'" CARD 51

DROMEDARY CAMEL
, , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
... ORDER
"IIIIIIII Artiodactyla
... FAMILY
"IIIIIIII Camelidae
... GENUS fir SPECIES
"IIIIIIII Camelus dromedarius
The dromedary camel has lived in the deserts of western
Asia for thousands of years. Its single hump contains a
reserve of fat, not water.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: To shoulder, 6-7 ft. To
hump, 6-8 ft.
Length: Body, 7-11 ft. Tail, up to 2 ft.
Weight: 1,000-1,500 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5 years.
Breeding season: Varies; timed
for birth to coincide with
maximum plant growth.
Gestation: 370-440 days.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Forms groups of up to 30
animals.
Diet: Any available vegetation.
Lifespan: 17-50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 2 genera in the family
Camelidae, both of which have 2
species. The only other species of
camel is the two-humped Bac-
trian, Camelus bactrianus.
Original range of the dromedary camel.
DISTRIBUTION
Thought to have originated on the Arabian Peninsula.
Present domesticated range extends from northern Africa
and across central Asia to Mongolia and Australia.
CONSERVATION
The dromedary camel thrives as a domesticated animal
and in a semiwild state. It has probably not existed as a
wild species for several hundred years.
FEATURES OF THE DROMEDARY CAMEL
Legs: Long
and slender.
Prominent
pads protect
knees as camel
kneels.
Feet: Large
and fleshy.
Each foot has
two toes
which spread
as the camel
walks, helping
it move easily
over desert
soi l.
Hair: Fine, woolly hai r on hump,
throat, neck, and head, provides
protection from the sun.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
can be closed
completely
during a
sandstorm.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
BACTRIAN CAMEL
.The Bactrian camel has two humps,
while the dromedary has only one.
The Bactrian also has a longer,
thicker coat all over its body to cope
with its cooler habitat.
0160200271 PACKET 27
The dromedary camel has been domesticated
for so long that there are no records of
its life as a wild animal. Perfectly
adapted for the hot, dry climate of the
desert, it plays a vital role in the
life of the nomads.
CHARACTERISTICS
The dromedary camel is well
adapted to cope with the ex-
treme climate and harsh terrain of
the desert. Its adaptations include
hairy ears and heavy eyebrows
with long eyeJElshes that protect
the ears and eyes from the sun
and blowing sand.
Dromedaries in the Sahara can
go through the entire winter with-
out taking a drink. This is because
the camel loses very little water in
its feces and urine. It can tolerate a
lot of water loss and does not
sweat until its body temperature
becomes very high.
FOOD & FEEDING
The dromedary camel rumi-
nates (chews food again after
swallowing it) . It eats almost
any vegetation in the desert,
including the thorny twigs and
salty plants that other desert
dwellers cannot tolerate. Do-
mesticated dromedaries are
fed dates, grains, and grasses.
When food is scarce, the cam-
els will even eat fish and the
flesh of other animals.
When food is plentiful, the
camel overeats and stores the
excess as fat in its hump,
which becomes plump and
erect. When food is scarce, the
camel lives on the stored fat.
The hump then shrinks and
may even flop to one side.
Left: The camel's long legs and
large feet make it ideal for travel-
ing acrass the soft sands of the
desert.
Above: The dromedary camel can
eat a variety of vegetation that
other animals could not tolerate
or survive on.

The female dromedary comes
into heat (becomes ready to
mate) several times a year. This
gives her a better chance of giv-
ing birth during the unpredict-
able rainy season, when there is
plenty of vegetation for her
young. The male camel becomes
aggressive during mating season.
He also performs a noisy breeding
display to attract females.
The female stands as she gives
birth to a single calf (young). It is
born with its eyes open and is
covered in a soft, woolly fleece.
Within two to three hours the
calf can walk. By the end of its
first day, it moves about quickly
and freely. The young suckles for
at least a year. It remains depen-
dent on its mother until it is four
years old.
Above right:
Nomadic
tribesmen
herd camels
across the
desert in
Sudan.
Left: Young
camels rely on
their mother'S
rich milk to
provide al/
their nutrients.
DROMEDARY
CAMEL & MAN
The dromedary camel has been
important to people in the
deserts of western Asia and North
Africa. For thousands of years the
camel has pulled plows in fields,
turned water wheels to irrigate
crops, and provided transporta-
tion for people and goods.
The camel is also a source for
food, clothing, and shelter. Its flesh
is edible, and the females provide
milk for drinking and making into
cheese. The camel's woolly fleece
is woven into clothes, blankets,
and tents, and its hide is cured to
make leather.
DID YOU KNOW?
Camels are the only
mammals that have oval,
rather than circular, red
blood corpuscles.
Camels often spit when
something annoys them.
The dromedary is some-
times known as the "ship
of the desert." This is partly
because of its rolling walk,
but also because it is the
main transportation for
crossing the desert.
In very hot weather, a
camel that has not drunk
any water for a long time
can dri nk up to 50 gallons
at a time.
'" CARD 52
SPRING HARE
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Rodentia
FAMILY
Pedetidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Pedetes capensis
The spring hare is approximately the size of a large rabbit
and somewhat resembles a kangaroo. Its powerful hind legs
enable it to leap distances of 30 feet.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Body, 14-17 in.
Tail, 16-20 in.
Weight: 6-9 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Not known,
probably 1 year.
Mating: Year-round, 1 or 2 births
per female each year.
Gestation: 77 days.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Males solitary in burrows;
females live with young. Forage in
small groups of 2 to 6.
Diet: Grasses, roots, tubers, and
seeds. In cultivated areas, eats
peanuts, corn, and wheat.
Lifespan: 14 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
None in the same family. Scaly-
tailed squirrels are thought to be
its closest relatives.
Range of the spring hare.
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout eastern and southern Africa on dry steppes,
grasslands, and flood plains.
CONSERVATION
Conservation measures are not necessary as spring hares are
numerous and widespread over most of their range.
However, numbers have decreased in areas where food is
scarce due to overgrazing by domestic livestock.
