THE EVERGLADES

AND ITS WILDLIFE

" CARD 1
The Florida Everglades is a unique environment. Covering 13,000
square miles of varied habitats, it is home to an abundant
variety of wildlife, the most famous being the alligator.
s:J KEY FACTS
CLIMATE
The Florida Everglades is a
subtropical environment that
has two distinct seasons. The
summer wet season lasts
from May to October. Rain-
fall can be very heavy, and
the climate is warm and
humid. This moisture
encourages a multitude of
insects, which are a vital
element in the Everglades'
food chain. The area is also
frequently swept by hurri-
canes. The hurricanes can
cause extensive damage, but
they also keep the habitat
and environment in a healthy
state of change.
Winter is the dry season in
the Everglades. Without rain,
the water levels in the shallow
rivers and swamps fall dras-
tically. Those animals that
cannot migrate to escape
the drought, or those unable
to find a water hole, may die
in the long dry season. Some
small reptiles burrow deep
to wait out the drought sur-
rounded by moist mud.
CONSERVING THE EVERGLADES AND ITS WILDLIFE
The population of Florida has
grown enormously over the
last 50 years, and with it the
demands for water supply
have grown, too. Water is
needed for drinking, agricul-
ture, sewage dilution, and in-
dustrial purposes. Much of
the water in the Everglades is
being artificially drained and
diverted to serve the urban
population. This tug-of-war
between man and nature has
Right: This
cottonmouth
moccasin will
be unable to
escape the
droughts that
threaten the
Everglades.
Below left:
The great
egret was once
hunted for its
long, white
plume
feathers.
put the Everglades habitat
and its wildlife in great
danger .
The Everglades is, essen-
tially, a drainage area. North-
ern rainfall slowly filters south,
feeding and giving life to the
region. The loss of water in
the Everglades is threatening
the survival of wildlife in this
delicate ecosystem.
In 1947, Everglades Na-
tional Park was established.
Although the park covers only
MCMXCIIMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILET'" PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Above: Cypress tree forests
depend on heavy annual rainfall.
2,020 square miles in the
southernmost Everglades,
the park's management has
become increasingly con-
cerned about the survival of
the entire region and its in-
habitants. One of its aims is
to protect the endangered
species, which include the
Florida panther, the mana-
tee, the green sea turtle, the
loggerhead turtle, the pere-
grine falcon, the Cape Sable
sparrow, and others.
0160200031 PACKET 3a
The Everglades contains a variety of habitats,
from marshy grasslands to pine forests and wide,
shallow rivers that flow south toward the sea.
It supports over 300 different species of bird
and is home to many other kinds of rare wildlife.
~ ORIGINS & FEATURES
When the last ice age began,
the oceans started to recede,
and the area that is now
southern Florida was formed.
Today, this area is known as
the Everglades.
The Everglades is character-
ized by prairies of tall
sawgrass that grow in
swampy, shallow water.
Sawgrass can grow up to 12
feet high. During the rainy
season, a river 50 miles wide
and only 6 inches deep flows
south through the tall
sawgrass toward the sea.
~ MANGROVE SWAMPS
An area of mangrove swamp
begins where the Everglades
meet Florida Bay. This group
of small islands surrounded
by mangrove trees forms the
ocean boundary of the
Everglades and fills a vital role
in protecting the coast from
storms. These swamps harbor
many types of marine organ-
isms, including mullet,
snapper, stone crabs, shrimp,
and spiny lobsters, as well as
many of the larger water birds
such as the brown pelican,
roseate spoonbill, osprey, and
Left: The shy
manatee feeds
on plant life in
shallow
coastal waters.
Right: The
spectacular
roseate
spoonbill gets
its name from
its long,
spatulate bill.
~ HAMMOCKS
Hardwood hammocks are small
islands found in the freshwater
plains of the Everglades. They
consist of hardwood tropical
trees and smaller plants that
grow about 10 feet above the
water level and the rest of the
terrain.
The wildlife that lives in and
near hammocks includes the
colorful Liguus tree snail, the
weaver spider, and the barred
owl, which comes out at night
to hunt.
~ PINELANDS
Thirty types of native plant
grow in the pine forest.
Naturally-occurring fires
periodically rejuvenate the
soil. White-tailed deer,
opossum, raccoon, and the
endangered Florida panther
are found here.
heron. Sea turtles, sharks,
porpoises, and the endan-
gered manatee also enjoy the
abundant food supply found
in the swamp.
Above: The mangrove swamps
provide a rich environment for
much wildlife.
~ FRESHWATER SLOUGH
These areas of slow-moving,
shallow river run through the
interior of the Everglades and
out into Florida Bay. These
rivers act as a reservoir,
o
I
12 ft .
I
Mangrove
Cypress forests
Pinelands
Coastal prairie
supplying water in the dry
season. Alligators, otters,
turtles, fish, marsh rabbits,
herons, anhingas, egrets, snail
kites, and purple gallinules are
tricolored
heron stalks
patiently
through the
undergrowth
for its prey.
Left: The
anhinga dries
its wings after
diving for fish.
Freshwater slough wI hardwood hammocks
Freshwater slough
some of the animals that
frequent the sloughs, which
run on a gradient so slight
that the water often seems
not to flow at all.
~ THE ALLI GATOR
The alligator is the best known
of all the Everglades wildlife.
One of the region's great
predators, it is also sometimes
called "Keeper of the Ever-
glades" because of the impor-
tant functions it performs.
When the water level falls in the
dry season, the alligator locates
dried-up water holes, known as
gator holes, and, using its
powerful claws, digs down until
it finds water. Other species use
the hole as well, and, after a
time, the area is teeming with
wildlife that might otherwise
perish in the drought condi-
tions.
The alligator also keeps the
narrow channels that run
through the swamps from
getting clogged up. It dredges
them with its snout and rips out
vegetation with its claws.
During the breeding season
from May to June, the female
alligator builds a large nest,
about 3-4 feet high and 6-8
feet wide. These nests are also
used by other animals, since
they are always built near water.
"" CARD 2
THE FARM AND ITS WILDLIFE
Wildlife has always used farms for food and shelter. But in the
last SO years, modern farming practices have forced
many of these animals to find new homes.
KEY FACTS
THE MODERN FARM AND ITS EFFECT ON WILDLIFE
Habitat destruction
Modern farming methods
have resulted in the destruc-
tion of habitats that had sup-
ported wildlife for centuries.
An area of heavily farmed
arable (fertile) land supports
less wildlife today than an
equal area of urban land does.
Unlike the once-common,
small, mixed-use farm, the
modern farm uses farming
methods that change too
rapidly for local wildlife to
adjust. Drainage systems that
enable more farmland to be
cultivated are destroying wet-
land areas that provided habi-
tats for birds and butterflies.
