dur-
ing this time the female, or
doe, may be territorial.
The fertile female can pro-
duce three to four litters of
nine young each year. Still, as
many as 90 percent of the
young die.
Although many species of
rabbit do not make nests, the
cottontail rabbit does, since its
young need a relatively long
Left: These baby cottontails will be
able to breed by the time they are
12 weeks old.
souri, Texas, and Pennsylva-
nia, since the local subspecies
had dwindled. The rabbits
bred with local species to
produce a new hybrid,
which is now widespread.
The eastern cottontail rab-
bit is considered a pest by
gardeners in some areas.
period of care. A week before
birth, the doe digs a shallow
depression in the ground.
She lines it with grass and
leaves, as well as with fur she
pulls from her breast and
belly. By removing some of
her fur, she exposes her nip-
ples for the young to suck.
The young are born blind
and naked. The mother re-
turns to the nest to suckle the
young, who develop quickly,
reaching sexual maturity in
three to five months. Within
hours after birth, the doe
mates again.
" CARD 138 I
ALPINE IBEX


ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Bovidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Capra ibex
The alpine ibex, a wild goat, lives at high altitudes in the Alps and
other regions of central Europe. Once almost hunted
to extinction, it is now protected in reserves.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Shoulder height: 2-2
3
/4 ft.
Weight: Males, 165-265 lb.
Females, 110-140 lb.
Length: Body 4-5 ft. Tail 4'/2-6 in.
Females smaller.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Mating: Fall and early winter.
Gestation: About 1 70 days.
No. of young: Usually 1,
occasionally 2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives in groups of females
and young of both sexes.
Diet: Grazes on grass, flowers,
and low-growing plants. Also
browses on shrubs and trees.
Lifespan: Between 1 0-1 2 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Closely related to the Siberian
ibex, Capra sibirico, and Nubian
ibex, C. nubiana.
Range of the alpine ibex.
DISTRIBUTION
Alps and high mountain regions in central Europe up to
10,000 feet above sea level. The alpine ibex lives at lower
altitudes in winter than in summer.
CONSERVATION
Once almost hunted to extinction, today groups flourish in
reserves. The alpine ibex is being reintroduced into parts of
its natural range.
FEATURES OF THE ALPINE IBEX
Tail : Short and
flat with a bare
underside. Anal
scent glands at
base of tail.
Body: Typical
goat body.
Brownish gray
coat with small
amounts of
black. Males
have a strong
odor.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Head: Long, with a sloping forehead,
small ears, slanting nostrils, and a
......... __ Horns: Large
...,. and scimitar-
typical goatlike chin beard.
shaped with
prominent,
gnarled ridges.
Females have
smaller horns.
Males' horns
grow larger,
stronger, and
more gnarled
with age.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Feet: Front and
back toes
developed into
split, or
artiodactyl
(even-toed)
hooves that are
extremely
flexible to aid
climbing.
0160200261 PACKET 26
A swift and nimble climber, the alpine ibex
leaps with ease from crags to rocky ledges.
80th male and female alpine ibexes have large,
gnarled, scimitar-shaped horns, though the
male's are longer and heavier.
~ HABITS
The alpine ibex lives in large,
segregated groups of either
adult males or females and
their young for most of the
year. Males and females only
join during breeding season
when dominant males form
harems of females.
Active during the day, the
ibex feeds high up in the
mountains and also moves to
lower pastures to graze. In
summer it lives at higher
altitudes than in winter, when
lack of food drives it down to
more plentiful areas.
When danger threatens, the
alpine ibex climbs nimbly up
into the rocks to hide. It may
Right: Good balance allows the
ibex to leap from rock to rock.
fight predators such as wolves,
lynxes, bears, jackals, and foxes
with its large horns when
cornered. Its well-developed
senses of sight, hearing, and
smell help it to avoid danger.
Above: A male ibex waits six years
until his horns are strong enough
that he can participate in the rut.
~ BREEDING
Mating occurs in fall and early
winter. The rut (a period of in-
tense mating-related activity
among males) lasts about 10
days.