FEATURES OF THE SPRING HARE
The spring hare's specially adapted long
hind legs and balancing tail help it move
very quickly.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
The spring hare's strong hind
legs are about four times as
long as the front legs, which
have claws shaped for digging
in loose soil. It hops along
using its hind feet, keeping its
body horizontal, and covering
the ground in long, low leaps
of three to four yards. The
longest jumps recorded are 30
feet.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200141 PACKET 14
Spring hares live in burrows on the
open grasslands of eastern and southern Africa.
The origins of this rodent are a mystery-after first being
classified with jerboas and later with porcupines,
they are now thought to be distantly related to
scaly-tailed squirrels.

Spring hares live on fairly dry
ground throughout their
range, preferring areas where
the loose, sandy soil makes it
easy for them to dig their
burrows. They are commonly
found on flood plains where
water accumulated during the
rainy season nourishes the
grass. Although herds of large
grazing animals eat the major-
ity of the grass, the hares are
small enough to survive on the
stubble that remains.
The hare digs its burrow in
well-drained soil. The main
entrance is distinguished by a
mound of excavated soil that
is used to block the entrance
after the hare retreats into its
burrow.
The hare may have dug as
many as 1 0 side holes to
escape through if a predator
enters the burrow. Predators
include snakes, large owls,
mongooses, and lions.
The spring hare does not
have regular sleeping or
nesting chambers. Instead, it
uses a different part of the
burrow each day.

Spring hares breed year-rOUnd.
Each female produces a single
young once or twice a year.
The young is born with its
eyes open and a complete
coat of fur. It is very active at
birth, but it remains in the
burrow, completely dependent
on its mother, until it is half
Right: The
spring hare
has keen senses
of hearing,
sight and
smell, which
help it detect
approaching
enemies.
Spring hares
can run rapidly
from preda-
tors, covering
large distances
by hopping on
their long hind
legs.
FOOD &: FEEDING
Spring hares feed at night,
which is when they are also
most active. They forage in
groups of two to six to be
more alert to the approach of
predators. In addition to grass,
Right: The
spring hare's
favorite food is
green grass,
which has a
high protein
and water
content.
grown, at approximately one
month.
At that time, the young
begins to leave the burrow at
night to forage with its moth-
er. Although it is not fully
grown at this stage, its feet
and ears have almost reached
their adult size.
they dig up and eat tubers
and roots when other food is
in short supply. Spring hares
may also eat insects.
In cultivated areas, hares
eat corn, peanuts, sweet po-
DID YOU KNOW?
A spring hare can com-
pletely close its ears so that it
can keep out sand when it is
burrowing.
Bushmen eat most of the
spring hare, including the
eyes, brain, and stomach
contents.

Spring hares are hunted for
food and for their fur. A
single group of bushmen
may catch as many as 200
spring hares every year. As
the bushmen become less
numerous and move into
populated areas, fewer
hares will be hunted. Today
they are routinely hunted
when their foraging on
cultivated land threatens
crops.
Right: An African bushman digs
a spring hare from its burrow.
tatoes, and wheat. They also
eat certain soils that are rich in
minerals in a manner similar
to other herbivores (plant
eaters) that lick natural salt
formations.
The spring hare's greatest
rivals for food are domesti-
cated animals, especially
goats.
Spring hares are the only
species in their family. They
have never been found out-
side Africa.
~ CARD 53
AMERICAN BLACK BEAR
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~
~ ORDER
~ Carnivora
FAMILY
Ursidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Ursus americanus
The black bear is the smallest North American bear and
is said to be the least aggressive. Not all black bears are black;
some have rusty brown or gray and black coats.
KEY FACTS
______________________________________________________ -J
SIZES
Height to shoulder: 3 ft.
length: 4-6 ft .
Weight: 100-300 lb. Male is much
larger than female.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 5-6 years.
Female, 4-5 years.
Mating season: June to mid-July.
Gestation: 220 days.
No. of young: Up to 5; usually 2
or 3.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Generally solitary.
Range of the American black bear.
DISTRIBUTION
Diet: All types of vegetation and
plant material, fish, small mam-
mals, and carrion.
Call: Woof sound when startled.
lifespan: About 25 years.
Found in many states, especially Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho, and in all Canadian provinces.
CONSERVATION
RELATED SPECIES
There are 7 species grouped in 5
genera, in habitats ranging from
polar regions to tropical forests.
Now a partially protected species. Although numbers have
decreased from former days, they are again increasing in
national parks. Still, hunting for sport remains widespread.
FEATURES OF THE
AMERICAN BLACK BEAR
Foot: Bears walk
on the entire sole
of their foot. When
they walk, the
stride is about a
foot long; it
increases to three
feet when running.
Climbing: The bear
climbs by wrap-
ping its front legs
tightly around the
trunk and climbing
up. To descend,
the bear always
comes down
backwards, hind-
quarters first.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200141 PACKET 14
The American black bear is timid,
yet it is frequently sighted. Once widely hunted for
sport, the black bear is now protected in some areas of
the United States and Canada. Although some
hunting continues, it is more abundant than
the larger grizzly bear.

The American black bear lives
primarily in woodland habitats
and spends much of its active
life looking for food . The fe-
male ranges over an area of 1
to 35 square miles, whereas
the male may have a territory
of up to 200 square miles. The
female does not share her
territory, but the territory of a
male may overlap with those
of other males. Confronta-
tions are rare, and black
bears are thought to avoid
open country, where they are
more likely to encounter the
stronger, more aggressive
grizzly bears.
The American black bear is
most active at night but also
FOOD & HUNTlNG
Although the American black
bear is classified as a carnivore,
it only occasionally eats meat.
It feeds primarily on vegeta-
tion, including twigs, buds,
leaves, nuts, roots, fruit, com,
and plant shoots. In spring,
when it is particularly hungry
after having spent an inactive
winter, it tears the bark from
Left: The agile black bear climbs
trees to raid the nests of both
birds and bees.

The American black bear mates
in June and July. The female
gives birth only every two to
four years.
Although the egg is fertilized
during mating, it is not im-
planted into the uterus until
fall, which means that the em-
bryo develops only during the
last 1 5 weeks of the gestation
period. Since the birth takes
place in January or February,
the cubs are mature enough to
leave the den in the spring.
The female gives birth to two
to three cubs weighing no
more than 12 ounces. They are
born naked and blind, and
they spend the cold winter
months in the den where they
forages during the day, par-
ticularly when it is feeding
heavily in the fall to prepare
for a winter of inactivity.