Specialization in one type of
crop or livestock has increased
the use of chemical herbi-
Right: Farmland
ponds, such as
this one, are
once again
being encour-
aged to flourish.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Left: Huge
single-crop
fields do not
have the
variety of
vegetation
. needed to
support
stable wildlife
habitats.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Left: Heavy
equipment
destroys field
mammals.
Below: New
farming tech-
niques require
extensive use of
chemicals.
cides, pesticides, and fertilizers,
making wildlife habitats unliv-
able. The enlargement of field
areas and use of huge equip-
ment have led to the destruc-
tion of the shrubs and trees
that once contained abundant
animal and plant wildlife.
Caring for wildlife
An increasing awareness of the
benefits of organic (chemical-
free) farming has resulted in
the recent growth of small
farms. Many farmers actually
encourage some species of
wildlife to live on these farms.
By deliberately not cultivating
strips of land along the edges
of fields and under natural
shrubs, these farmers are
creating new habitat corri-
dors for wildlife.
0160200261 PACKET 26
Farming IS patchwork fields and barnyard
animals have almost disappeared.
Modern farming techniques have had
a great impact on t"e surrounding countryside
and its inhabitants. But a recent return to organic
farming has helped a variety of wildlife
become reestablished.
~ MAMMALS
Farmers once widely considered
the rabbit to be a pest, even
though they used the animal's
skin and ate its meat. But today,
rabbits are again becoming
common on farms. And foxes
still live around the edges of
farms, where they scavenge and
feed on rabbits and chickens.
common shrew are becoming
rarer in open farmland because
of habitat loss. The use of huge
harvesting machinery also kills
many field mammals, including
the harvest mouse. This rodent is
now more commonly seen
along roadsides, where the
vegetation that it needs to
survive still flourishes.
~ B I R D S
Farm buildings provide both
permanent and temporary nest
sites for many species of birds,
especially swallows and house
martins. The predatory barn
owls use barns and other large
buildings for both roosts and
nest sites. But these birds are
becoming rare as a result of the
reduction of the small mammal
~ INSECTS
In spite of the heavy use of
chemicals in modern farming
techniques, insect life remains
abundant on farms. Just
beneath the surface of culti-
vated soil are worms and
various species of beetle.
Cockroaches are common in
farm buildings. Beetle larvae
eat cereal crops, while the adults
cause damage to fruit trees.
Front cover inset left: Nesting
barn owls. Right: Harvest mice
nibble on crops.
populations on which they
feed. Also, many barns have
recently been converted into
housing.
Shrubbery provides food and
shelter for a variety of birds.
Colonies of crows nest in tall
trees, favoring elm and oak,
which are also home to pigeons
and doves.
~ PLANTS
Once common, the par-
tridge's numbers are now de-
cl ining in areas of large-scale
fa rming. Crop stubble burning
after harvest, the use of pesti-
cides, and the loss of natural
shrubbery are all contri buting
factors to its decrease.
Some bi rds pick up worms
from freshly plowed soi l.
Outlying farm shrubbery hide from their predators and to
contains a variety of trees and build their dens.
bushes. Many hedges mark In spite of the widespread
land boundaries that have use of chemicals, large equip-
existed for hundreds of years. ment, and new harvesting
Shrubbery provides protection methods, some wild-flowering
from the wind for the fields. But plants survive and even flourish
it also supports hundreds of plant from year to year. For ex-
species that provide food for the ample, poppies and daisies
butterflies of this habitat. Small _ add bright splashes of color to
mammals use the shrubbery to the landscape.
~
KEY TO SPECIES
1 Crane fly
2 Beetle
3 Cockroach
4 Earthworm
5 Swallow
6 Tortoiseshell butterfly
7 Finch
8 Rabbit
9 Hare
10 Crow
11 Partridge
12 Fox
13 House martin
14 Blackbird
15 Common shrew
16 Peacock butterfly
17 Yellowhammer
18 Harvest mouse
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
AND ITS WILDLIFE
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Mississippi River is one of the world ~ great commercial
waterways. It flows from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico,
through cotton fields, swamps, and marshland.
KEY FACTS
IN THE BAYOU
The appearance of a bayou, or
creek, depends on the amount
of water in the area. Some
bayous are as broad as small
rivers; other bayous are narrow
enough for Spanish moss on
bankside trees to form a canopy
above them. In northern areas
with low water levels, black
willows and cottonwood trees
grow along bayou banks, while
hardwood trees such as red oak
and hickory flourish nearby.
Further south, the land level
is below the water level, so
the bayous become swamps.
These areas are densely cov-
ered with bald cypresses and
tupelo gum trees. The water
surface is green with duck-
weed, which is one of the
world's smallest flowering
A DEADLY FLOWER
Hibiscus, spider lilies, and wild
irises are colorful bayou
flowers, but water hyacinths
are even more spectacular.
Introduced to New Orleans as
an ornamental plant in 1884,
the water hyacinth spread
rapidly. Dense layers of water
hyacinth now stretch across
plants. Close to the Gulf of
Mexico, bayou land is marshy.
BAYOU WILDLIFE
The alligator was hunted almost
to extinction earlier this cen-
tury. Now it is protected, and
its population is gradually in-
creasing. Other bayou animals
include the squirrel, swamp
rabbit, raccoon, nutria, and
muskrat. There are many snake
species, including the copper-
head and coachwhip. Bullfrogs,
green frogs, and cricket frogs
come out at night. Great egrets
inhabit the marshes near the
Gulf of Mexico. In winter blue
geese and snow geese arrive.
Right: The Mississippi River starts
in north Minnesota and flows
2,400 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.
many bayous. Though pretty,
the plant endangers wildlife
by clogging the waterways,
choking other plants, and
depriving water creatures of
essential sunl ight.
Water hyacinths reproduce
by seed and by root off-
shoots. They can double in
number every two weeks,
even though 95 percent of
their seeds lie dormant and
do not germinate for up to 20
years. The water hyacinth is
very difficult and expensive to
control.
Left: The water hyacinth blocks
sunlight from vegetation and
animals in the bayous.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U,S, A,
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WISCONSIN
MINNESOTA
IOWA
ILLINOIS
MISSOURI
'- '- '- '- '- '-'- '- '- '_ ._ '- \
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Gulf of Mexico
0160200371 PACKET 37
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The Mississippi River feeds hundreds of
smaller waterways as it flows through Louisiana.
These waterways in turn provide habitats
for many animal and bird species. Today,
the entire area is threatened by chemical pollution.
Another danger comes from the fast-growing
water hyacinth, which blocks sunlight.
