Juliana

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=My Agreements :=
 * === I will work commitely and responsible always in exhibition time ===
 * === I will not play or interrumpt on exhibition time. ===
 * === I will respect my peers, mentor and teacher ===
 * === i will respect all the work that my peers did ===
 * === I will give my best to TRY and find information and then sortit out ===
 * === I will speak in english all of exhibition time but if there is a sentence i dont know i will say it in spanish ===
 * === When i find my information i will synthesised it immediately. ===

=My Personal Expiriences:=

= Week 1 : = ====At first when i was working on exhibition, i felt a bit scared about how was going to work my group if good or not, also because we were not sure about our topic so i felt confused and scared. But then i felt more confortable because i knew that my group is working very well and also now i was more sure about my topic, so now im on the right way forward to the best exhibition.====

= Week 2 : = = = ====I felt really happy and proud about my work and my group, we have advanced and understanded more about our topic wich it is ' the relationship between animals and humans'. We have given too much effort and enjoyment but also i felt a bit scared about the key concepts because i think we are a bit back on them but we are working really hard on them. ====

=** Week 3 : ** = ====I felt really amazed with all the work we have done, i have enjoyed really the exhibition and people told me that it was scary and boring but i have felt really comfortable and happy. We did some surveys and went to the zoo also we did some Interviews to Juangui, Alvare, Patricia and to Andrea. We have advanced and progressed too much in our exhibition and i felt really happy because Ben told us that our exhibition was on an A!!!!==== = = = Week 4 : = In this week i felt a bit confused i feel that my group is advanced and also i felt that my group was too back on the wiki, im feeling really confused but Mr Ben says that our group is really good but im not feeling so well. My group says that i am very Undecided and hahahhahahahaha i think i am because i think we are back but also i think we are very ahead

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= Week 5: = ====In this week i felt a bit sad because like 2 weeks ago Mr Ben told us that our exhibition was on an A, and now he says to us that it is NOT NEAR an A!, that makes me sad because all the work we did for our key conceps ( you can see we have improved ALOT on them ), he says in on a B !!! or well not near an A !, also i felt a bit sad because our group gave me carolina orrego and me the LOI 3 and as you can see that one is the most difficult one, so caro and me SEARCHED and SEARCHED and again SEARCHED but we couldnt find information, so sofia and carolina g are abit mad at us but it isnt our fault that we couldnt find so much information about LOI 3, so carolina and me had an idea which was that they 2 did the LOI 3 and we 2 did the other LOI's but they didnt accept it so we are trying to find more information but in this moment we can, so my conclusion of this week is that it was a SAD week.!! :( :(====

=My own Information :=

==== The good relationship is mostly found at the grown ups kids, the respect them and the animals do not threaten them, they arent scared of them. They dont have silly reasons for hurting the animals and they have a big RESPECT with them. The big grown ups kids had shared a long time with those animals so it's kind of them and they understand that they cant hurt their own animals. ==== ==== Talking about the Lower Primary kids they don't understand the respect and space the animals need, they think they dont have feelings and they don't die if someone hurts them, well they do also they like those baby animals so they want to take them home but the parents animal want to defend their little babies and they defend their babies like every parent. They start to threaten and try to attack but they dont attack really... but of course there are only one the little kids that treat bad the animals because even there are some that treat them in a very, very good and nice way..... ====

= ( This information i put it at the key concept FORM ) =

==== The kids have a bad relationship with animals because they havent recieve enough education of school animals, their needs and behaviour. Animals are scared of us and we are losing the relationship between them. ==== ==== Kids and People are abusing of animals just for fun, and animals suffer and finally then animals attack for their defense, and everyone gets hurt, but our research says that the animals only threaten but they don't attack. We have seen many people doing it and we are trying to stop them. ! . The purpose is some silly reasons to hurt the animals not only the animals also eggs and baby peyares whose their parents try to save them or protect them and the people think they are attacking them so they hit them in any other opportunities. ====

they interact in such many ways!! for example if we talk about a dog and a human we can said they live by each other because for example a normal thing is that dogs are pets so human buy all the needs that the animal need such as the food, he need to talk it to the veteriarian give a hme to it i mean in this way we can say that both interact in all the ways!!! The Kids and the school animals interact in such different ways. As our research says the bigger kids ( bach people ), dont interact so much with the animals, tthey dont bother to take care of them but they dont bother to hurt them or make them any type of injury. The bach people are more mature, so their minds are not on the environment or the animals they are on another thing.

The adults (School adults and sometimes parents ) have realize that the animals need their space and a good habitat, but they dont interact that much with the animals, they dont go to the farm or bother to once take care of them, but yes they stop anybody who hits them, etc, majority of the adults dont interact but minority does like give them fruits or play with them with the kids also etc. The smaller kids INTERACT but in a BAD way, like throwing them rocks, sticks killing the chickens eggs, that's an interaction but in a bad way. Those smaller kids still dont understand all the problems they are causing for the animals thats why they need to learn more about them. As our research tells the Jardin kids and teacher REALLY INTERACT and we can say that it is in a GOOD way. They play with them, lear5n with them, enjoy and share each resource and space, they have a good habitat, its a calm environment, etc, we can say lots and lots of more things, this happens because the Jardin teachers since their kids are babies teach them to respect them, and share things. That's a good way of interaction that we dont see in Primary or Bach, because now the kids dont bother to take care of them or to learn about them.

 =( This information i put it on FUNCTION ) =

Sometimes, people think that bothering and treating bad the animals dont bring any bad conssequences but it does.
==== When animals are difending, people dont realize and think why they are doing it, they just think they want to attack them for no reason. ==== ==== The animals Point of View will be that they want to kill them or just treat them bad also animals feel bad because the think they are taking there habitat and place where they live (territories) ====

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kids think that bothering the animals, doesn't have consequence, it's just fun. but, our group think that those kids don't know what they are doing, they are running their lifes and making them ill. ======

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other people think recycling doesn't change anything, but it really does you could save an animal illness or death. ======

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some kids think that bothering animals dont have any consequence, the problem is that they havent recieve enough education about them, they think it doesnt matter, some people think that animals dont have feelings. ======

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As our Investigation says there are many different types of points of views, on 2nd grade 166 people feel bad about this problem, they feel a bit of fault and worried about the animals. ======