As cold weather approach-
es, the American black bear
searches for a protected spot
for its den. It may be under a
fallen tree, in a hollow log, in
a cave, or in a burrow that it
trees to eat the layer known as
cambium located just beneath
the surface. It also rips into
rotting logs with its claws,
looking for small insects and
grubs.
Black bears often climb trees
to raid birds' nests for eggs
and to tear open beehives to
eat honeycombs, bees, and
larvae. They also eat small
mammals like porcupines.
Black bears hunt fish in
are fed and kept warm by
their mother. By May, their
coats are grown and their
eyes are open. They are not
weaned until they are six to
eight months old, and they
digs, sometimes under the
snow. Although its body tem-
perature drops, its respiration
slows, and its metabolic rate
is depressed, the bear is not a
true hibernator; it remains
semiconscious the entire
winter. When it emerges
from its den in May it is thin
and extremely hungry.
streams and rivers. They fish
by diving or wading in the
water, where they catch the
fish with their paws or teeth.
Bears often disturb the
landscape in areas where they
feed. While searching for
food, they turn over logs and
stones, rip open tree stumps,
and tear branches off trees.
Right: A beaver is no match for
the powerful paws and sharp
teeth of the black bear.
spend their second winter in
their mother's den, becom-
ing independent the follow-
ing spring or early summer.
Below: The cubs spend their
first two winters in the den.
DID YOU KNOW?
BLACK BEAR &
MAN
The American black bear was
hunted widely in the past, al-
though it is now a partially
protected species in Canada
and the United States. It is
especially popular with vis-
itors to Yellowstone National
Park, where it roams among
their cars and trash cans,
looking for food.
The black bear's reputation
as the original teddy bear
dates back to the beginning
of this century. President
Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt
captured a black bear on a
hunting trip. He kept it as a
pet, and a toy manufacturer
used it as a model for the
first teddy bear.
The American black bear has found in a tree.
been known to knock moun-
tain goats from rocky ledges
to kill them.
Zoologists can determine
the age of a bear by cutting
crosswise through its tooth
and counting the rings, which
are similar to the annual rings
Black bears sometimes raid
commercial beehives.
Seven hundred American
black bears were slaughtered
in Canada in 1953 to provide
bearskin hats for British sol-
diers in Queen Elizabeth II's
coronation.
'" CARD 54
RED FOX
,, ________________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l_: _M_A_M_M __ A_lS __ ~
... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS & SPECIES
'11IIIIIIII Carnivora '11IIIIIIII Canidae '11IIIIIIII Vulpes vulpes
The red fox has a doglike face and a bushy tail. Although it
has traditionally been found in the countryside,
urban fox populations are expanding.
KEY FACTS
rEl SIZES
~ Length: Males, 45 in. Females,
42 in .
Weight: Males, 1 3 lb. Females,
11 lb.
~ BREEDING
~ Sexual maturity: 10 months.
Mating: January.
Breeding frequency: Yearly.
Gestation: 53-63 days.
No. of young: Usually 4 or 5 cubs.
~ LIFESTYLE
~ Habit: Nocturnal; complex family
life, but may live as solitary animals.
Diet: Earthworms, rabbits, birds,
rodents, insects, and fruit.
Lifespan: Average only 18 months
to 2 years in the wild. Up to 15 years
in captivity.
~ RELATED SPECIES
~ There are 48 subspecies including
color variations called silver or cross
fox.
Fox dens are
often dug under
tree roots or into
the sides of
embankments.
Fox dens have a
characteristically
sweet musty
smell when they
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the red fox.
DISTRIBUTION
Native to North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Introduced to Australia in the nineteenth century. Range
varies from 25 acres in cities t o 5,000 acres in rural areas.
CONSERVATION
Native red foxes are in no danger of extinction due to their
adaptability and intelligence. Harsh winters may limit num-
bers in rural areas, but urban populations are expanding.
PRINTED IN U.SA us P 6001 12012 PACKET 12
Over the centuries the fox has been hunted,
trapped, snared, and shot, yet its numbers are stable.
The main reason for its success is its ability to adapt
to most habitats. In recent years, the fox has
moved into cities as well.
~ BREEDING
The red fox is a solitary ani-
mal, except during the breed-
ing season. Most of the day is
spent in the den or above
ground in cozy hollows called
kennels.
Foxes usually mate in win-
ter. Because of their short
lifespan, females, or vixens,
breed two or three times, and
males, called dogs, usually
mate only once.
Vixens are sometimes
helped in rearing their cubs
by a sister or a female cub
from the previous litter.
family. The cubs' eyes and
ears open after two weeks,
and they first emerge from
the den at four weeks.
The cubs are boisterous and
curious, and they grow quick-
ly. By September they weigh
as much as their parents and
they rapidly develop their
hunting skills.
Many cubs die before they
are able to mate at the age of
10 months. They are killed by
predators, some are hit by
cars, and others die of starva-
tion or of exposure.
II
Below: Vixen with newborn cubs ~
in her den. Most cubs are born in
early spring, and a litter of four
~ RED FOX &: MAN
For thousands of years, man
has hunted the red fox for its
fur. In England, particularly,
foxes are hunted with fox-
hounds, a practice that many
people regard as inhumane.
Traditionally, the fox has
been considered a pest by
farmers because it preys on
poultry, although today it
rarely gets the chance. Foxes
do, however, scavenge on the
afterbirth and carcasses of
stillborn lambs.
Foxes can carry the danger-
ous rabies virus. In parts of
Europe, where many wild
animals suffer from the dis-
ease, attempts have been
made to eradicate rabid red
fox populations.
The male is not allowed
into the den just prior to the
birth. After the birth he is al-
lowed to bring food to the or five is typical.
:--, ='25 :.... . 1
L - ~ ______ ~ ________________ ~ ______ . ____________ ~ ____ L - ~ ~ ~ __ ~
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
Foxes are nocturnal animals
whose nighttime vision is
especially acute. Behind the
light-sensitive cells in a fox's
eye lies another layer of cells
called the tapetum lucidum,
which reflects light back
through the eye, increasing
~ the sharpness of its vision and
~ better allowing it to spot prey.