~ O R I G I N S
Together, the Mississippi River
and the Missouri River, one of
its tributaries, form the third
longest river system in the
world, flowing for a total of
3,700 miles. Other main trib-
utaries include the Ohio and
Arkansas rivers. Originating
in northern Minnesota, the
Mississippi flows nearly 2,400
miles to the Gulf of Mexico.
It empties some 800 billion cu-
bic feet of water into the Gulf
each year.
Steamboats have navigated
the Mississippi since the 1820s,
and today this river is one of
the world's busiest commercial
waterways. Its lower parts are
subject to serious flooding, and
Right: The
great egret
breeds in the
Mississippi
marshlands.
Front inset
left: A bullfrog
hides in a
marshy bank.
Front inset
right: The
nutria feeds on
riverbank
vegetation.
its banks are strengthened by
artificial embankments called
levees. Natural levees form
when the river overflows and
sediment builds into a ridge.
In Louisiana the Mississippi
feeds hundreds of small water-
ways called bayous. The name
comes from bayuk, which is
the native Choctaw Indian
word for" creek."
The Mississippi drains into
the Gulf of Mexico through
the Atchafalaya River. This river
acts as a distributary (an outlet
that drains a larger river into
the sea). As these two rivers
approach the sea, the land
becomes mostly freshwater
swamp and saltwater marsh.
~ THE FERTILE DELTA
For most of its length, the
Mississippi is a wide and fast-
flowing river that carries a
large quantity of alluvium
(particles of rock, sand, silt,
and clay). As the river nears
the sea, the water begins to
slow down and alluvium de-
posits are left behind. Over
time the sediment has built
up and forced the water into
a series of channels that fan
out toward the sea in a tri-
angular shape called a delta.
The alluvium deposited over
the Mississippi's flood plain
has created rich, fertile land
that is perfect for growing
cotton. The coast is rich in
marine life, and the flood
plain supports many different
bird species, including the
great egret.
Right: The alligator snapping
turtle eats anything it can catch
with its hooked jaws.
Left: An
alligator
defends its
brood on the
flood plains.
Right: Red-
winged black-
birds nest in
dense reeds
along the
Mississippi
riverbank.
~ WILDLIFE OF THE MISSISSIPPI
One of the Mississippi's most
unusual inhabitants is the pad-
dlefish, which has a spatula-
shaped snout. This fish gathers
plankton by swimming close
to the surface with its mouth
wide open. Paddlefish may
have existed 80 million years
ago. They were once common
in the Mississippi valley, but
commercial river traffic has
made them scarce.
The alligator gar is a 10-foot-
long fish that has armored
scales and huge jaws with
sharp, closely set teeth. It preys
on all kinds of water life, in-
Left: The muskrat eats riverside
reeds. It also uses them to build
a large nest.
cluding small- and medium-
size alligators. The huge fish
waits motionlessly for prey to
pass and then lunges, crushing
its prey with its jaws.
On the riverbed the alligator
snapping turtle lies in wait for
fish. A brightly colored lure
attached to its tongue entices
prey into its mouth.
Birds on the river include the
great blue heron, the purple
gallinule, the red-winged
blackbird, and the pied-billed
grebe, whose bill is specially
adapted for catching crayfish.
The brown pelican, Louisiana's
state bird, is endangered
because of heavy pesticide
levels in the fish it eats.
THE GRAND CANYON
AND ITS WILDLIFE
"" CARD 4
Carved over millions of years by the powerful Colorado River, the
Grand Canyon spans miles. One mile deep, hot and arid for much of
its length, the canyon contains a variety of plants and animals.
KEY FACTS
HOW THE GRAND CANYON WAS FORMED
Pacific
Ocean
United States
The Colorado River formed the
Grand Canyon much as a small
stream washes out a gully along
a muddy footpath, but it took
10 million years to do.
Weather also plays a role.
Water frozen in small rock
cracks flakes away the stone.
And lichens bite into the rock,
forming soil so plant roots can
crumble the rock.
But the river has had the
greatest effect on the Grand
Canyon's formation. It was
named colorado, Spanish for
"red colored," because of the
large amount of red silt it
carries. This stony material has
steadily scoured and gouged
out the Grand Canyon.
Right: The Grand Canyon plunges to
a depth of 5,280 ft.-more than five
times the height of the Eiffel Tower
(984 ft.) in Paris.
EVOLUTION AT WORK IN THE GRAND CANYON
The canyon is less than six
miles wide at points, but some
areas span up to 18 miles from
rim to rim. This enormous
chasm is a barrier to many
animals and has affected their
evolution.
For example, the Abert
squirrel, with its white belly
and gray tail, lives on the
south side. The Kaibab squirrel,
with a black belly and white
tail, lives on the north rim.
Apart from these differences,
the squirrels are very similar.
Once one species, the two
squirrels can no longer inter-
breed because of changes in
vegetation. Both species of
squirrel feed on the tips of the
ponderosa pine, which dis-
appeared in the canyon dur-
ing the last Ice Age. Unable to
cross the treeless canyon, the
two species have become
isolated on their separate rims.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Grand Canyon rim: 5,280 ft .
r
I
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Grand Canyon flool - J
0160200301 PACKET 30
The Grand Canyon in Arizona is
the largest natural gorge in the world. Its
forested rims may be thick with snow in winter
but none will reach the bottom. The enormous depth
creates a range of climates from dry subtropical
to arctic-alpine, and each region has its
own special plants and animals.
~ THE FORESTED RIM
The Grand Canyon is a giant
river valley one mile deep, 280
miles long, covering 1,920
square miles, and at its widest,
reaches 18 miles rim to rim.
Along the rim, Ponderosa
and dwarf pinyon pines grow
Front cover insets: Scorpion
(left) and short-horned lizard
(right) of the Grand Canyon.
in the Arizona desert among
cacti and yucca. Junipers
support gray mistletoe berries,
and Gambel oaks spread their
roots to find moisture.
The red-tailed hawk and
golden eagle soar over the
forest while carpenter ants eat
rotting wood. The short-
horned lizard eats the ants.
~ LOWER SLOPES
The changes in vegetation
become apparent down in
the canyon. The forest
gradually changes to more
stunted juniper and pinyon
bushes, and cacti abound.
In arid places, cacti soak up
and store water. Their spines
are modified leaves that
retain water and keep birds
from damaging the water-
filled cactus body. In this
terrain the cacomistle, a cat-
like raccoon, lives in rock
crevices. Porcupines are
sometimes seen, and the
gray fox hunts rock squirrels.
Left: Deeply eroded pinnacles and
the remnants of lava flows.
Right: The Arizona chuckwalla, a
plant-eating lizard, basks in the
canyon's intense heat.
Left: The
Abert, or
tassel-eared,
squirrel lives
on the south
canyon rim. It
evolved from
the same
ancestor as the
rare Kaibab
squirrel on the
north rim (see
back cover).