In what animal do you prefer there are 32 persons that want pedegree and 47 shelter.
==== When we interviewed Juangui he told us that yes, he has seen Animals Mistreated at school, about sharing spaces he told us that he was alright with that, but also that is not only his oppinion he told us that some kids, enter to the farm (some animals habitat) and start to throw them things or catch them but not only that what he told us also is that he has seen some kids breaking the ducks eggs. That's cruel !! . ==== ==== In the Interview with Patricia she told us that she havent seen so much Mistreating, but she told us that in school the animals have the same resources as kids, that they have the same space. She told us that she was in love with this topic because no one in the exhibition has bother to worrie about the animals. ==== ==== With our research with Alvare she told us 2 things, 1st that yes she has seen some animal mistreating but not in everyone just in the smaller kids who dont understand what they are doing they think its just a game, so the point of view of the smaller kids is that it is just a game, the 2nd thing is that she havent seen mistreating from bigger kids like from bach, that they dont bother if sharing spaces or not, so that give us the point of view that the bach people ( bigger kids ) can share spaces, they realize that the animals need a habitat and they can share it with no problem, but we have also gathered another point of view the adults point of view wich is that they also realize that animals feel and need a habitat so they have no problem with sharing spaces. ====

= = = = = = = = =  How do you feel about this problem? = = = =  Bad  = 166 / Happy = 0=== = = =  What animal would you prefer  = = = = Pedegree ( 2nd grade )  = 32 / Rescatado = 47

=  3rd Grade Survey Results :  = = =

=  What animal would you prefer  = = PEDEGREE  = 33= = RESCATADO=40  =

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Discussing Animal Cruelty with Children Under Six
==== Every child is unique, and adults should use caution and careful thought when discussing cruelty with children. In general, children under four simply should not be exposed to cruelty. Two-year-olds can begin to learn that their actions make others-including animals-happy and sad. With two- and three-year-olds, discuss their own experiences and how they would feel if they were treated the way they treat their pets or other animals in their immediate lives. Help them relate not only the ways they would feel hurt, but also the ways they would feel happy. ==== ==== With all children under six or so, you may wish to help guide their hands so they can learn how to pet and hold their animal companions. Children do not have fine control over their movements and impulses—they will want to treat their pets with love, but will need a little help from you to do it correctly. ==== ==== Children who are between about four and six often begin to understand basic moral concepts, such as fairness. These children can learn to be kind to animals because the animals "deserve" it. Children may discuss injuries they have had themselves, but do not introduce discussions about other types of injuries. Try to limit discussions of animal cruelty to the simple fact that animals can be hurt; do not describe how they can be hurt (e.g., starvation, physical abuse, etc.). ====

Discussing Animal Cruelty with Children Ages Six to Ten
==== With most children who are six to ten years old, you can begin to discuss why someone might be mean to an animal-as long as you make sure the child always keeps in mind that it is wrong to hurt animals. In addition, do not let discussions of animal cruelty satisfy the morbid curiosity some children of this age may have. Children of this age often form some of their earliest memories and impressions about the state of the world beyond their families. It is very important that adults filter what these children perceive! Even if children witness violence as a "bad example" or as a way NOT to act, they are still witnessing violence, and can be strongly affected by it. ====

Discussing Animal Cruelty with Children Ages 10 to 14
==== Many children between 10 and 14 are exploring their self-image and reflecting upon their relationships with others. Studies indicate that children of this age are still strongly affected by violence, so discussions about animal cruelty should still be kept free of details about the violence. Nonetheless, the issue can be raised directly—if delicately—with most of these children. Adults should make it clear that they do not condone violence in their own thoughts and behavior. Children of this age are finely attuned to the words and actions of adults, and still rely on them as role models. ==== ==== Parents, teachers, and trusted adults can also discuss with 10- to 14-year-olds how they would act if their peers or friends treated animals cruelly. By couching the advice in terms of what you would do if you were in a given situation, you can help children overcome peer pressure and follow what they know is right. These children may encounter others abusing animals—knowing that they are in the right and will be supported for standing up to it is very important at this age of strong peer pressure. ====

Discussing Animal Cruelty with Older Children and Teens
==== Again, with all children-even older teens-keep in mind the importance of modeling appropriate behaviors. Our children do emulate us, even if they wouldn't admit it. If we treat animals cruelly or as unfeeling machines, our children will probably think that this is right or, at least, normal. The more a child identifies with an adult, the greater an impact that person will have on the child-in both good ways and bad ways. ==== ==== Children who know of animal cruelty should tell an adult about it. Make sure children know who they can trust—such as parents, teachers, police officers, etc.—and nurture their trust so they can tell you. ====

= ( This information I put it on Perspective ) =

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We will know that our action will have a lasting impact because we were thinking to teach people all about animals, but how...?
==== We will talk to the PYP organisor and create a unit where people can learn more about school animals their needs and behaviour. This will stay for years. Also we will put some posters around the school showing info about school animasl. We are sure that we will leave a print and make animals and humans have a good lifestyle. We also know that this is going to last because we are going to do all the possible things so this unit is not only going to last for only one year because we are going to said that if the unit will be about animals it not only going to be in 1 year, i mean that it can last for a long time...! It will last forever (exept they take it out) this is an action that will help and give education to children about animals, needs and behaviour. ====

We will know that our plaquets and posters actions are going to have a lasting impact by 2 forms:
====frist that the plaquets and posters will not damage with rain or anything because they will hyave a special material wich is going to be design by a professional graphic designer.====

we are going to make plaquets to teach children what are animals needs and other things so they can stop treating badly animals and feel what they feel
= ( This information i put it on Reflection with Carolina G ) =

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The ducks eat a fact based on maize and soybean. Duck this feed is usually added crushed grains and wheat and oats are fed also with some vegetables. ====== The production of eggs is affected by daylight. When there is more daylight, the ducks will lay more eggs. In the months of July to December when daylight is short, they slow down their production of eggs. Sometimes, they stop laying eggs completely during these months. To prevent this from happening, farmers use artificial lighting so that the ducks have about 17 hours of light a day to produce eggs efficiently.

Ducks, like other animals, are useful to human beings. They provide us with eggs and meat to eat. Some ducks provide us with feathers are used for stuffing quilts and pillows. The feathers are usually from the Eider duck. Thus, the name "eiderdown" for stuffed quilts. To line their nests, the females pluck feathers from their breast. Their feathers are harvested in Iceland where they are found everywhere along the coast and are a valuable source of income for the people here. Eiders feed on mussels, sea snails, crabs, shrimps, barnacles, catch fish, dig for snails and eat other small crustaceans and some sea-weeds.

