Transcript Rabbit
What they look like: Rabbits have brownish-gray fur and long, upright ears. In the wild, they can be between 8 and 20 inches long. They move by hopping. Where to find it: Rabbits like wooded areas or meadows. They live in groups in underground burrows or warrens. They can move very quickly and are often hard to spot. What it eats: Rabbits are herbivores who eat many different kinds of plants. Rabbit What eats it: Many animals eat rabbits including fox, coyote, and dogs. Interesting facts: • Baby rabbits are called kits and are born without fur and blind. • Pet rabbits can be litter box trained. • Rabbits have excellent eye sight. Meadow vole What it looks like: Meadow voles have black, brown, or grayish fur and bright, black eyes. They look similar to a mouse, but can be larger in size. Where to find it: Meadow voles live in grassy fields and along rivers. They build trails under grasses in order to move without being seen. They also build burrows underground. What it eats: Meadow voles eat mostly green plants over the summer. Their favorite is clover. In winter, they eat grains. What eats it: Herons, crows, snakes, hawks, owls, raccoons, snapping turtles, skunks, and cats all eat meadow voles. Interesting facts: • They can eat their weight in food every day. • A female meadow vole can have up to 11 litters a year. • They stamp their hind feet to warn others of danger. Japanese beetle What it looks like: Japanese beetles are iridescent green with brown wing covers. They have a hard body and legs that pinch. What eats it: Most animals will not eat a Japanese beetle. However, birds, skunks, raccoons, and other mammals will eat the grubs. Where to find it: Japanese beetles hatch during the summer. Before they hatch, they have spent the winter underground as white larvae (grubs). They particularly like rosebushes and fruit bushes. Interesting facts: • Japanese beetles are one of the most disliked insects because they are so destructive. • They were accidentally brought to the United States from Japan in 1916. What it eats: Japanese beetles eat the leaves of plants and trees. They will also eat fruit. Red-backed salamander What it looks like: Red backed salamanders can be 2 to 5 inches long. They are dark brown with a pinkish-red stripe all the way down their body. They are amphibians. Where to find it: Red backed salamanders like moist, humid areas. They bury under rotting leaves and loose soil. Sometimes they will climb a tree in search of food. During winter, red backed salamanders dig down nearly 15 inches into the soil. What it eats: They eat insects, larvae, mites, spiders, and slugs. What eats it: Birds, shrews, and snakes will eat red backed salamanders. Interesting facts: • Red backed salamanders never go through a swimming stage like most salamanders. They live all their lives on land. • They breathe through their skin. Snapping turtle What it looks like: Snapping turtles are large (8-18 inch shells) and have very long, thick tails. They have strong jaws and saw-edged shells. They look vicious! Where to find it: Snapping turtles live in ponds or lakes. They like ponds with muddy bottoms and lots of plants. What it eats: Snapping turtles will eat almost anything they can catch including fish, amphibians, and small mammals. They will also eat water plants. What eats it: The snapping turtle has no predators. Interesting facts: • The snapping turtle lures fish with its tongue that looks like a worm. • They bury themselves in the mud at the bottom of a pond with only their mouths visible. This is how they ambush their prey. • Many people eat turtle stew. Earthworm What they look like: Earthworms a large, grayish worms with segmented bodies. They have no legs or eyes. Where to find it: Earthworms like gardens and areas with loose soil and lots of plants. They need to be in moist areas as their skin dries out easily. What it eats: Earthworms eat decaying plants. They help loosen the soil and provide nutrients for growing plants. What eats it: Earthworms are eaten by birds, skunks, and raccoons. Interesting facts: • Earthworms are also called nightcrawlers. They are great for fishing bait. • Earthworms are not the best composting worms. • Red worms are annelids. All annelids have segmented bodies. Leeches are also annelids.