Left: High on
the canyon rim
carpenter ants
devour a
caterpillar.
Below: A
sapsucker drills
a tree trunk and
drinks the sap
leaking out.
~ THE CANYON FLOOR
Temperatures reach 120F in
the shade on the Grand Can-
yon's desert floor. Heat ra-
diated from rocks keeps the
night air a warm 86J.
Feathery tamarisks, maiden-
hair ferns, and crimson mon-
key flowers grow along the
river and creeks. Waterfalls
spouting from rock faces form
gardens of green ferns and
mosses that the chuckwalla, a
two-foot-Iong lizard, feeds on.
When frightened, it hides in a
crevice, gulping air to swell up
and wedge itself in tightly.
Large, brightly colored
Left: The cacomistle hunts
rodents and lizards by night in
the conyon. This solitary mammal
has changed little over the last 10
million years.
lizards feed on insects. Scorpi-
ons hunt at night, stinging
their prey and sucking the
juices from its body.
A pink subspecies of the
western rattlesnake is found
only in the canyon, where its
coloring conceals it against the
rocks. It preys on small mam-
mals and reptiles.
The few small mammals
living here emerge in the
cooler night. Pocket mice,
kangaroo rats, and spotted
skunks find food in the rocks.
Larger predators in the canyon
include the lynx, coyote, wolf,
and mountain lion, or puma.
Mule deer and bighorn sheep
eat the sparse vegetation.
Flocks of various species
of bird feed near the water.
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
AND THEIR WILDLIFE
'" CARD 5
" GROUP 9: NORTH AMERICAN HABITATS ~ .
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~
The awesome Rocky Mountains form the Continental Divide
in the western United States and Canada.
They are called the backbone of North America.
KEY FACTS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE
MAMMALS: Grizzly bear,
black bear, brown bear,
pronghorn, bighorn, lynx,
coyote, wolverine, muskrat,
marten, porcupine, red
squirrel, gopher, pika,
jumping mouse, lemming
mouse, raccoon, chipmunk,
flying squirrel, jackrabbit, elk
(wapiti), beaver, wolf, moun-
tain goat.
BIRDS: Western bluebird,
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESOURCES
WATER: Water is in short
supply in the Rockies, espe-
cially in the south, where the
climate is dry. Many reser-
voirs have been built, but few
suitable dam sites are left and
it may be necessary to import
water from the Columbia
River and western Canada.
OIL AND GAS: Wyoming,
New Mexico, Montana, Colo-
rado, and Utah all have oil
and gas fields in the Rockies.
COAL: The Rockies contain
the Western Hemisphere's
richest coal reserves, and coal
is a common energy source.
METALS AND NONMETALS:
Copper and iron ore are
mined extensively in the
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
hermit thrush, brown
creeper, pine grosbeak, gray
jay, western screech-owl,
sage grouse, golden eagle.
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS:
Rattlesnake, salamander.
Rockies. There are also silver,
gold, lead, and zinc mines.
Nearly all of North America's
uranium is produced in the
Rockies. Nonmetallic reserves
include potash, magnesium,
gypsum, limestone, and
dolomite.
Below: Mount Robson in Canada
is part of the Rocky Mountains.
0160200341 PACKET 34
The enormous peaks and deep valleys that
make up the Rocky Mountain range stretch
more than 3/000 mi/es/ from icy Alaska to
warmer New Mexico. They are home to a wide
variety of plants and animals.
~ FEATURES
For mountains, the Rockies
are relatively young. They
were created by changes in
the earth's 'crust about 65
million years ago, at the end
of the Cretaceous period.
The Rocky Mountain system
is divided into four sections:
the Arctic Rockies, northern
Rockies, middle Rockies, and
~ MAMMALS
The animal species found in a
given area of the Rockies de-
pends on the elevation and
latitude. The wolf, for exam-
ple, is found only in the Arctic
Rockies, and the caribou lives
only in the Arctic and north-
ern Canadian Rockies. Ani-
mals living at high altitudes
include deer, bears, antelope,
foxes, elk (wapiti), moose,
marmots, and bighorn sheep.
Coyotes, jackrabbits, and
prairie dogs can be found at
lower elevations.
With their abundance of
grizzly bears, moose, and
bison, the Rockies once at-
tracted many hunters. Now
hunting is strictly regulated
to protect the wildlife.
Front cover: Rocky Mountain
National Park in Colorado.
Front cover inset: Timber wolves
in the Canadian Rockies.
southern Rockies. These areas
vary in height from 1,000
to 15,000 feet and in width
from 100 to 400 miles. As a
whole, the Rocky Mountain
range is made up of many tall
peaks, plateaus, and, in the
far northwest, low hills. Much
of the range is now protected
as national park.
~ VEGETATION
In the Rockies the tree line
(the highest altitude at which
trees will grow) ranges from
2,500 feet in the icy Yukon
territory to 12,000 feet in
more temperate New Mex-
ico. Just below those areas
that are covered permanently
with snow, the forests are
made up of pine, spruce, and
fir trees. At lower elevations
they also include birch,
beech, and cherry trees.
Knee-high willows cover
much of the Arctic Rockies,
and mature willows and
cottonwoods grow beside
streams. Above the tree line,
lichen, saxifrage, columbine,
larkspur, and other alpine
plants abound.
Left: Denali National Park in the
Alaskan Rockies.
Below left: A marmot perches on
a ledge overlooking the Rocky
Mountains.
~ BIRDS
Many birds in the Rockies are
migratory. In winter they
include three-toed wood-
peckers, white-tailed ptar-
migan, and certain finches.
In summer various thrushes,
finches, sparrows, wrens, and
hummingbirds arrive. Per-
manent residents include the
mountain bluebird, the pine
grosbeak, Swainson's thrush,
and the western screech-owl.
~ I )
The Rocky Mountains
extend from Alaska
through Canada to New
Mexico and connect
with mountains in
Mexico. At 20,320 feet
Mount McKinley in
Alaska is the highest
peak in the Rockies.
Canada
USA
D Area of Rockies
Above: The Rockies divide the
continent into westward- and
eastward-flowing waters.
Left: A male mountain bluebird
carrying a morsel of food returns
to its nest in the Rocky Mountains
of Colorado.
Below: The bighorn lives on the
steep slopes of the Rockies at high
altitudes.
~ ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Rocky Mountain National
Park is a beautifully preserved
580-square-mile wilderness
area located in north central
Colorado. It contains glaciers,
lakes, streams, waterfalls, and
more than 100 peaks 10,000
feet or higher.
The tree line is 1 1,000 feet
above sea level, and in sum-
mer the entire park is ablaze
with wildflowers.
Animals living in the park
include beavers, deer, black
bears, bison, mountain lions,
bobcats, and coyotes. It is
one of the few places where
you can see flocks of bighorn
(mountain sheep) in their
native habitat.