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squirrel : The Squirrels belong to a large family of medium sized rodents called the Sciuridae. This family includes four types of squirrels, the ground squirrel, the chipmunks, the red squirrel and the prairie dogs. Here in school we have the Red squirrel which lives in the trees and also sometimes they come to ground to search some food. We have seen 2 types of relationship with the squirrel the bad one, and the good one. The bad one is, when a squirrel comes to ground to search some food some kids start chasing her to get her, so she starts running and running and sometimes when they run too much their heart start to work harder and later she dies, also another type of bad thing is some kids in preekinder leave the left of their fruits on the trees so the squirrels can come back down and eat it, it sounds a good thing but it isn’t because the squirrels get used to not search food and just wait till the kids feed her, but what happens when the kids go out of school for vacations?, the squirrel doesn’t know how to search food and then she die. Also we have the good one but this one is too short because the only thing that kids do to make her live better is leave her alone with her habitat. =====

[[#x
When squirrels are breeding, Squirrels breed once or twice a year, and give birth to a varying number of young after three to six weeks, depending on species. The young are born naked, toothless, helpless, and blind. In most species of squirrel, only the female looks after the young, which are weaned at around six to ten weeks of age and become sexually mature at the end of their first year.]] [[#x---When squirrels are breeding, Squirrels breed once or twice a year, and give birth to a varying number of young after three to six weeks, depending on species. The young are born naked, toothless, helpless, and blind. In most species of squirrel, only the female looks after the young, which are weaned at around six to ten weeks of age and become sexually mature at the end of their first year.]] When squirrels are breeding, Squirrels breed once or twice a year, and give birth to a varying number of young after three to six weeks, depending on species. The young are born naked, toothless, helpless, and blind. In most species of squirrel, only the female looks after the young, which are weaned at around six to ten weeks of age and become sexually mature at the end of their first year. =====

[[#x
Unlike rabbits or deer, squirrels cannot feed upon cellulose and must rely on foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fat. In temperate regions, early spring is the hardest time of year for squirrels, because buried nuts begin to sprout and are no longer available for the squirrel to eat, and new food sources have not become available yet. During these times squirrels rely heavily on the buds of trees. Squirrels' diet consists primarily of a wide variety of plant food, including nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi and green vegetation. However some squirrels also consume meat, especially when faced with hunger. Squirrels have been known to eat insects, eggs, small birds, young snakes and smaller rodents. Indeed, some tropical species have shifted almost entirely to a diet of insects.]] [[#x---Unlike rabbits or deer, squirrels cannot feed upon cellulose and must rely on foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fat. In temperate regions, early spring is the hardest time of year for squirrels, because buried nuts begin to sprout and are no longer available for the squirrel to eat, and new food sources have not become available yet. During these times squirrels rely heavily on the buds of trees. Squirrels' diet consists primarily of a wide variety of plant food, including nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi and green vegetation. However some squirrels also consume meat, especially when faced with hunger. Squirrels have been known to eat insects, eggs, small birds, young snakes and smaller rodents. Indeed, some tropical species have shifted almost entirely to a diet of insects.]] Unlike rabbits or deer, squirrels cannot feed upon cellulose and must rely on foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fat. In temperate regions, early spring is the hardest time of year for squirrels, because buried nuts begin to sprout and are no longer available for the squirrel to eat, and new food sources have not become available yet. During these times squirrels rely heavily on the buds of trees. Squirrels' diet consists primarily of a wide variety of plant food, including nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi and green vegetation. However some squirrels also consume meat, especially when faced with hunger. Squirrels have been known to eat insects, eggs, small birds, young snakes and smaller rodents. Indeed, some tropical species have shifted almost entirely to a diet of insects. =====

[[#x
Squirrels prefer to live where there is much of food. Usually this is an area with nuts, seed and fruits. Squirrels also like to live in a place where there is much of grass and plants, because also they eat them. Squirrel have to live in places that have trees, even if it’s a city. This is because squirrels build nests in trees, for their baby’s. It keeps the baby squirrel safe from harm when they are very young and left alone while the parents squirrels are searching for food. Red squirrels live in forests usually but here in school they live in trees of the school. The gray squirrel lives in trees at the city. But in winter the 4 types of squirrels live in tree trunk holes so they can keeps themselves and their babies warm.]] [[#x---Squirrels prefer to live where there is much of food. Usually this is an area with nuts, seed and fruits. Squirrels also like to live in a place where there is much of grass and plants, because also they eat them. Squirrel have to live in places that have trees, even if it’s a city. This is because squirrels build nests in trees, for their baby’s. It keeps the baby squirrel safe from harm when they are very young and left alone while the parents squirrels are searching for food. Red squirrels live in forests usually but here in school they live in trees of the school. The gray squirrel lives in trees at the city. But in winter the 4 types of squirrels live in tree trunk holes so they can keeps themselves and their babies warm.]] Squirrels prefer to live where there is much of food. Usually this is an area with nuts, seed and fruits. Squirrels also like to live in a place where there is much of grass and plants, because also they eat them. Squirrel have to live in places that have trees, even if it’s a city. This is because squirrels build nests in trees, for their baby’s. It keeps the baby squirrel safe from harm when they are very young and left alone while the parents squirrels are searching for food. Red squirrels live in forests usually but here in school they live in trees of the school. The gray squirrel lives in trees at the city. But in winter the 4 types of squirrels live in tree trunk holes so they can keeps themselves and their babies warm. =====

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For a domestic ducks such as the ones we have here in the school farms the best habitat for a duck is a normally sized bowl with the minimum height of 60 cm and it is provided with drinking and feeding. It is important to know that the bird will grow and we must expect that the space in which it develops can be small for him in the future. You can use a small pile of straw for use as a bed. It's a good idea to have a pair of ducks that are not so alone. ======

Ducks are birds. They are also called "waterfowls" because they are normally found in places with water, like ponds, streams and rivers. They are related to geese and swans. The duck is the smallest of them all. Ducks also have shorter necks and wings and a stout body. They can live from 2-12 years, depending on breed.