. ~ The fox's sensitive hearing
~ also enables it to locate prey
crl
~ easily. It can pick up low-
z
~ frequency sounds, such as a
8 mouse rustling in the grass or
~ earthworms moving on the
ci surface of the soil.
The variety of a fox's diet
depends on the area in which
it lives. Near the coast a fox
will eat gull eggs and young,
Above: Foxes
are cunning
hunters.
left: Red foxes
catch small
rodents with a
. ~ characteristic
~
high pounce. <{
~ This technique
. ~
is one of the
(Q
first skills cubs -0
0
learn as they E
0
begin to hunt.
OJ
w
o1l
<{
but one living inland will eat
small rodents and rabbits.
Foxes in urban areas scavenge
food from trash cans.
Dog print Fox print
~ NATUREWATCH
Red foxes are most active
during the hours between
midnight and dawn. Even in
big cities, foxes can be seen
in vacant lots or on undevel -
oped land. Their calls can be
heard most often during the
, mating season, in January or
I
I February.
Another sign that foxes are
in the area is the presence of
their distinctive paw prints.
By learning to recognize a
particular fox by an iden-
tifyi ng characteristic, such as
its particular coloring, you
can more readily observe
and take note of its habits.
DID YOU KNOW?
Foxes have whiskers on
both their legs and t heir
faces. These help them find
their way.
Fox cubs have short noses
and resemble puppies when
they are born.
A fox's eyes appear to be
green when light shines into
them at night.
The fox' s tail is called a
brush, and it becomes thicker
in the winter.
The fox does not chew. In-
stead it uses its carnassial, or
shearing, teeth to cut meat
into digestible chunks.
""" CARD 55
EASTERN CHIPMUNK
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.. ORDER .. FAMILY .. GENUS & SPECIES
~ Rodentia ~ Sciuridae ~ T amias striatus
The eastern chipmunk is active by day. It is extremely
inquisitive and can be easily tamed.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 5-7 in.;
tail, 3-4 in.
Weight: 2-5 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 4-6 months.
Mating season: February-April
and June-August.
Gestation: 31 days.
No. of young: 1-9; usually 4 or 5.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active by day, nests in
burrows.
Diet: Nuts, seeds, berries,
invertebrates, and occasionally
nestling birds, mice, and snakes.
Lifespan: 2-3 years in the wild; 5-8
years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 22 chipmunk species,
including the Siberian chipmunk,
Eutamias sibiricus.
Range of the eastern chipmunk.
DISTRIBUTION
The chipmunk is widespread throughout most of the eastern
United States and southeastern Canada.
CONSERVATION
The chipmunk is abundant and coexists peacefully with man,
seldom doing so much damage to crops that its numbers
must be controlled. It is occasionally hunted for its fur, and
some wild chipmunks may be captured for the pet trade.
FEATURES OF THE EASTERN CHIPMUNK
Winter food stores are
.---___ nuts and seeds.
0MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
The nest burrow can have
more than one exit, usually
hidden under tree roots or
other ground cover. It
provides safety from such
predators as snakes, foxes,
bobcats, and bi rey.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
A chipmunk usually
bites off any sharp
edges from nuts or
seeds before placing
them in its elastic cheek
pouches.
0160200091 PACKET 9
The eastern chipmunk spends much
of the winter in its burrow, sleeping for up to
8 days at a time. It is not a true hibernator,
as it will awaken to dig into its hidden
supply of nuts and seeds, stored during
the summer and fall.
HABITS
The eastern chipmunk lives
throughout the eastern parts
of Canada and the United
States. It is most common in
deciduous woodland and
scrub, but it also inhabits
coniferous forests and areas
that have broken and stony
ground. The chipmunk is not
shy and frequently makes its
home near human dwellings.
For most of the year the
chipmunk lives alone, estab-
lishing and defending a
territory surrounding its nest
burrow. The size of a chip-
Below: The chipmunk forages
for food on the forest floor and
may burrow under fallen logs.
munk's territory depends on
the availability of food.
Even though it is a good
climber, the chipmunk
spends little time above
ground. It forages on the
forest floor and makes its nest
underground, beneath rocks,
fallen logs, or even sheds.
The chipmunk continues
digging its nest burrow all its
life. As a result, burrow
tunnels can extend for 30
feet or more and may contain
several chambers and exits.
The chipmunk also digs
shorter, simpler burrows for
emergency exits and food
storage.
DID YOU KNOW?
The eastern chipmunk has
two fewer grinding teeth
than other chipmunks.
A chipmunk can carry nine
large nuts at a time: four in
each cheek pouch and one
between its teeth.
Cheek pouches can stretch
FOOD & FEEDING
The chipmunk is an omnivore.
It prefers seeds, nuts, and
acorns, as well as fruits or
berries; but it also eats slugs,
insects, spiders, nestling birds,
eggs, and occasionally mice or
small snakes.
Chipmunks collect most of
their food from the forest floor
but will harvest nuts and
berries directly from tree limbs
if necessary. Most of the food
they collect is stored in their
burrows for the winter, though
some may end up in other
safe places throughout their
almost to the size of th'e
chipmunk's head.
The chipmunk stores only
hard food that does not mold,
such as nuts and cones.
A chipmunk may store up
t o 8 pounds of food in its
burrows.
territories.
In winter chipmunks use
t heir keen sense of smell to
find these supplies. Some
hoards remain undiscovered,
however, allowing some of
the buried seeds to germi-
nate in the spring. In this way
chipmunks aid the propaga-
tion of those trees and bushes
that bear their food.
Right: A gap between molars
and incisors allows a chipmunk
to pack its pouches at the same
time it gnaws on food.

Chipmunks usually have
two breeding seasons: from
February to April and from
June to August.
During these periods the
female chipmunk will be
ready to mate for 3-10 days
and gives a series of calls,
known as chips.
Male chipmunks gather in
a female's territory and
compete for the chance to
mate with her. Chipmunks
do not establish pair bonds,
and after mating the male
leaves the female to bear and
left: Cheek pouches filled, a
chipmunk prepares to hide some
food for winter.
Above: This alert chipmunk has
found a vantage point from
which to guard its territory.
rear the young on her own.
After a 31-day pregnancy,
the female bears a litter of
four or five offspring in her
nest burrow. She suckles the
young for about a month
before she takes them on
foraging trips. At 6-8 weeks
of age the offspring are ready
to leave the nest and find
their own territories.