A number of trails crisscross
the park, but there are very
few roads. Although there are
a few cabins and campsites, it
is an almost totally natural
environment.
THE LOUISIANA SWAMP
AND ITS WILDLIFE
CARD 6 ]
l ... ,.\:.. I ; "I' ' ,,. ,.' . . .' ' .. ,. ,
Where the Mississippi River flows through Louisiana to the Gulf of
Mexico, it forms a large area of swamps. A variety of plants,
birds, and mammals inhabit this rich wetland environment.
CONSERVATION

THREATS TO THE LOUISIANA SWAMPS
The location of the Louisiana
swamps around the Gulf of
Mexico exposes them each
year to hurricanes and torna-
does. These natural events,
which can be devastating, are
small compared to the long-
term problems created by
man-made disasters that also
affect this area.
The salt marshes are vulner-
able to oil spillage from the
drilling rigs in the Gulf. Oil
coats plants and wildlife,
causing immediate damage
and upsetting the delicate
balance of the food chain.
Inland, swamps are being
reclaimed for agriculture.
THE BROWN PELICAN
The brown pelican, the state
symbol of Louisiana, was
once a common sight in the
salt marshes at the mouth of
the Mississippi. In the early
1 960s, however, it mysteri-
United States
Gulf of MeXICO
ously disappeared from the
area. Scientists later discov-
ered that pesticides such as
DDT had washed into the
river and entered the food
chain, accumulating in the
Left: The brown
pelican attains
full adult
plumage and
head markings
when it is three
years old.
Right: With
reintroduction
and careful
protection, the
brown pelican
population is
gradually
recovering from
its extinction in
the Louisiana
saltmarshes in
the 1960s.
LOUISIANA
MISSISSIPPI
Delfa
MISSISSIPPI
pelican by way of its fish l
prey. The chemicals gradu-
ally damaged the bird's brain
and other organs, causing
death. They also weakened
the pelicanj egg shells,
making them more likely to
break before the young birds
could hatch.
The pelican is being rein-
troduced into nature reserves
but its recovery is slow.
IDMf:MXf:1 IMP RV/ IMP INf: WII nl IFF FAf:T FII p M 11\1 II "
Over many years, the Mississippi River
has deposited sediment at its mouth in Louisiana.
This has built up a low-lying landscape of small
creeks-called bayous-and swamps, both
freshwater and saltmarsh. The swampland
area forms wetland habitats supporting
. a great range of wildlife.
MAMMALS
The raccoon is very skilled at
catching fish, crayfish, frogs,
and salamanders. The Ameri-
can mink has a similar diet,
with the addition of birds and
mice. Its larger cousin, the
river otter, is a rare sight.
Other large predatory mam-
mals such as the bobcat and
cougar are also elusive. The
black bear is even rarer. It has
been saved from extinction in
Louisiana only by the introduc-
tion of cubs from Minnesota
into the area.
The muskrat, a large rodent,
builds a lodge like the beaver's
out of reeds and twigs above
the water line, with an en-
Front insets: The red-winged
blackbird and green tree frog are
common in the swamps.
trance below water level. A
similar animal from South
America, the coypu, or nutria,
escaped from fur farms in the
area and is now flourishing.
In the swamps, the white-
tailed deer has larger hoofs
than normal to cope with
muddy ground. The cypress
swamp is also home to the
flying squirrel that glides from
tree to tree.
In the forests surrounding
the swamp lives the common
opossum-one of only a few
marsupials (mammals whose
young develop inside the
mother's pouch) to live
outside Australia.
Below: The muskrat feeds in water
and, like the beaver, builds its home
there as well.
REPTILES
Once quite rare, the alligator is
returning in numbers now that
hunting it is illegal. The alliga-
tor lays its eggs in a nest of
mud and grass. The mother
helps the young out of the
nest after they hatch.
Other reptiles include ven-
omous snakes such as the cop-
perhead and cottonmouth, as
well as harmless water snakes.
The snapping turtle and map
turtle (named for markings on
its shell that resemble a map)
also live in the marshes. Am-
phibians are also numerous,
including several frog species.
Right: The wetlands provide
ideal conditions for the alligator,
now recovering its numbers.
AQUATIC ANIMALS
The coastal marshes of Louisi-
ana are important nurseries
for shrimp, channel bass, and
sea trout, which breed and
mature here before swim-
ming out to open sea.
Moving inland through the
salt and freshwater marshes,
the species change with the
water salinity (salt level),
since fish, crabs, oysters, and
shrimp all prefer different
conditions. The aquatic
animals of the swamps pro-
vide a rich food supply for
predators, including humans.
Crayfish are considered a lo-
cal delicacy, although sup-
plies are dwindling. Fishermen
also catch freshwater fish such
as channel catfish and bluegill .
Right: The crayfish is a popular
food item with mammals, birds,
and humans alike.

The "Mississippi Flyway" is a
huge migration route that
passes through the open
marshes of Louisiana. In win-
ter, a half million blue and
snow geese fly in from Arctic
breeding grounds. Other win-
tering species include the
Canada goose, mallard, ring-
Left: The Louisiana heron spends
the summer in the swamps and
winters further south.

The bayous meander through
cypress swamps where trees
such as bald cypress and
tupelo gum support other
plants: tree orchids, ferns, and
Spanish moss.
necked duck, pintail, and
shoveler.
Summer migrants include
the snowy egret, green her-
on, Louisiana heron, ibis,
roseate spoonbill, least bit-
tern, and darter. Smaller
species such as warblers and
hummingbirds spend the
summer in the woods, while
other birds just stop over in
the swamps on their way
farther north.
Insect-eating plants such as
the sundew and pitcher plant
live underneath the trees. The
water hyacinth, a species from
South America, grows rapidly
and can clog bayous.
\
THE NORTH AMERICAN
PRAIRIE AND ITS WILDLIFE
'" CARD 7
The prairies of North America stretch from Canada to the Gulf of
Mexico. Once teeming with huge herds of bison, little of the
original prairie has survived the growth of fanning and ranching.
KEY FACTS
THE BISON-A SYMBOL OF THE PRAIRIES
Numbering about 60 million
in the eighteenth century, by
the 1900s the bison popula-
tion had been hunted down
to about 1,000.
The plains Indians who re-
lied on bison meat and skins
for every necessity of life
killed relatively few animals
and did not impact the bi-
CLIMATE
Because the prairies are so
vast, the climate can be
extreme. In summer, con-
ditions are similar to those
of the hot African grass-
lands, while chill winds,
frost, and drifting snow
are usual winter weather.
On the Canadian prairies,
for example, there may be
son's survival. But the com-
ing of settlers meant that
millions of bison were killed
for sport and food.