Ducks have webbed feet, designed for swimming. Their webbed feet act like paddles for the ducks. A duck waddles instead of walks because of its webbed feet. Do you know that the duck's feet cannot feel cold even if it swims in icy cold water? Well, the reason for this is because its feet have no nerves or blood vessels

Another special thing that the duck has is its water-proof feathers. There is a special gland that produces oil near the duck's tail which spreads and covers the outer coat of the duck's feathers, making it water-proof. Beneath the water-proof coat are fluffy and soft feathers to keep the duck warm

Ducks keep clean by preening themselves. They do this by being able to turn their heads completely backwards, and putting their beaks into the feathers on their wings, breast and back. They preen themselves very often.

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Ducks give out a special sound. Listen to the sound of ducks [|quacking] here. However, not all ducks quack. The Wood Duck does not quack, it gives out a [|"squeal"] instead. ======

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Ducks were once wild until they were domesticated by the Chinese over 1,000 There are still many different breeds of wild ducks. Most of the farm ducks are of a breed called "Pekin". It is harder to tell a male from a female with the Pekin ducks because they look almost the same. The male has two to three curly feathers on top. Pekin ducks have white or cream colored feathers and orange colored bills. These ducks do not fly and do well in captivity. They are also excellent for egg and meat production. The Pekin duck originated from China and is the most popular breed in the United States, having been first brought by ship from China to Long Island, New York in 187 ======

Ducks are found in wetlands, marshes, ponds, rivers, lakes and oceans. This is because ducks love the water. Some species of ducks migrate or travel longs distances every year to breed. Usually they travel to warmer areas or where the water does not freeze so that they can rest and raise their young. The distance may be thousands of miles away. Ducks are found everywhere in the world except the Antarctica which is too cold for them

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The duck's mouth is called a "bill". Normally, it is broad and flat and has rows of fine notches along the edge called "lamellae". The lamellae helps the duck to grip its food so that it will not slip off. However, ducks bills come in different shapes and sizes. The shape of the bill and body features will determine how the duck hunt for its food ======

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The males (drakes) are usually the brightly colored ones while the females (ducks) are usually a dull-colored brown so that they can hide be camouflaged from their enemies when they are in their nests. ====== The Wood Duck in the picture is an example of the colorful male. The males use their colorful plumage to attract females. However, they will lose or molt their colorful feathers when the females are busy hatching the eggs. The males will now look like the female in color and will be unable to fly temporarily. They will molt again in early Fall (autumn) and get back their colorful feathers and be able to fly again. The females also molt. They replace all their feathers, get new ones after their babies or ducklings are hatche

= ( All of this information i put it in the Line of Inquiry 2 ) =

= -we have also planned to make like a rule for the teachers to do at list one class at the month in the farm so children can start to know and learned more things!!;) = = - = =But our real BIG ACTION is that we will do some Plaquets and= = 9 big posters telling all things about school animals, their habitat, needs, behaviour and put a photo of each of them. To do it we should look for an art disigner. This Plaquets and Posters will be similar as the zoo ones. Also this Plaquets and Posters will help them understand more about the animals we have at school also why they cant mistreat them so this will help them understand more and realize that they cant hurt animals ! =

= Conclusion : =

=== Animals feel pain and fear like we do, but they are often helpless victims because they cant say what happened to them. In fact some people choose to abuse from animals instead of people, for this very reason if we wish to create a human society, we must stop cruelty against those who are more vulnerable, like animals. One of the most powerful tools we have for preventing cruelty to animals is education. It is important to plant seeds of kindness in children early, Children not only need to learn what they shouldnt do, but also what they can do. When Children see that their pets are happy and loving, it will make the student feel good too. We can share spaces with animals in any way and it will be good because we are saving some lives and we make better the environment for the kids because it improves air quality and here are some tips to avoid the wildlife problems: ===

-Allow two feet of vegetation for the school.


= Synthesis : =

=== By every measure, earth is loosing natural habitat and species at an alarming rate. Extinction is nothing new. Every year some new species emerge and are gone forever. But the earth now is expiriencing an exinction rate that that is huge. If our school becomes a wildllife habitat we could save some lives and species, we could have more animals to learn about. We could share spaces and resources with many different living things. It benefits both sides, another reason of sharing spaces ( creating a backyard wild life habitat ) is, it improves air quality for the students, nourishes soil and reduces erosion. And there is another good reason for sharing spaces which is, it adds value to the school. Trees, shrubs, and flowers add beauty and interest to the school. If you are still unconvinced ===

• All of the above (no places for nest-building or safely rearing young)
**Why bother to share spaces at school with animals?** === Why share our space with wildlife?, well, because urbanization destroys their habitat. Suddenly homeless, they flee to a new, often an unsuitable place. For many, its a matter of life or death as they face the challenges of the unfamiliar. By giving back some of the space that was taken from them, we do the morally right thing for wildlife and for the environment. ===

Animal friendly schools do more than just teach about animals. They encourage both, teachers and pupils to think about animals needs and to develop a sense of care and responsibility for them.
= Information : =









Reason One

By every measure, earth is losing natural habitat and species at an alarming rate. Extinction rates for plants and animals are so high they're threatening our planet's ability to sustain the resources humans need for survival, like forests, oceans, healthy soil, potable water.

Extinction is nothing new. Every year some new species emerge and some are gone forever. But the earth is now experiencing an extinction rate that's huge: Scientists estimate that every year up to 50,000 species disappear forever because of human activity.

Take birds, as an example. The expected extinction rate for them is about one species per century. Yet, 500 species have gone extinct in the past 500 years and current studies predict that 10 additional species will go extinct every year from hereon if something isn't done to reverse this pattern. What's causing this? The usual suspects: habitat destruction, over-hunting, ill-advised introduction of alien species into established ecosystems and, now, global warming.

Reason Two

You get to observe exotic species. The idea of our urban wildlife as "exotic" may seem farfetched. But exotic means out of the ordinary and most of what we deem commonplace in our part of the world is unusual to someone living in a very different environment. Conversely, their most commonplace species may be exotics to us. Consider this:

• The Northern Cardinal, that brilliantly colored favorite of many backyard birdwatchers, is an exotic species to anyone who doesn't live in the Americas.

• The cheery Carolina Chickadee is known in only a handful of states in the southeastern U.S. and nowhere else in the world.

• The California condor, our largest bird species, lives only in California and Arizona. People travel around the world just to catch a glimpse of one of these majestic, rare birds who live on the edge of extinction.