Eastern chipmunks are fully
grown after about 3 months;
a chipmunk is not usually
sexually mature until the
following year.
'" CARD 56
EUROPEAN WILDCAT
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
... ORDER
"IIIIIIIIIII Carnivora
The European wildcat looks similar to a pet cat,
but it is one of the fiercest of all animals. Like most of its
cat relatives, the wildcat is a highly efficient hunter.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 18-28 in.
Weight: 8-22 lb. Female lighter.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating: Late February to early
March.
Gestation: 63-69 days.
litter size: 1-8 kittens, but
usually 4.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Usually solitary. Nocturnal.
Call: Purrs, howls, and meows like
its relative, the domestic cat.
Range of the European wildcat.
DISTRIBUTION
Diet: Small rodents such as mice;
also hares, rabbits, birds, and
insects.
Scotland, Spain, Germany, Poland, and parts of southern
Europe.
lifespan: About 1 2 years.
CONSERVATION
RELATED SPECIES
There are 30 species of cat in the
genus Felis, which also includes the
domestic cat.
The European wildcat population is increasing after years of
attempted extermination by man, and the animals are re-
colonizi ng thei r former habitats.
COMPARISON OF A WILDCAT WITH A DOMESTIC TABBY CAT
The domestic tabby cat is the animal that most closely
resembles the wildcat. But the wildcat's head is heavier and
broader than the tabby's. Its ears often project horizontally,
rather than vertically, as the tabby's do. The wildcat's fur is
darkest on its back and cream colored on its belly. Four or five
dark stripes run from the forehead to the nape of the neck,
where they merge into a line .
....--_________ --, The wildcat's tail
accounts for al-
most half its
length and is
shorter than a
tabby cat's. It
has thick, black
bands and a
'--_________ -----' blunt-looking tip.
,.-------------, The domestic
tabby is a third
smaller than the
wildcat and has a
longer, thinner
tail. It is far less
shy than the
wildcat.
JMCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200161 PACKET 16
The European wildcat is
an ancestor of the domestic cat.
Its numbers are increasing slowly
in many areas after a century
of persecution.
~ HABITAT
The European wildcat is very
adaptable and can survive in a
variety of habitats. In Scotland
wildcats inhabit moors and
woodland but prefer hilly areas
for hunting.
Rocky outcrops in forests
DID YOU KNOW?
The Egyptians domesticated
t he African wildcat to protect
their grain stores.
Small cats like the wildcat
are unable to roar because of
a bone in their larynxes. But
they can purr while breathing
throughout Europe provide
refuge for most wildcats. In
southern Europe the wildcat
lives among scrub brush; in
central Europe it lives in coni-
ferous (cone-bearing) forests
of spruce, fir, and cedar.
both in and out, which big
cats cannot do.
The wildcat was once
found throughout northern
Europe. It left during t he
Middle Ages because of the
cooling cl imate.
~ BREEDING
Female wildcats are ready to
mate in late February or early
March. Groups of males howl,
screech, and wail throughout
the night to attract females.
Once a male has established
his dominance over the group,
the female rolls on the ground
to signal that she is r.eady to
mate with him. Like other cats,
the male wildcat bites the
female's neck during mating.
Approximately six and a half
weeks later the female gives
birth in a nest situated among
rocks or in a hollow tree.
The mother defends her litter
ferociously during the fi rst few
weeks of their life. The kittens
~ FOOD & HUNTING
Wildcats feed mainly on mice
and other small rodents. They
also eat larger mammals and
prefer to live in areas where
ground-nesting birds, rabbits,
and hares are common. The
European wildcats are not as
successful at catching larger
prey, but they may kill deer
fawns that are too slow to
escape.
Wildcats lead solitary lives
and hunt alone in areas where
food is scarce. Their territories
usually contain approximately
250 acres that they mark with
feces and urine and by shred-
ding the bark on trees. Wildcats
fiercely defend their territories
against intruders but do not
hesitate to leave when it is time
to mate. Where prey is plenti-
ful, wildcats sometimes hunt in
groups.
Right: A Scottish wildcat stands
guard over a full-grown rabbit it
has just killed.
open their eyes after 10 days
and are quite fierce them-
selves, spitting, biting, and
scratching at intruders. The
mother suckles the kittens for
a month, after which they
start leaving the den to play
nearby. The male does not
help rear the kittens .
At the age of three months
the young begin to accom-
pany their mother on hunt-
ing trips. By 10 months of
age the kittens are almost
fully grown, but they do not
breed until the next year.
Left &: right: Young wildcats
mimic all their parents' habits
and are just as fierce.
~ WilDCAT & MAN
Wildcats once ranged
throughout Europe. But as
forests were cleared to pro-
vide wood for homes and
industry, their habitats were
destroyed, and they were
forced to move to more
remote areas.
The European wildcat was
once considered to be a pest
because it preyed on ground-
nesting birds that were raised
for private hunting. Thou-
sands of wildcats were killed
during the 1800s and early
1900s to protect the grouse,
partridges, and pheasants that
were raised by gamekeepers
on hunting estates.
Because the attitude toward
wildlife today is one of aware-
ness and sensitivity, the
slaughter of the wildcat has
completely stopped. It is now
seen as an important member
of the environment and is
protected in many areas.
"'" CARD 5 7
BOBCAT
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Carnivora
GENUS &: SPECIES
Felis rufus
Although it is the most common of North America IS small wild cats,
the solitary bobcat is so well camouflaged that it is rarely seen.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 25-42 in. Tail, 8 in.
Height: 20-24 in.
Weight: Average, 13-24 lb., but as
much as 40 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year. Males mate
in their second year. .
Mating season: November to
January. Females thought to give
birth every other year.
Gestation: 60-63 days.
No. of young: 1-6, usually 3.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary and nocturnal.
Range of the bobcat.
DISTRIBUTION
Diet: Carnivorous; mainly rabbits
and hares; also rodents, sheep, deer,
and birds.
Found extensively throughout North America from southern
Canada to southern Mexico.
Lifespan: Over 30 years in captivity.
CONSERVATION
RELATED SPECIES
Most common wildcat in the United States. Hunted for
28 other small Felis species around
the world, including the domestic
cat, Felis domesticus.
sport and trapped for its fur, particularly in northern part of
range. A subspecies in Mexico, F. rufus escuinapae, is listed as
endangered.