Twentieth-century breeding
and protection efforts have
brought the bison's numbers
back up to about 50,000.
Right: A bison braves the winter
in Yellowstone National Park.
a 120
0
difference between
summer and winter tempera-
tures.
Little rain and strong winds
are major factors of the
prairie's landscape. Winds
promote evaporation, which
reduces humidity-essential
for trees. High winds also
weaken saplings and prevent
Clockwise from
left: Springtime
in Texas;
summer grasses
on the plains;
winter frost in
Yellowstone
National Park;
autumn in South
Dakota.
MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
them from competing with
low-growing vegetation, such
as grasses that are anchored
by deep roots.
In the 1930s, the prairie
weather became increasingly
hot and dry and much of the
tall grass died, forcing ani-
mals to travel long distances
to find food.
0160200201 PACKET 20
The prairie grasslands are home to a
wide range of animals and their predators.
Rodents, reptiles, invertebrates, and insects live
among the grasses, and birds swoop down
in search of smaller creatures.
THE PRAIRIE LANDSCAPE
The prairies stretch for about
, ,800 miles from southern
Canada to southern Texas, and
from t he Mississippi River west
to the Rocky Mountains.
The ri ch and fertile soil of the
prairie once supported vast
Front inset left: The greater
prairie c icken.
areas of rolling grassland but
are now used primarily for
ranching.
Types of grasses making up
the prairie landscape change
from area to area. The tall
grasses of the eastern area
are switch or panic grass, big
bluestem, and slough grass.
Th grasses grow three
ANIMAL LIFE OF THE PRAIRIES
Many of the prairie's larger
animals have been replaced
by grazing domestic herds.
Still, the prairies support
many varied species. The
pronghorn was once found in
as large a number as the
inches to one foot high in
meadows dotted with an
occasional tree such as oak.
Farther west, there are fewer
trees and the tall grasses are
mixed with short grasses such
as little blue-stem. In Texas,
species of setaria grass
flourish . In Texas's warm
climate, there may be as
bison was. It now lives pri-
marily in protected prairie
reserves.
The prairie dog lives under-
ground in a network of tun-
nels and chambers, comi ng
out during the day to feed.
many as 200 species of
fl owering plants growing in
600 acres of prairie while
further north the same space
may only support 50 species.
Trees and shrubs are scarce
on the prairies, but a variety
of low-growing and flower-
ing plants are abundant.
Its many predators include
the coyote, the black-footed
ferret, the fox, and the
g o ~ d e n eagle.
The most common prairie
animal, Richardson's ground
squirrel, has adapted well to
PRAIRIE BIRDLIFE
Because of widespread habi-
tat damage due to huge
herds of grazing cattle, typi-
cal prairie birds such as the
greater prairie chicken and
the masked bobwhite are
declining in number.
Still, many birds such as the
9
heavily grazed areas. Wide-
spread, too, are the prairie
vole, the plains pocket go-
pher, muskrat, both the
black- and the white-tailed
jackrabbit, and the prairie
rattlesnake.
lark bunting and the bo-
bolink t hrive on the heavily
cultivated land of the prairi e,
as do larger birds like the
golden eagle, the red-tai led
hawk, and the prairie falcon.
They prey on small birds,
insects, and small mammals.
KEY TO SPECIES
1 Golden eagle
2 Red-tailed hawk
3 Black-tailed jackrabbit
4 Richardson's ground
squirrel
Black-footed ferret
Bison
Bull snake
Masked bobwhite
Prairie falcon
10 Pronghorn
11 Prairie dog
12 Greater prairie chicken
" CARD 8
WILDLIFE OF THE CITY
Full of concrete, cars, and crowds, cities do not seem like
promising places for wildlife. Yet a surprising number of wild
plants and animals thrive in the center of these artificial jungles.
KEY FACTS
Roads, railroads, canals, and
rivers form links between
cities and rural areas. Plants
and animals live and move
along these corridors.
A rough mix of scrub, tall
herbs, and common species
such as oat grass, cocksfoot,
bindweed, and bramble
grow undisturbed along
WHEN TO SEE THE SPECIES
PLANTS
Mugwort
Bird's-foot trefoil
Iris
Reedmace
Cock's foot
Bindweed
Water milfoil
Hornwort
Buddleia
Oxford ragwort
INSECTS
Dragonfly
Small tortoiseshell
Cockroach
Common blue
AMPHIBIANS
Frog
Toad
railway cuttings and embank-
ments. Warblers, finches, and
familiar garden birds nest
among the scrub. Small ani-
mals live in herbs and grasses
along railroads and road-
sides. The kestrel, hovering
overhead, hunts them.
In clean waterways aquatic
insects live in plants such as
BIRDS
Magpie
Kestrel
Black-headed gull
Wren
Song thrush
Blackbird
Left: Canals
provide pro-
tection for
wildlife, such as
this kingfisher,
below.
water milfoil, hornwort, and
pondweed, attracting eels
and fish such as roach, perch,
and pike.
In winter kingfishers fly
along water corridors into
cities to avoid the colder rural
areas and to hunt small fish.
Great crested grebe
Great tit
Heron
Kingfisher
House martin
Willow warbler
Li nnet
MAMMALS
Pipistrelle bat
Hedgehog
Fox
House mouse
Field vole
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200331 PACKET 33
People often think of cities as uniform and
gray, but they actually contain a complicated ~
u::
- -p-a-t-te-r-n-o- f-h-a-b-i-ta-t- s-. -Th - e- h-ea- r-t-o-f-a- ci- ty- is-u-s-u-a-II-y--I
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
typified by tall, cliff/ike buildings, separated by ~ .
--------- --- - --- --------0
a few open lots, and most cities are ringed u '
~
--- ----- - - ----- ---- - ----m
by leafy suburbs full of parks and gardens. (l]
(')
------- -----------------
CITY CENTER
~ PARKS &: GARDENS PONDS, RIVERS &: CANALS
Dry, well -drained wasteland
habitats attract plants such as
Oxford ragwort, budd leia,
bird's foot trefoil , mugwort,
nettle, and grasses. Butterflies
such as the common b lue
and small tortoiseshell thrive
among the plants. Pigeons fly
around tall buildings, which
are somewhat similar to the
high cliffs where their rela-
More amphibians such as
frogs, toads, and newts live in
clean, suburban ponds than in
rural areas. Fish from the three-
spined stickleback to the mas-
sive pike swi m in unpolluted tive, the rock dove, lives. The
urban rivers and canals. urban kestrel nests in c hurch-
Ducks frequen t city ponds es and tower blocks, hunting
and great crested grebes and sparrows. Garbage cans at-
moorhens nest by reservoi rs. tract gulls.
Magpies and crows live in city
parks while smaller birds such
as wrens, thrushes, blackbirds,
and tits thrive in backyard
gardens, where they become
prey to domestic cats.