• The Florida Scrub jay lives only in one small area of Florida and the Yellow-billed magpie lives only in California. Colorado will never see one of these.

• There are 15 bird species who live only within the geographic borders of the U.S. and nowhere else in the world.

• One hundred sixty bird species are unique to North America and Mexico. Another 750 bird species live only in North America and south to Panama and the Caribbean. No one else in the world gets to see these species.

• In the U.S. and Canada, about 92,000 species of insects have been named so far. Thousands of these species live in your part of the country and nowhere else in the world.

• Two hundred thirty-three mammals are endemic only to North America and Mexico.

• Among plant species, 7,807 are unique to North America and Mexico.

When we watch a "common" Northern Cardinal at a bird feeder, happily consuming the black-oil sunflower seeds we've provided, or the "common" American Robin searching for worms in a freshly watered garden, we're seeing beautiful birds who most people in the world will never see. Even the ubiquitous Virginia opossum is unique -- he's the only marsupial living in the U.S.

Who hasn’t excitedly planned a vacation in one of the most scenic, naturalized spots in the world that would fit within our budget? Perhaps your dream is an Amazon cruise, an African safari, birdwatching in Europe or New England in the fall. Maybe it's camping on tree-studded mountains in Colorado or rafting through the Grand Canyon. We're drawn to areas of beauty defined by forests, wilderness, and unspoiled vistas. We listen in wonder to the sounds of wildlife -- the sweet voices of songbirds, the haunting call of the coyote, a tiger's roar, the trumpeting of elephants, the other-worldly song of a whale. We love natural areas so much that we wage war against politicians when they propose to drill for oil in the Arctic or threaten to build roads in old-growth forests.

Urban land -- the land we city folks live on -- was once some of the wilderness we admire. Before humans stripped it of its native life, your plot of ground was covered with trees and undergrowth. Or, depending on where you live, maybe it was a savanna, playing host to a tangle of grasses and an oasis of trees. Or a prairie dotted with wildflowers and tall, windblown grasses. All the loveliness of your land was the result of millenniums of animal and plant activity.

When developers tame our property into urban standards of acceptability, they forfeit our stake in nature. Not only that, but they rob indigenous animals and plants of habitat and sometimes their lives. than doing nothing. This homeowner planted a butterfly garden. ||
 * [[image:http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?resolutionfile=pxpath%7Cpublic%20access/Images/Habitat/Garden1.jpg align="right" link="http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath%7Cdefault.asp&area_1=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/BotherLeft&area_2=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/BotherMain&area_3=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/BotherRight"]] ||
 * Even a small patch of yard dedicated to wildlife is better

The good news is that nothing prevents us from inviting nature back, even in the heart of a city. No, we can't put it back exactly like it was before. Even if we could, most of us don't want to go quite that far. But, more and more, people are coming to realize that some of what was taken needs to be returned, and it's within our power to do it. We’re looking for a balance that fits the needs of both humans and wildlife. Even if your "outdoors" is an apartment patio or a pocket garden, even if your wildlife habitat is only a corner of your yard or a butterfly garden surrounded by lawn, you're giving something back.

When we provide them the essentials they need to live, there will be life all around us -- in the trees and shrubs, in the soil, in the water, under the rafters and in the air.

Reason three

Planting for backyard wildlife improves air quality, nourishes the soil and reduces erosion. Shade from trees planted judiciously cools our home. Shrubs can create privacy and buffer the noise of street traffic.

Reason four

Curb appeal. It adds value to your property. Trees, shrubs and flowers add beauty and interest to your yard.

Yes, they have feelings!
 * [[image:http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?resolutionfile=pxpath%7Cpublic%20access/Images/Mammals/FoxPlay.jpg link="http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath%7Cdefault.asp&area_1=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/FeelingsLeft&area_2=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/FeelingsMain&area_3=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/FeelingsRight"]] ||
 * Young Red foxes playing with their mother (Steve Byland) ||

It wasn't so long ago that the idea of animals having feelings was scientific heresy. Recent hard research, however, is putting the kibosh on that notion. Of course, pet owners have known all along that their dogs and cats have feelings, but there's now irrefutable evidence that wildlife of all stripes also experience empathy, joy, grief and love. Even gratitude. Some hardliners still adamantly disagree, but they're becoming outnumbered; it seems there's more to animals than instinct and, it turns out, humans aren't as unique as we thought.

Anecdotal reports of animals' emotions have been around for ages, but about 10 years ago neurobiologists began discovering physical evidence, such as specific nerve cells that are associated with empathy in both humans and non-human primates. They've also found a brain cell that's common to humans, other primates and whales which plays a part in empathy, intuition and feelings for others.

This shouldn't surprise us, says author/scientist Jonathan Balcombe in his book, Pleasurable Kingdom,* since humans and other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes share many of the same physical characteristics: a bony skeleton, nervous system, central brain, circulatory system, hormones, etc. All this, plus a sensory system that includes sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste. Balcombe and other scientists believe it stands to reason that humans and animals would react in similar ways. They don't deny that animals react simply and automatically to certain stimuli, nor do they believe animals have human-like emotions. But their research is telling us there's more mental and emotional complexity to animals, deeper dimensions that give them more fulfilling lives than we ever imagined. Here's a sampling. (P.J.Malsbury) ||
 * [[image:http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?resolutionfile=pxpath%7Cpublic%20access/Images/Mammals/Elephants.jpg align="right" link="http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath%7Cdefault.asp&area_1=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/FeelingsLeft&area_2=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/FeelingsMain&area_3=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/FeelingsRight"]] ||
 * Playful young elephants.

Joy and play

While play often serves the purpose of allowing wildlife to fine-tune skills they'll need for survival, there's no doubt it's fun for them. In our own yards we can observe young squirrels playfully romping and wrestling, and rabbits chasing each other, running and leaping. Anthropologist Mary Thurston tells about an adult male squirrel who pulls towels off patio chairs and hops and twists until he is completely covered. His behavior seems to be just for the joy of it because there's no survival, mating or food behavior associated with it.