THE TERRITORIAL BOBCAT
Male bobcats may defend territories of
up to 40 square miles, although they may
share common boundaries with those of
other males. Females defend areas about
half the size of the males' and never
share boundaries. Two or three females
may live within the territory of a single
male, who will mate with them all.
A male bobcat
which fathers
three litters in
his territory will
be responsible
for the feeding of
as many as 18
kittens.
Territory of male
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200111 PACKET 11
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The adaptable bobcat is found in a
variety of habitats, from mountain ranges
to prairies and from subtropical swamps
to deserts. The only place where it does not thrive
is open, treeless grassland, where there is
no cover for hunting.
~ HABITS
Although the bobcat is a
nocturnal hunter, it is also
active at dawn and dusk. In
the northern part of its range,
it will even hunt by day in the
winter if food is scarce.
The bobcat is extremely
territorial and marks its
boundaries with urine and
droppings, as well as by
digging up the ground. A
male can tell from a female's
urine when she is ready to
mate. Mothers with young
are extremely aggressive.
Right: Bobcats rest by day in
hollow trees or small caves.
' : : I : ~ . ~ l ~ ' . : ' '."
.. : ' ~ ~ . ...
DID YOU KNOW?
The bobcat gets its name
from its stumpy tail.
A bobcat is likely to be seen
during the day only in the
winter when food is scarce.
Bobcats are good swim-
mers, but they rarely go into
the water. Still, on hot days,
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
Rabbits and hares make up
two-thirds of the bobcat's
diet. The remainder consists of
squirrels and mice. Bobcats
sometimes prey on deer,
domestic sheep and goats,
and an occasional cat or dog.
The bobcat creeps up on its
prey until it is close enough to
pounce on and kill the animal.
The bobcat is very strong for
its size and kills its larger prey
by biting and clawing at the
base of the skull. During a
night-long hunt, a male
bobcat may travel as far as 25
miles to find prey.
t hey sometimes sit in pools
of water to keep cool.
The further north bobcats
live, the bigger they grow;
the largest are found in
Canada. Bobcat kittens can
be reared to be tame, if
boisterous, pets.
~ BREEDING
Mating takes place in the
winter and the male mates
with all the females that share
his territory.
The blind and helpless
young are born in early
spring. At this time, the
female drives the male away
from the den, although he
usually remains in the area.
The kittens' eyes open after a
week, but they continue to
suckle for eight weeks.
Once the kittens can eat
solid food, the female allows
the male to return to the den.
Male bobcats are unusual
among cat species because
Right: The
young are born
in a cozy den
lined with moss
and leaves.
These kittens
~ are only a
~ week old and
~ have just
. ~
>: opened their
(L
---, eyes.
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Left: The
bobcat is
about the size
of a retriever
dog. It hunts
mainly rabbits
and hares. Its
reddish brown
coat is typi-
cally striped
and spotted
with black. Its
coat provides
excellent
camouflage.
they bring food to both the
mother and kittens.
As the kittens grow, the
whole family travels through-
out the female's territory,
living in a number of differ-
ent dens. When the kittens
are five months old, they
learn to hunt from their
mother. At this time, the
male loses interest in the
kittens and he returns to his
own territory. The young stay
with their mother for six to
nine months, or until the
next breeding season. They
then find territories of their
own.
DUCKBILL PLATYPUS
ORDER FAMILY
Monotremata Ornithorhynchidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
The duckbill platypus, a playful aquatic mammal,
has a soft and pliable bill that it uses to sweep the riverbed for
food. It is one of only three mammals in the world to lay eggs.
~ ~
KEY FACTS
I ~ I SIZES
~ Length: Varies with location. Male,
l ' /2-2 ft. Female, up to l ' h ft.
Weight: Usually less than 4 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Not known.
Breeding season: August to
October, varying with latitude.
Incubation: 1-2 weeks.
No. of young: Usually 2,
sometimes 1 or 3.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary.
Diet: Aquatic invertebrates.
RELATED SPECIES
The duckbill platypus is the only
species in the family Ornitho-
rhynchidae. Its closest relatives,
the two echidnas of Australia and
New Guinea, are the only other
members of the order
Monotremata.
Range of the duckbill platypus.
DISTRIBUTION
Slow-flowing streams and rivers; some lakes in eastern
Australia and Tasmania.
CONSERVATION
The platypus is protected but rare, even in suitable sites. Its
habitat is sensitive to pollution, disturbance, and develop-
ment. Conservation of the platypus and its habitat is vital.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS OF THE DUCKBILL PLATYPUS
Bill: Sweeps
the riverbed
for prey.
Fur: Thick and
slick. Provides
excellent water
resistance.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
~ ~ 9 ~ - Hind feet: For
steering. Less
Expanding and
webbed for fast
swimming.
Powerful claws
for burrowing.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
powerful than
forefeet.
1
Poisonous spur: Connected to
venom gland. Can kill a dog. Used
in male rivalry fights.
0160200241 PACKET 24
The duckbill platypus lives along
slow-flowing rivers, where it burrows into
the banks and feeds in the water. Although it is
not threatened in the wild, modern pressures
on its freshwater habitat mean that it may
need careful protection in the future.
The duckbill platypus always
lives near water-mostly in
the rivers of eastern Australia
and Tasmania. It nests in
tunnels that it digs in the
riverbanks or it lives in deep
crevices and little caves in
rocky banks. Its tunnels can
run 50 feet long or more.
The platypus is amphibious
(lives both on land and in
water) and dives and swims
well. It is a loner except dur-
ing breeding season and
is territorial, defending its
own stretch of river from
intruders.
The platypus uses its strong
webbed front feet for both
swimming and burrowing.
When it walks on land it
curls its feet under its body
to protect them.
DID YOU KNOW?
The platypus is one of the
most primitive mammals in
existence. The only other
mammals that lay eggs are
the platypus's only rela-
tives, the echidnas.
The platypus's body tem-
perature is 90 F., which is
low for a mammal.
When the first specimen
of this mammal was ex-
hibited in England in the
late 1 700s people thought
it was a fake. Scientists be-
lieved a prankster had
sewn a duck's beak onto a
mammal's body.