The male alpine ibexes per-
form fight rituals but do not in-
jure each other; the winners
form harems of mature females
for breeding. The strongest
males with the largest horns gain
superiority and can build the
largest harems with 12 or more
females and one or two old,
non-productive males.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The alpine ibex feeds through-
out the day on shrubs and
trees. It often stands on its hind
legs to reach leaves, twigs, and
tender young shoots.
It also grazes on grass,
flowers, and low-growing
plants in high alpine mead-
ows. If food is scarce, the ibex
moves to lower, wooded
valleys at dusk to feed.
Right: During the rut, males
perform ritualized fights, rearing
up on their hind legs and clashing
horns to show strength.
DID YOU KNOW?
The male alpine ibex's
horns can grow up to three
feet while the larger Siberian
ibex's can grow to four and a
half feet.
Like other goats, the male
alpine ibex has a strong body
odor, and it sprays itself with
After a gestation period of
1 70 days, one or two kids
(baby ibexes) are born. The fe-
male feeds the kids until the
next fall, and the offspring can
graze at one month. The fe-
males and their young live to-
gether in groups, with young
males leaving when they reach
maturity at two years.
~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
Left: In
summer, ibexes
climb alpine
peaks
to feed.
Right: Two
ibexes huddle
together
during a
winter storm.
shape and behavior.
The most sheeplike goat is
the bharal, known as the
blue sheep, found in Tibet
and western China.
Since Roman times, the
belief that parts of the alpine
ibex have special healing
powers has lead to
overhunting in many areas.
Old male alpine ibexes
sometimes grow long hair on
the back of the neck.
Above: A mother and her young
graze on a rock face.
SEA OTTER
,,'--_______________ GROUP 1: MAMMALS
... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS & SPECIES
~ Carnivora ~ Mustelidae ~ Enhydra lutris
The sea otter is the most aquatic of the otters, spending
almost all of its life at sea. Although seldom found far from land,
it is slow and awkward when it comes ashore.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 3-4 ft .
Tail, 10-15 in.
Weight: Male, 50-100 lb. Female,
30-70 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 6-9 years.
Female, 4 years.
Breeding season: Any time of
year.
Gestation: 6-9 months.
No. of young: 1. Twins rare.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Coastal, meat eating; pairs
only for breeding season.
Diet: Fish, crustaceans, and
shellfish.
Lifespan: Up to 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The other otter species in the
subfamily Lutrinae are the river
otter, Lutra lutra, and the
endangered giant otter, Pteronura
brasiliensis.
Range of the sea otter.
DISTRIBUTION
Coastal and island waters of the north Pacific from California to
Alaska in the east and Japan to the Soviet Union in the west.
CONSERVATION
Hunted to the point of extinction for its fur, the sea otter
was given protection in 1911. Pollution threatens the
otter, with oil spills such as the Exxon Valdez disaster
wiping out populations and fouling its habitat.
FEATURES OF THE SEA OTTER
Fur: Sleek, thick, and insulating. The
sea otter has no fat insulation, so it
relies on i,ts fur for warmth. If the
hai r becomes matted by oil the otter
dies from the cold.
Feeding: The sea otter eats fish and
sheHtish off its chest. It uses its
clawed forefeet to break open
shells and to pass edible parts to
its mouth.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
River otter: Also swims well and has sleek fur.
Seizes prey in its mouth then eats on the riverbank.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
i11 d feet: Long and webbed to give
the sea otter maximum propulsion
when diving for prey.
0160200261 PACKET 26
The sea otter inhabits the food-rich waters of the
north Pacific. With its warm, insulating fur
coat, it can swim and fish in the iciest of
waters. The beauty of its pelt almost led to
the sea otter's extermination by eighteenth-
and nineteenth-century fur traders.