In summer house marti ns
catch insects in flower gar-
dens, raising their young in
nests under house eaves. At
dusk, bats take to the air, and
hedgehogs and foxes come
out to feed on insects and on
scraps left behind by humans.
.----------------- -----. Many city plants and ani-
KEY TO ILLUSTRATION rna Is are not native. Oxford
Above right: A kestrel peers into
urban gardens searching for
mice or other small rodents.
Above far right: The nocturnal
badger scavenges through
garbage cans.
1 Seagulls
2 Pigeons
3 Common blue
butterfly
4 Hedgehog
5 Sparrow
6 Small
tortoiseshell
butterfly
7 Blackbird
8 Magpie
9 Fox
10 Heron
11 Kestrel
12 Oxford ragwort
13 Rosebay
willowherb
14 Stinging nettles
150atgrass
16 Mugwort
17 Bindweed
18 Brambles
19 Iris
20 Reedmace
ragwort comes from southern
Europe, and buddleia comes
from the Himalayan foothills.
~ THE SURVIVORS
Tolerant, secretive, or bold
animals survive the best in
busy cities. Int elligent, enter-
prising species such as foxes
and magpies have adapted
well to urban areas. The
house mouse also lives well
close to people.
THE GREAT LAKES
AND THEIR WILDLIFE
~ CARD 9 ]
The Great Lakes are the world ~ largest expanse of fresh water.
Outside the lakes' urban areas, there are unspoiled shores
and deep glacial waters teeming with wildlife.
KEY FACTS
THREATS TO THE LAKES
The natural resources of the
Great Lakes have almost been
their undoing. The 8,250 miles
of shoreline help to support
over a seventh of the u.s. pop-
ulation and a fifth of Canada's
population. But pollution and
destruction of natural habitats
have resulted from humans'
use of the lakes.
I In the 1800s heavy industry
and the fishing trade attracted
millions of people to Chicago,
Detroit, and other cities. The
growing population placed a
great strain on the lakes. By
the 1950s pollution was
eliminating much of the lakes'
wildlife. Lake Erie was polluted
DID YOU KNOW?
Lake Superior is the
world's second largest lake.
The Great Lakes hold
5,400 square miles of water.
Each second 233,000 cu-
bic feet of water flow from
Lake Ontario into the Saint
Lawrence Seaway.
by the Detroit automobile in-
dustry, and even today the re-
maining sediment layer is 1 30
feet in places. Lake Ontario
was polluted by ships travel-
ing to the other lakes.
Over the last 30 years a con-
certed effort has been made to
preserve the lakes' resources by
regulating pollution, reintro-
ducing fish species, and estab-
lishing national parks.
THE NATIONAL PARKS PROGRAM
Indiana Dunes National Lake-
shore and State Park was es-
tablished in 1925 to protect
the beaches and dunes of
Lake Michigan and their wild-
life. Georgian Bay Islands
Left: Grand
Portage is a
national mon-
ument on Isle
Royale, which
is one of many
national parks
in the Lake
Superior area.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Below: Niagara Falls is a breath-
taking sight, but it also powers
turbines that are an important
source of electricity for the sur-
rounding area.
National Park in the north-
eastern arm of Lake Huron
was founded in 1929. It in-
cludes Flowerpot Island,
named after two giant stone
pillars on the shore.
Isle Royale, the largest is-
land in Lake Superior, was
declared a national park in
1944. Moose, timber wolves,
and over 200 bird species,
including herring gulls and
warblers, live in its forests.
0160200401 PACKET 40
From largest to smallest, the Great Lakes are
Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario.
They cover over 96,500 square miles and form
a natural boundary between the United States
and Canada. Despite human habitation,
the shores of the lakes still provide
havens for wildlife.
ORIGINS & FEATURES
During the last Ice Age, gla-
ciers gouged depressions in
river valleys. Ice pressed into
these holes to form large bowls
and then melted in the bowls
to form the Great Lakes.
Lake Superior is the largest
and wildest of the lakes, with
rocky cliffs and many tree-lined
bays. Its waves can rival those
of stormy seas.
Front insets: The beaver (left)
lives in the isolated areas of the
lakes, and the yellow perch
(right) inhabits the lakes'
tributaries.
Lake Michigan is surrounded
by low farmland, with some
sandy beaches and bluffs. It
is more developed than Lake
Superior, because Chicago lies
on its southern shore.
The landscape of Lake Hu-
ron is varied, ranging from
sandy beaches to woodlands.
Marshes border Lake Erie,
which is the most heavily in-
dustrialized of the lakes. Lake
Ontario also has a lot of in-
dustry and shipping, but it
includes impressive sights
like Niagara Falls.
MAMMALS
Bears can be found in remote
areas of the Grea.t Lakes.
Wolves, lynxes, and bobcats
are the area's main predators.
These animals hunt moose,
white-tailed deer, snowshoe
hares, and red squirrels.
The beaver is also hunted by
the wolf. This aquatic mammal
dams streams to create its own
small lakes. Along with the
muskrat, it collects materials
from the shoreline to build
lodges, or dens. Other small
mammals include the eastern
cottontail rabbit, rock vole,
northern bog lemming, and
flying squirrel. The raccoon
can be found scavenging for
food even in populated areas.
UNDERWATER WILDLIFE
Lakes Superior and Michigan
contain unusual cold-water
crustaceans like the oppos-
sum shrimp, the deep-water
scud, and two types of cope-
pod. The lakes are also home
to the spiny sculpin, a fish
with spines on its body.
The warmer, shallower wa-
ters that surround the lakes
contain catfish, perch, pike,
and bass. These fish feed on
mayflies, snails, worms, and
caddis flies.
left: The moose is seen only on
the most secluded shores of the
Great Lakes.
Atlantic salmon, lake trout,
lake herring, and whitefish
were once plentiful in all the
lakes. But there has been too
much fishing of these spe-
cies, and their numbers have
dropped. The spread of the sea
lamprey, a parasitic fish, has
also helped to destroy most of
the salmon and trout popula-
tion. Recently predators of the
lamprey have been introduced
and have helped to reduce the
number of lamprey.
Right: The sea lamprey uses its
blood-sucking mouth to prey on
trout and salmon.

The most common birds of the
Great Lakes are the herring gull
and the ring-bellied gull. The
common and Caspian tern are
regular visitors in spring and
summer, when they breed on
the hundreds of small islands.
The lakes are wintering
grounds for ducks and geese
such as the scaup, oldsquaw,
Canada goose, and common
goldeneye. The glaucous gull
also winters at Lake Superior.
left: The herring gull is a com-
mon sight over all five of the
Great Lakes.
left: The bob-
cat inhabits the
wooded shores
of the Great
Lakes. In winter
its main prey is
the snowshoe
hare, and its
survival depends
on the avail-
ability of this
species.