Numerous other observed instances offer proof that animals play and experience something akin to joy. Primatologist Jane Goodall tells of Marcus, a rescued chimp who loves to dance in heavy rainfall, swinging and swaying rhythmically. Junior, an orangutan at the St. Louis Zoo will clean up his cage in return for getting to play with a whistle. Researchers at Dian Fossey's Rwandan research station have watched young gorillas wrestle with their Labrador retriever pets. When rats are playfully tickled, they squeal** with glee and show an increase in the production of dopamine, which is associated with the pleasure center of the brain (in humans, too). The rats also ran to the tickler whenever they sensed they were going to be tickled.

Otters seem to be having "fun" as they repeatedly use muddy, sloping embankments for "slippery slides" into water or to play-slide on ice in winter. "Pigface," a Nile softshell turtle who lives at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, plays with toys by pushing, pulling, shaking and nosing them around. A wood turtle has reportedly devised a fun activity for himself by repeatedly climbing up and sliding down a board into water.

Dolphins (who, it has recently been discovered, call each other by name) blow hoop-shaped bubbles from their blow-holes, move them around and change their size (see a wonderful video of it on [|this web page], along with some information). Dolphins also play tug-of-war with seaweed. Captive octopuses have been observed playing with plastic bottles and a Lego®, passing them from tentacle to tentacle. Wild Reindeer eat hallucinogenic mushrooms for the "high" it gives them.

Love

Haven't we all seen photos of ape mothers tenderly cradling their babies? Huge Polar Bear mothers carefully holding and protecting a newborn no larger than a mouse? Two lovebirds, mated for life, who stay near each other day and night?

A mare, upon seeing a daughter return after a two-year absence, whinnied and screamed from two fields away, and they reunited with a show of great joy. There's a adult bull living in a herd of cows in Germany who goes his own way until midday, at which time he always goes to graze near his mother. screw-on lid. ( Matthias Kabel/WikiMedia) ||
 * [[image:http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?resolutionfile=pxpath%7Cpublic%20access/Images/OtherAnimal/Octopus1.jpg link="http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath%7Cdefault.asp&area_1=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/FeelingsLeft&area_2=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/FeelingsMain&area_3=public%20access/Pages/SpecialTopics/FeelingsRight"]] ||
 * An octopus plays with a jar's

There's evidence that love, or something like it, is also felt within groups of whales, dolphins, hyenas, foxes and mongooses. Birds, too. A male Barn swallow stayed with his mate after she struck a window and fell to the ground, seemingly dead. A few minutes later she revived and they flew away together. Greylag geese mate for life and may spend dozens of years together. When one dies, the other appears to mourn, with sunken eyes and hanging his head. Many birds "nuzzle" each other and bring their bill tips together as in a kiss.

Empathy

In the news from time to time we see a story about one species who "adopts" a different species -- a dog raising an orphaned goat, a pig playing mother to a kitten. Recently, a French bulldog nursed a Bengal tiger. ( [|Here's a photo] of them.) This form of empathy, or at least the "mother" instinct, seems to be a rather common phenomenon. Empathy shows up in other ways, too, however. Researchers have observed elephants slowing down their walking pace to accommodate a crippled member, Blue jays delivering food to an old jay who was losing his eyesight, even a mouse helping a weaker sibling to survive. In Alaska, one of two orphaned Grizzly bears took salmon to her injured brother until he recovered. Other reports include the story of a Dunnock (small European bird) who struck a window and died, whereupon his two companions dragged his body to a shallow channel of water and repeatedly lifted his neck. Were they fond friends trying to revive him?

Grief

One expert observer tells the story of watching four magpies as they tried to rouse and feed a fifth one who had been struck dead by a car. When that failed, they stood vigil over their dead companion for several seconds before flying away, suggesting a moment of grief. Gorillas have been known to hold wakes. A llama owner reports one of her llamas stayed in his barn and wailed for two days following the death of an older companion. Cows sometimes bellow for days when their calves are taken from them.

Nearly all primate mothers react with intense grief if their infant dies, sometimes carrying the dead body for days or weeks. Grief is strongly felt by their young, too. Goodall tells the story of an 8-year-old chimpanzee, Gombe, whose mother died. He'd had an unusually close bond with his mother and was inconsolable. He was old enough to care for himself, but so depressed he wouldn't eat. Within a few weeks he curled up and died near the spot where his mother's body had lain.

At Sea Life Park in Hawaii, when one of two dolphins who performed together died, her companion wouldn't open his eyes for days. The park took pity on him and introduced a new young dolphin. He allowed her to swim with him, but for the first week, whichever side she was swimming on, he kept that eye closed, seemingly unable to bear another dolphin taking his friend's place. The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn., a refuge for African and Asian elephants, describes elephants suffering obvious intense grief over the death of a companion.

Gratitude

In December 2005, a 45-foot-long female Humpback whale got tangled in crab lines off the coast of California. Hundreds of yards of lines loaded with heavy weights wrapped around her body, tail and mouth. The weight kept pulling her down, making it difficult for her to keep her blowhole above water to breathe. Four divers spent an hour cutting the lines away from her body, including the one tangled around her mouth. A single sweep of her tail would have easily killed a diver, but the whale allowed them to help. After the whale was freed, she swam around the divers in what appeared to be "joyous circles" and then gently nuzzled each diver separately before swimming away. The divers said they felt no fear and thought they were being thanked.

Squirrels: the Fox and the Gray

the game of birdseed theft. (Gail Johnson) || Skip down to: [|Habitat/Behavior/Food sources] [|Reproduction]
 * [[image:http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?resolutionfile=pxpath%7Cpublic%20access/Images/Mammals/RedSquirrel.jpg align="left" link="http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath%7Cdefault.asp&area_1=public%20access/Pages/Mammals/SquirrelsLeft&area_2=public%20access/Pages/Mammals/SquirrelsMain&area_3=public%20access/Pages/Mammals/SquirrelsRight"]] ||
 * This squirrel is throwing himself into

Most people don't pay much attention to tree squirrels. That is, until they decide to feed wild birds. Squirrels love the birdseed, particularly the meaty sunflower seeds. This might be fine if they weren't so greedy: "Yum, plenty of seed, so easy to get at, and all mine, mine, mine."

It's expensive to feed squirrels. Eventually, on behalf of our pocketbook, and the birds who aren't getting their fair share, the war of the humans and the squirrels commences. We try a method to keep the squirrels away, then another and another. We move the bird feeders here and there. We try baffles and wires and water spray. Embarrassingly, the humans lose at every turn. Anyone who's tried to outwit squirrels and has failed (which means most of us) will agree that squirrels seem smarter than humans! You have to admire their intelligence and determination. And, don't they seem to enjoy the challenge? The squirrel who keeps challenging you is probably the Eastern Gray or the Eastern Fox, the most common urban squirrels.