HABITAT
The sea otter lives alone in
coastal waters. The smallest
of sea-living mammals, it
spends its entire life at sea
only a half mile from the
shore. During very rough
storms, it may seek shelter in
FOOD & HUNTING
This carnivore feeds on crabs,
abalone (a mollusk), sea
urchins, and fish. The sea otter
eats up to a quarter of its body
weight in food each day. A
strong and swift swimmer, it
propels itself with powerful
strokes of its webbed hind feet
and undulations of its body. It
can dive deep and often feeds
65 feet below the surface.
reefs or rocky coves.
The sea otter stays in
shallow coastal water to feed.
On land, it walks slowly and
awkwardly, lacking the agility
and grace it displays in the
water.
While searching for food, the
sea otter remains submerged
for more than a minute before
surfacing for air. Unlike the
river otter that catches its prey
in its jaws, the sea otter uses its
small, clawed forefeet to seize
prey, snatching up slow-
moving fish and plucking
crustaceans and mollusks from
seabeds or kelp stems.
Left: The sea
otter spends
much of its life
afloat.
Below: The sea
otter is adept at
cracking open
tough shells. It
brings up a flat
ocean stone to
lay on its chest
and then
smashes mussels
or clams on it to
get at their soft
insides.
The otter also eats clams. It
may make several dives for a
clam, digging a little deeper
each time until it dislodges the
burrowing creature.
The otter brings up all but the
smallest catch to eat on the
surface. Swimming on its back,
it supports the meal on its chest,
often rolling in the water to wash
away shells and food waste.

The sea otter's breeding
season varies across its range,
and offspring are born
throughout the year. Mates
pair up briefly during the
mating season. After mating,
males go to group resting
grounds while females and
young otters share territory.
The gestation period varies
because the sea otter can
delay an embryo's develop-
ment to ensure that it is born
at a favorable time. The
female produces one pup or,
Right: The
pup learns
about
hunting and
feeding from
its mother.
Here, off the
Californian
coast, a
female
teaches a pup
to crack open
a crab.
rarely, twins. She only has
room to nurse and support a
single pup on her chest while
swimming on her back.
The young otter, born on a
raised reef or in the ocean,
quickly swims. It learns to dive
at six weeks and begins to eat
the same food as the adult
otter. The young otter suckles
until fully grown at six to
eight months.
Below: The pup remains with its
mother in a territory shared with
other females
DID YOU KNOW? 1
A sea otter has been
known to dive 318 feet.
On the surface, a sea otter
swims up to one mile per
hour-beneath the water it
swims six times faster.
When sleeping the sea
otter often covers its eyes
with a paw.
The sea otter is the only
sea mammal that has no in-
sulating layer of fat. Instead,
it relies on its thick coat to
trap warm air that protects
it from ice-cold
SEA OTTER & MAN
The sea otter has one of the most
valuable coats of any mammal.
Hunted intensively from the mid-
eighteenth century, fewer than
2,000 sea otters remained
worldwide by 1910.
Protective legislation was
introduced and sea otter
numbers slowly increased to
100,000. Today pollution
threatens many of the sea
otter's remote habitats. In
1989 oil from the Exxon
Valdez tanker killed entire sea
otter colonies in Alaska. In
some parts of its range, the
otter must compete with
fishermen for food.
" CARD 140 I
SUN BEAR
, , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ORDER ~
'11IIIIIIII Carnivora '11IIIIIIII
FAMILY
Ursidae
GENUS & SPECIES
He/arctos ma/ayanus
The sun bear gets its name from the creamy yellow mark on its
chest. Also known as the Malayan bear, it is the smallest of its
family and is known for being a lover of honey.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body 3
1
/2-4
1
/2 ft.
Height to shoulder: 2
1
/2 ft.
Weight: 60-150 lb. Females are
smaller than males.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 3
years, but often does not mate
until 6 years. Male, 4 years.
Breeding season: Year-round.
Gestation: 96 days.
No. of young: 2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary. Young stay with
female for 1-2 years:
Diet: Fruit, honey, insects, small
mammals, birds, eggs.
Lifespan: Not known. Other
bears vary from 20-30 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The bear family has 7 species in 5
genera. The sun bear is the only
species in its genus.