The duckbill platypus can
squeeze through narrow
spaces. Its flexible body is a
strong muscular tube.
FOOD &: HUNTING
The platypus hunts in the
water for prey such as insect
larvae, water snails, and smal l
crustaceans.
Underwater it closes its eyes,
ears, and nostrils and sweeps
its broad bill from side to side
to locate prey. The bill is soft
and pliable, not hard like a
duck's, and is highly sensitive.
The platypus swims along
using its front feet only. Most
of its dives last between 30
seconds and a minute and a
half. It sometimes remains
underwater by wedging it-
self beneath a log or under
a stone.
On the river bottom, the
platypus fills pouches in its
cheeks with food. When its
Left: The platypus's beak is the
ideal tool for feeding on the beds
of slow rivers and streams.
BREEDING
The male and female platypus
mate between August and
October. The pair court by
swimming around each other.
Then the female platypus
digs a long nesting tunnel in
the riverbank with a chamber
as its end. The nesting tunnel
is longer than the platypus's
home tunnel-it may be as
long as 65 feet.
The female collects grass and
leaves, grasps them under her
tail, and carries them back to
the tunnel to construct a nest.
There she lays two white, soft-
shelled eggs that she incu-
bates by holding them snugly
between her tail and belly.
Each egg is about the size of
a marble.
The hatching period is
variable. After one to two
cheek pouches are full, the
platypus surfaces and discards
any sand and stones it has
weeks the eggs hatch and
the young make their way
through their mother's fur
to suckle at her milk glands.
picked up, then grinds the
food between horny plates it
has instead of teeth.
The young stay in the
burrow up to five months
and continue to suckle after
they have left the burrow.
Above: Broad front feet make the
platypus a powerful underwater
swimmer, while smaller hind feet
provide agility.
Left: Boulder-strewn streams offer
the platypus deep crevices in which
to nest, while their waters yield
plentiful food.
SPECIAL

life in the water: The
duckbill platypus is well
adapted to life on the ri v-
er. It has broac;i, webbed
feet, a streaml ined body,
and sl ick, waterproof fu r.
It swims by rowing with
its front legs, fi rst one and
t hen the other. It closes its
eyes, nostrils, and ears
when underwater.
Climate: The platypus
thrives in many cl imates.
Its thick fur allows it to live
in cold mountain streams
as well as in ri vers in warm
tropical rainforests.
"" CARD 59
CAMARGUE HORSE

ORDER
"IIIIIIIIIIII Perissodactyla
GENUS &: SPECIES
Equus cabal/us
In its wild state, the Camargue horse is found only in southeastern
France. It is believed to be descended from prehistoric horses that
lived during the Paleolithic period, 1 7, 000 years ago.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 13-14.2 hands high (1
hand = 4 in.)
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 18
months. Male, 1-2 years.
Mating: Late spring.
Gestation: 11 -1 3 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable; lives in small,
free-ranging herds.
Diet: Ground vegetation: leafy
grasses, herbs, and plants.
Call : Ranges from a soft whinny to
a shrill piercing cry.
Lifespan: 20-25 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Two related species of feral horse:
the Merens, in the area bordering
the Ariege River west of the Camar-
gue, and the primitive Potiok of the
Basque region.
Range of the Camargue horse.
DISTRIBUTION
Found wild only in the marshy swamplands of the Rhone
Delta in Provence, southeastern France.
CONSERVATION
The Camargue' s numbers are controlled by owners in
France, assisted by the Central State Administration, to
guarantee survival of the breed through selective breeding.
FEATURES OF THE CAMARGUE HORSE
The Camargue is one of more than 200
different breeds of horse and pony. Full mane
Superficially similar, horses of different
breeds can be recogni zed by noti ng certain
characteristics. Particular combinations of
these characteristics determine the breed.
Rough, gray coat, becomes
white with age
Powerful hindquarters
Bushy tail
( MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM
Short neck and back
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Short ears
Large head
Large eyes
01602001 71 PACKET 17
He
in h
Because of its small size,
the Cam argue horse could be more
accurately described as a pony. The Camargue
is an ancient breed that is believed to
have been crossbred with other breeds,
particularly Arabian horses.

The wild Camargue horse is
found only on the watery
plains and salt marshes of
southeastern France. The re-
gion is bleak and cold in
winter and intensely hot in
summer, but the hardy
Camargue horse has adapted
well to these conditions.
The Camargue horse may
have descended from pre-
FOOD &: FEEDING
The horse is an herbivore (plant
eater). Its teeth are specially
adapted for eating grasses and
herbs: incisors (cutting teeth)
tear the plants, and premolars
(grinding teeth) behind the
incisors chew the meal.
In spring the Camargue
horse also grazes on an indig-
enous (native to the region)
.plant called "samphire," as
well as on the tender new
shoots of the tall reeds.
historic horses that lived
farther north. Bones of
the Solutre horses, dating
from the Paleolithic period
(17,000 years ago), were
discovered there. And the
many horse images in Paleo-
lithic cave paintings at Las-
caux give evidence of
prehistoric horses in south-
western France.
In winter the Camargue
horse must survive on dried
grass and on goosefoot, a
tough plant that most other
grazing animals cannot eat.
The horse's behavior is
affected by the amount of
food available. When food is
scarce, the Camargue horse
may graze for as long as 22
hours a day. When food is
plentiful, it grazes only at
dawn and dusk.

The Camargue horse lives and
breeds in herds that roam. In
some herds, dominant stallions
force out young males, which
form their own bachelor herds.
Once they are mature and
strong enough, the young
HORSE &: MAN
The Camargue horse is the
traditional mount of the farm
workers, or ranch hands, of
the Camargue region, called
"guardians." The guardians
are responsible for rounding
up the wild black bulls that
graze on the land. There is
males try to win a herd of
mares for themselves. The
stallions fight one another
with their hooves and teeth.
Mares come into season
once a year, usually in late
spring. The foal is born 11 to
also an annual roundup of the
horses to inspect and brand
the newborn foals.
The Camargue horse is also
bred and used by many riding
stables in the region. Once the
horse is accustomed to a rider
and saddle, it makes an ex-
13 months later in the spring.
A mare does not necessarily
breed every year that she
mates.