Squirrels are rodents belonging to the scientific order, Rodentia (row-DENCH-ee-uh), the largest group of mammals. This is a group of gnawing mammals who all have chisel-shaped teeth in common. To some people, squirrels look like big rats. They aren't rats, but, being rodents, they are related. Mice, beavers, prairie dogs, chipmunks and porcupines are members of this group, too.

Squirrels fall into one of three groups: tree squirrels, ground squirrels and flying squirrels. Flying squirrels, who seem rather exotic, don't actually fly. They glide. They have a fur-covered membrane that extends from ankle to wrist on each side of their body. By spreading their legs wide, they're able to glide from a higher perch to a lower one. They reportedly can glide the length of a football field from a 50-foot-high perch. Like other squirrels, they can also run on the ground and dash through trees.

In contrast to flying squirrels, who tend to be nocturnal, ground and tree squirrels are active during the day (diurnal). Ground squirrels spend their time on the ground and live in burrows. The most common urban squirrels are the Fox and the Gray tree squirrels, who are very similar in most respects, so the following applies to both species, unless otherwise noted.

Physical description

Fox squirrels are named for the color of their fur. Their back is reddish-orange and the belly a paler shade of red or orange. Adults are 18-29 inches long, not counting the tail. The tail is about 12 inches. An adult weighs about 2 pounds.

Eastern Gray squirrels are also named for the color of their fur. Their belly is whitish, however, and in winter, the ears may be white. Their tail may be a lighter color, too. They're smaller than Fox squirrels -- about 14-20 inches long, with the tail 7-10 inches. The adult Gray weighs about 16-24 ounces.

Some extreme color variations can be seen in both species, often particular to the region in which they live. For instance, a population of dark-headed, gray-backed Fox squirrels lives in the southeastern part of their range. A black population of Fox squirrels lives in one small Kansas town, Marysville, and a totally white (but not albino) population of Gray squirrels lives in Brevard, North Carolina and other towns.

The Fox squirrel has 20 teeth and the Gray squirrel has 22. All squirrels have upper and lower incisor teeth that grow throughout their lives -- about 6 inches a year. The teeth would grow too long if they weren't regularly chiseled down by the rough, herbivorous diet they eat. They also habitually gnaw on things, like tree bark, and grind their teeth constantly, even when they sleep. The ears of tree squirrels are large and they have excellent hearing. Their vision is first-rate, too.

A squirrel's tail is fluffy and about the same length as his body. The tail isn't just for show; it serves squirrels in several ways: It shields them from rain, or from sunshine on a hot day when they sweep it up and over their back. It blankets them when they sleep, wrapped around their body. (As a matter of fact, the name "squirrel" derives from the Greek skia (shadow) and oura (tail): tail that casts a shadow.) The tail also acts as a stabilizer when they go airborne from branch to branch. It's something of a parachute if they fall and serves as a rudder when they swim. And it sometimes saves a life when a chasing predator catches a squirrel by the tail -- the fur, skin and some of the vertebrae will easily break off and the squirrel keeps on going. (The tail, however, doesn't grow back like that of lizards and amphibians, leading one to hope this doesn't happen too often to the same squirrel.)

Squirrels have four toes on their front feet and five on the back. Each toe has a strong claw. Their wrists are double-jointed, allowing them to turn 180 degrees. This, combined with strong hind legs, helps them move nimbly up and down trees. They can leap, too: An Eastern Gray squirrel was observed leaping more than 8 feet to a platform holding seeds. With a predator in pursuit, a squirrel's hard to catch once he gets to a tree. On the ground, they can run and dodge, but they're much more vulnerable. Squirrels seem to be able to nimbly negotiate almost everything (think of telephone lines). However, they do fall sometimes. One extremely lucky squirrel fell 100 feet without injury.

Range and habitat

The Eastern Fox squirrel and Eastern Gray squirrel inhabit the eastern half of the U.S., as well as the West wherever they've been introduced. There's also a "Western" Gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus), but he's a shy species of the West who lives mostly in the forests of mountainous or hilly regions.

The Fox and the Gray, being tree squirrels, live where there are trees. The Fox spends the most time on the ground and is the one most tolerant of a prairie-type environment with fewer trees. The Gray squirrel likes heavier tree coverage. Fox and Gray squirrels have a home territory of a few acres, where they spend their lives. You may have several squirrels living in your yard in overlapping territories.

Behavior

winter coat. || Gray squirrels and Fox squirrels are mostly solitary animals. Females share a den with offspring while raising them, and squirrels will sometimes share a den in cold weather. Otherwise, they stay alone. They're most active in the early morning and late afternoon. They rest in the afternoon, sometimes in a day nest, or they may just lay atop a tree branch. They're generally early to bed, usually curling up in a tight ball well before sunset. Squirrels are at their most active in the fall, when hints of coming cold weather ignite a need to find and stash winter food. At this time they begin to eat more, too, packing on fat to help carry them through the winter. Squirrels don't hibernate; in very cold weather they will sometimes spend several days curled up in their nest.
 * [[image:http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?resolutionfile=pxpath%7Cpublic%20access/Images/Mammals/SquirrelSnow.jpg align="right" link="http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath%7Cdefault.asp&area_1=public%20access/Pages/Mammals/SquirrelsLeft&area_2=public%20access/Pages/Mammals/SquirrelsMain&area_3=public%20access/Pages/Mammals/SquirrelsRight"]] ||
 * Fox squirrel in his

As you may have personally experienced, squirrels can be very vocal. Many of us have been subjected to their scolding: a loud, staccato, clucking sound accompanied by a herky-jerky, flicking tail and “get out of here” stare. They scold each other similarly, but have other forms of communication, too, including barks, whistles and, in the case of Gray squirrels, a quacking sound. The vocalizations are used to warn of nearby predators, in courtship and in territorial displays. Infant squirrels being fed or touched by wildlife rehabilitators are known to produce a purring sound, presumably something they would also do in the wild while being tended by their mother. They may also make a loud shrieking sound when startled or frightened.