FEATURES OF THE SUN BEAR
Range of the sun bear.
DISTRIBUTION
Tropical and subtropical forests of Burma, Sumatra,
Borneo, Thail and, Malaysia, and Indonesia. May be found
in southern China.
CONSERVATION
Numbers in the wild are not known, but the sun bear has
declined from habitat destruction. Hunting was once wide-
spread but has decreased.
Coat: The sun bear has short,
smooth fur, varying in color from
jet black to a brownish black. The
orangish yeHow chest marking
does not occur in all specimens.
Claws: Long and pointed for rip-
ping into the bark of trees
to uncover insects
and honey.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200311 PACKET 31
The small, thick-set sun bear is called
Biruang or Broeang by the people
of Malaysia and is also sometimes known
as the honey bear. Unlike most other bears
who are active during the day, the sun
bear rests in the sun in a temporary
nest in the trees.
~ HABITS
The adaptable sun bear lives
in mountainous, lowland, and
subtropical areas of its range.
It mainly inhabits forests and
climbs trees.
The sun bear is primarily
nocturnal and spends the day
sleeping in a tree in the sun. It
bends or breaks the branches
to form a nest 1 0 to 20 feet
above the ground, giving it a
good view of the forest .
The soles of the sun bear's
feet are long and hairless
with sickle-shaped claws.
These adaptations help it to
better grip the trunks of trees
when climbing.
In contrast, bears that stay
on the ground have feet with
hairy soles. The sun bear walks
strangely because its long,
clawed feet are turned in-
ward, making it appear bow-
legged as it walks.
The sun bear does not hiber-
nate (have a dormant period)
like other bears probably be-
cause of the unvarying mild
climate of its habitat. Still, it
adapts to a variety of habitats.
Right: The sun bear's turned-in
feet give it a bow-legged appear-
ance.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Although classed a carnivore,
the sun bear eats a wide vari-
ety of food, very little of
which is meat. It climbs trees
and rips out bees' nests with
its sharp claws. It sticks its mo-
bile snout and long, narrow
tongue in the nest to scoop
out the honey and grubs.
The sun bear also eats fruit
from treetops. It also dips its
paws into termite nests, lick-
ing off the termites and grubs
that stick to them. The sun
bear's only real meat comes
from small rodents and birds.
DID YOU KNOW?
The species is thought to
be intelligent: one sun bear
inserted a claw into a key
hole and turned it after
watching someone unlock
the door with a key.
Like a tree trunk, you can
count the rings of a sun
bear's tooth to tell its age.
Above: The sun bear's large
mouth has a long tongue, used for
scooping out honey and grubs.
l eft: The extremely shy sun bear is
hard to spot in the wild.
The sun bear has a highly
developed sense of smell
and a wet nose like a dog.
Sun bears also sit up and
sniff the air.
Bears walk or "hop" up
tree t runks when cl imbing;
they descend backward,
with thei r hind feet first.
~ SUN BEAR &: MAN
The Malaysian people con-
sider the shy sun bear friendly,
often keeping the animal as a
pet for children.
Malaysia once listed the sun
bear as big game for hunting,
but now it is protected in
many areas. Even so, some sun
bears are sold into the pet
trade. Many are also caught
~ BREEDING
The sun bear's cautious nature
makes it difficult to study its
breeding habits in the wild.
But it is known to be able to
mate at any time of the year
and is monogamous (mating
Above: A sun bear strikes the
water playfully.
in snares set for wild pigs.
Clearing of the sun bear's forest
habitats has caused the sun
bear population to decline.
Some once mistakenly
thought that sun bears could
not breed in captivity.
with one partner that it stays
with for the rest of its life).
A litter usually has two 10-
to 12-ounce cubs born on
the ground in a secluded
spot. The young remain
with the mother for some
time, learning hunting and
feeding skills from her.
Young sun bears are good
natured and playful, but
older sun bears often be-
come bad tempered and
dangerous.
Left: A sun bear spends its day
sleeping in the sun. It hunts at
night.