The foal stays close to its
mother for its first few
months, and she guards it ag-
cellent and reliable mount.
Its sure-footedness makes it
ideal for riding over hazard-
ous terrain.
Below: The Camargue horse is
the traditional mount of the
local ranch hands, known as
"guardians. "
gressively. If the mare be-
comes pregnant the follow-
ing year, the foal is weaned
after 10 months. But if she
does not become pregnant,
the foal suckles for up to two
years.
Left: Camargue foals are born in
spring and have dark coats that
become gray as they mature.
Below: Horses constantly battle
for dominance.
DID YOU KNOW?
The only truly wild horse
today is the Mongolian wild
horse, or Prezewalski's horse,
which lives in small numbers
in Central Asia . All others are
feral; that is, they are descen-
dants of once-domesticated
horses.
There are approximately 30
separate herds of Camargue
horses in existence today.
One year of a horse's life is
roughly equal to three years
for a person.
Any horse shorter than 14.2
hands is considered a pony.
One exception is the mini-
ature horse, the South Amer-
ican Falabella, which is only
about seven hands high.
Although it is an ancient
species, the Camargue horse
was not officially recognized
as a breed until 1967.
NORTHERN FUR SEAL
ORDER
Pinnipedia
FAMILY
Otariidae
CARD 60 I
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Callorhinus ursinus
The northern fur seal is the most common of the fur seals
and is closely related to the sea lion. It is one of the three species
of fur seal still hunted for its fur.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, up to 7 ft. Female,
up to 5 ft.
Weight: Male, 400-600 lb.
Female, 65-110 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 5 years.
Female, 3 years.
Mating: June and July.
Gestation: 1 year.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Females and young are
migratory; males remain in well-
guarded territories. Male and
female seals live separately.
Call: Harsh, purring sound.
Diet: Mainly fish.
Lifespan: About 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 7 species of fur seal,
of which 6 live in the southern
hemisphere.
Range of the northern fur seal.
---==============
DISTRIBUTION
Mainly Pribilof and Commander Islands in the Bering Sea,
but small populations are found on islands in the sea of
Okhotsk and off California.
CONSERVATION
Hunting stopped in the United States in 1985, but 9,000
seals a year are still killed in the Soviet Union. Population
decline over the last 30 years appears to have leveled off.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL
Besides the huge difference in size
between the male (left) and the
female (right) , the heavier male has
a massive neck with especially thick
fur. The layer of fatty tissue beneath
the fur helps to conserve heat and
streamlines the body for swimming.
Both the male and the female northern
Because the
animals are
crowded together
at the breeding
sites, newborn
fur seals are often
trampled to death
by fighting males.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200151 PACKET 15
The northern fur seal was discovered off Alaska
on the Commander Islands in 1741, and it was
later found on the Pribilof Islands in 1786. The huge
males weigh up to five times as much as the
smaller females and spend most of their time
defending their breeding territories.
~ HABITS
Male and female seals come
together only during breeding
season. Once they are mature,
males never stray far from the
breeding area. Females, how-
ever, make an annual migra-
tion to hunt in waters as far
south as California.
Much more agile than true
seals (which do not have ex-
ternal ears), the northern fur
seal uses its hind flippers to
move quickly over short dis-
tances. When swimming, true
seals propel themselves
through the water almost en-
tirely by their hind flippers,
but the fur seal uses both its
webbed front flippers as well
as its hind flippers.
The northern fur seal's
senses are well developed,
but how it navigates under-
water is still unknown. Scien-
tists believe that it may rely
on the taste or smell of
various ocean currents for
guidance.
~ BREEDING
In June, male seals, called bulls,
compete to establish breeding
territories before the females,
or cows, arrive on the beaches.
Each bull gradually acquires a
harem of up to 40 cows.
Within 48 hours of arriving
at the breeding site, each cow
gives birth to a single, small,
black pup that was conceived
during the previous year's mat-
ing season. Several days later
the female mates with a domi-
nant bull and, after suckling
her pup for a few days, returns
to the sea to hunt.
After three months the pups
are weaned, and they accom-
pany the females on their
migration south. The males
remain in their territories for
three months without eating.
~ FOOD &; HUNTING
The northern fur seal spends
most of its life hunting for food
in the north Pacific. Its main
food is fish, although it also eats
squid and crustaceans. Like
other seals, the northern fur
seal uses its whiskers to catch
fish. Each whisker has nerve
endings that detect the vibra-
tions made by passing fish.
During the breeding season
the females leave their pups
regularly to make extended
hunting trips. They travel
distances of up to a hundred
miles and are often gone for
seven or eight days. The seals
swim, rest, and sleep on the
surface of the water until they
reach suitable feeding grounds.
They hunt mainly at night and
can stay submerged for periods
of up to seven minutes at a
time.
Left: A male
aggressively
defends his
breeding
territory from
other males.
Right: Pups
are born
headfirst and
the entire
process takes
only 10
minutes.
Right: The
huge bull seal
plays no part
in raising its
offspring.
Far right: The
seal 's thick fur
protects it from
below-freezing
temperatures.
Left: 5eals
spend most of
their lives in
water, feeding
at night when
the fish they
prey on swim
to the surface.
Fishermen
claim that
seals reduce
the salmon
population,
but examina-
tion of the
contents of seal
stomachs has
shown this
belief to be
unfounded.
~ FUR SEAL &; MAN
By 1834 fur traders had
nearly wiped out the Pribilof
northern fur seals. Other
nations also endangered
seals by killing them at sea.
In 1911 the United States,
Great Britain, Japan, and the
Soviet Union agreed to
honor prohibitions outlaw-
ing the killing of fur seals at
sea and to conduct studies
to find ways of preventing
further decline.
DID YOU KNOW?
Male and female seals are
so different in size that some
naturalists once thought they
were different species.
Fur seals are known to eat
63 species of fish but usually
feed on just eight.
Most seals dive to an aver-
age depth of 200 feet, but
fur seals dive to 600 feet.
The female's annual
migration to and from the
breeding grounds is the
longest undertaken by any
seal species. The trip can be
as far as 6,000 miles.
One of the main reasons
the United States purchased
Alaska from the Soviet Union
in the 1800s was to obtain
the Pribilof Islands fur trade.
Revenues paid for the pur-
chase within three years.