Another way squirrels communicate is through scent marks they leave on branches. Their sweat glands, which leave a distinctive odor, are located on the bottom of their feet (on a very hot day, a squirrel walking across a sidewalk might leave damp paw prints.) They also scent branches with their urine or anal fluids to mark their territory. One research study has shown that squirrels can identify a relative by his scent trail.

Squirrels protect themselves first by running -- by one account as fast as 20 miles per hour. If they must swim, they can. And they do it well. Often they simply remain motionless to avoid detection (their coloring blends in with tree bark). If all else fails, they'll claw and bite their attacker. Another strategy is to keep a vertical object between themselves and a predator. Perhaps you've seen this maneuver yourself when approaching a squirrel who's clinging to a fat tree trunk. As you move around the trunk, the squirrel does too, so the trunk always stands between you two.

How smart are squirrels? Very. For a fun example of squirrel intelligence, watch [|t][|his video] on YouTube.com. It shows a squirrel using his teeth to lift the pop-up spray head of a sprinkler system. The sprinkler is not operating, but each time the head is raised, it dispenses a little water, which the squirrel drinks. He repeats this again and again until his thirst is slaked.

Food sources

Both Fox and Gray spend a lot of their life on the ground, either seeking food -- young shoots, buds, berries, fallen nuts and fruits -- or tending to food: They bury nuts in late summer and fall to serve as food stores through the winter. (They reportedly can smell buried nuts under a foot of snow.) Although squirrels are considered to be herbivores, they supplement their nutty, veggie, fruity diet with a small quantity of insects, bird eggs and even nestlings, mostly while raising their young.

In winter, squirrels dig up nuts as they need them. The nuts aren't buried all in one spot and while it's possible they remember where some of them are buried, they may just smell them. The nut one squirrel digs up might well have been buried by a different squirrel. It's through this practice of caching nuts that squirrels help to reforest areas, as more nuts are buried than are retrieved. Next time you're digging in your garden and find a buried nut, you'll know it isn't there by accident. It's this behavior that's also behind the holes we sometimes find in the disturbed soil of our flowerpots and planters.

Cover and nesting

Squirrels prefer to nest in a hollow tree or other location that offers cozy protection. They have a thick coat of fur and, in winter, it keeps them pretty toasty. But, it isn't waterproof. Those leafy nests (called dreys) we see clinging to tree branches are built for temporary use. If a squirrel can't find a suitable hollow tree or other sheltered den site, especially in winter, he'll build a drey. For winter the drey is heavily constructed with thickly interwoven twigs. He creates an entrance through the side so that once inside he has a roof over his head. In the warmth of summer, the drey might be built as nothing more than a simple small saucer. The squirrels are also known to nest in chimneys, attics and other places that offer protection from predators and weather.

Reproduction

Depending on the climate, December, January or February is a busy month for squirrels, with much chasing up, down and across tree branches and leaping from tree to tree. It's the first of twice-a-year mating rituals. The males compete for females by trying to chase each other away. They also chase females, hoping to be the final suitor. Gray squirrel males start following a female five days before estrus (the time she is willing to mate and able to conceive.) They have a very narrow window of opportunity, as she'll be in estrus only a few hours. The Fox female, on the other hand, can mate anytime, but her mating peaks in December and June. Both species may mate again from April through June. Both male and female squirrels may mate with more than one partner. squirrel built her nest in a Wood duck nesting box. ||
 * [[image:http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?resolutionfile=pxpath%7Cpublic%20access/Images/Mammals/Squirrelbaby.jpg link="http://www.welcomewildlife.com/bins/site/templates/default.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath%7Cdefault.asp&area_1=public%20access/Pages/Mammals/SquirrelsLeft&area_2=public%20access/Pages/Mammals/SquirrelsMain&area_3=public%20access/Pages/Mammals/SquirrelsRight"]] ||
 * The mother of this baby Fox

The female prefers a den of dry leaves in a hollow tree or, if she must, she'll make a drey in the fork of a tree or other place she considers suitable. She lines the drey with leaves, moss, fur and just about any other soft thing she can find. One drey, constructed at the very tip of a Washington Hawthorne tree, couldn't be missed: It was topped with a purple-colored silk flower the squirrel had found. Like a ship's flag, it waved colorfully in the breeze just as though she'd planned it that way.

About 45 days after mating, the female gives birth to as many as seven (usually three) blind, deaf and mostly naked babies, weighing about a half-ounce. Their skin is very pink and their only adornment is their "vibrissae," which are small hairs sprouting from several spots on their head and neck. These are stiff and similar to whiskers. Squirrels use them for touch, like a cat does. In about three weeks, the infants begin to grow hair and their ears, which were laying flat at birth, open. At four to six weeks their eyes open. By the seventh week, weaning will start, and by the tenth they're fully weaned, ready to take on the world with a lifetime supply of quick wits and keen senses.

Until then, their mother shows them lots of care. She spends plenty of time in the den, even lying on her back to make it easier for them to nurse. She'll aggressively protect them from predators and move them one-by-one to another location, if necessary. She fusses over them by keeping them clean and free of parasites. She keeps the den clean, too, by removing the babies' excrement. (Adult squirrels are very clean, spending time with personal grooming every day. Should their nest become contaminated with parasites, they move.)

As juveniles, the squirrels learn social skills and how to fend for themselves. They play-fight and chase each other around, they practice mounting behavior, and also groom each other. They follow their mother up into the treetops and down to the ground. They learn what trees offer food, which are tasty to gnaw on, how to crack open a nut, how to judge when a limb is too flimsy to support them and how to escape predators. They stay with their mother for several weeks after they're fully weaned but, more and more, they yearn for a life alone.

If these youngsters are gray squirrels (who are gregarious), once they have left the family group they might continue to live in their mother's territory, providing it can support the extra population. Fox squirrels, on the other hand, are solitary except when in a reproductive phase. Males of both species are more likely to disperse to new territories than females. Fox and Gray squirrels raised in captivity live to be about 18 years old. In the wild they live six to 12 years.

Predators

Predators include hawks, foxes, coyotes and an occasional house cat. Automobiles kill thousands, perhaps millions, a year.

= Prior Knowledge : =

The ways in we can share space and resources with the animals at school, we could share by giving them more space and not invading their habitat. Also another way of sharing resources and space Is to not litter or to throw rubbish because in that way their habitat will be natural and with a good environment.

=This information i put it on the LOI 3=