The American woodcock is a
short, stocky that breeds
in the woodlands around the
lakes and sometimes stays for
winter. The woods are also
home to finches and crossbills.
Brewer's blackbird, with its
purple head feathers, visits in
spring to breed.
Much of the shoreline, espe-
cially around Lake Erie, is
fringed by marshes. These
marshes support several
waders, such as the spotted
sandpiper, common snipe,
and upland sandpiper.
"" CARD 10
WILDLIFE IN THE HOME
A few hundred years ago people lived with all kinds
of wildlife in their homes. Today, modern houses are
supposed to be free of such visitors-but they are not.
KEY FACTS
CONDITIONS FOR WILDLIFE IN THE HOME
With modern standards for
cleanliness, we may think that
the only animals with whom
we share our homes are our
pets. In fact, the home is an
attractive habitat for less
welcome guests.
Left: The death-
watch beetle gets
its name from its
habit of tapping
on wood beams
at night, which
was once be-
lieved to be an
omen of death
in the house.
Central heating allows pests
to breed more frequently by
providing them with warmth
throughout the year. Left-
overs and crumbs make a
good food supply. Exotic
house plants encourage plant
pests, yet many people mis-
takenly discourage the spiders
that kill these pests.
Not everything is perfect for
home-dwelling pests. Central
heating makes the air dry; hu-
mans disturb the environment,
and the vacuum cleaner spells
disaster. Powerful insecticides
may be used in the home to
get rid of pests.
Some organisms have
adapted to the worst condi-
tions: the carpet beetle and
clothes moth do not need
moisture since they get all
they require from their food.
ANIMALS THAT INHABIT THE HOME
Creature
Algae
Ants
Athlete's foot fungus
Aphid
Bat
Bedbug
Book louse
Bread beetle
Brown rat
Carpet beetle
Cheese mite
Clothes moth
Cockroach
Dry rot fungus
Dust mite
Flea
Flour weevil
Furniture beetle
House fly
House martin
House spider
Lacewing
Ladybug
Mold fungus
Wood louse
Where Found
, Wet window frames
Food areas
Bathroom floor
Plants
Attics
Plaster cracks, behind wallpaper
Damp places
Food
Sewers, drains, landscaping
Carpets
Cheese rind
Closets, attic
Food storage
Wet timbers
Household dust
Pets, carpets
Cereals
Wood
Sweet foods, rotting meat
Nests under eaves
Throughout house
Attics, window frames
Attics, window frames
Damp food
Cellars, damp woodwork
Damage Caused
Green growth
Damage to food
Peeling skin on feet
Sucks plant juices
None
Parasite: sucks blood
None: eats mold on books
Larvae eat seeds, spices, cereals
Carries disease, damages wiring
Larvae chew fabric
Allergy
Larvae chew fabric
Damages food, leaves droppings
Damage to wooden structures
Allergies, asthma
Parasite: sucks blood
Eats flour and grain
Larvae (woodworm) eat wood
Taints food with droppings _
None: but may carry moth larvae
None: predator of house pests
None: hibernating
None: hibernating
Produces toxins
Little: eats rotten leaves, wood
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200211 PACKET 21
Conditions in the home provide an ideal
environment for many forms of wildlife. Some of
these animals thrive without our even being aware
of their presence, while others are more obvious.
Some animals, such as the spider, are actually
helpful and kill many of the more harmful pests.
MAMMALS
The home is an attractive
environment for mice, rats,
and bats. The house mouse
hides in holes-even between
the walls of the refrigerator-
and comes out at night to
gnaw through food packages
and vegetables, leaving be-
hind small, black droppings.
The scratching sound in the
attic is likely to be mice. They
sound harmless enough but
carry disease and may chew
electrical wiring, causing a
potential fire risk. Since mice
can give birth every three
weeks and do not hibernate,
their populations can grow
quickly, as can the brown rat
population.
The rat usually lives near
humans, scavenging stored
food or waste. The black rat
carries a flea species that once
Right: The lesser horseshoe bat
may find its way into a loft
through a broken window.
transmitted the bubonic
plague to humans. The
more common brown rat,
though a disease carrier, is
less dangerous.
The bat must have a clean
and draft-free roost site.
Modern houses provide a
summer roost for some bats.
They can squeeze behind roof
shingles and weatherstrip-
ping. Colonies numbering up
to 150 bats may be seen fly-
ing at dusk on summer eve-
nings. Only their droppings
reveal their roosting site.
Other bat species inhabit
older houses. Occasionally a
bat flies in through an open
window, but it usually leaves
the same way.
FUNGI
Spores of the penicillium
mold are always in the air and
ready to grow on damp food.
This blue mold is harmless
and is added deliberately to
certain cheeses to give them
flavor. Other less desirable
molds also grow on food-
even food that has been
Left: The
brown rat
avoids people
and is more
likely to live in
outbuildings
than in the
home.
Right: The
spider gets
rid of harm-
ful visitors in
the home,
like the fly.
placed in the refrigerator.
Dry rot fungus damages wet
wood. There is no sign of it
until the rot is severe and has
spread to the wood's surface.
Right: The wood louse scavenges
rotting vegetation and wood, but
does little damage.
Left: The house
fly carries bac-
teria on the
hairs covering
its legs and
body. It also
taints
later eaten by

spreads dis-
ease.
INVERTEBRATES
A surprising number of insects
and other small animals share
our homes. One of the few
predators is the house spider.
The spider's eight eyes give
it good vision for catching its
prey, which it paralyzes with
venom from its fangs. Killing
spiders and brushing away
their cobwebs allows the more
harmful insects that they prey
on to survive.
The silverfish is a primitive
wingless insect found in damp
parts of the house. It eats
starchy foods, including the
glue in book bindings and
food packaging. Book lice feed
on mold growing on old
papers; they are harmless.
The dust mite is invisible to
the eye, but it occurs in large
numbers, feeding on dead
skin cells in household dust.
It causes allergic reactions and
asthma, particularly when
found in bedding. Fleas, bed-
bugs, and body lice have be-
come rarer, but fleas living on
cats and dogs still bite hu-
mans. Head lice thrive on
blood sucked near hair roots.
The ant scavenges table
scraps or poorly stored foods,
as well as sweets. The cock-
roach is also a scavenger, eat-
ing food scraps and leaving
droppings, but it is seldom
found in clean, modern
houses. It is still found in
warehouses, school kitchens,
and restaurants, where it lives
in ventilation ducts and
comes out at night.
Left: The
carpet beetle,
a ground
dweller, finds
the home a
dangerous
environment.
A vacuum
cleaner can be
fatal to both
the adult and
its fabric-
chewing
larvae.