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Deciduous Forests Biome Locations
- North America (east coast)
- Russia (south-west)
- Australia (south-east)
- Paraguay (east coast)
- Chile (south)
- China (east)
- New Zealand
- Japan
Interesting Facts about Deciduous Forest Animals
- Winters in deciduous forest are extremely cold. The animals that live there survive this season in many ways including:
- Many animals including most birds migrate south to warmer areas during this season.
- Some animals, like black bears and raccoons hibernate during the winters. Hibernation is more than sleep it is an inactive or dormant state. Hibernating animals often appear dead and do not awake easily. They eat as much as possible during the summer and fall in order to gain enough weight to live off their body fat for winter hibernation.
- Animals, such as squirrels, that do not migrate or hibernate, need to be prepared. They need to have warm shelters set up and have stored plenty of food. They will often hide food under leaves, in trees, and in small holes which they retrieve when winter sets in and food becomes less plentiful.
- One unfortunate fact is that many animals residing in deciduous forest have been pushed to the brink of extinction by hunting and the destruction of their natural habitats by human expansion. Elk and Bison have almost completely disappeared from areas where thousands once roamed. Laws have been passed to protect these animals, including the U.S. Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
- There is rainfall throughout the year in deciduous forests making water available to the animals that live there. However in the winter the water is usually frozen and animals are unable to drink it.
- When the leaves fall off the trees in the fall it becomes more difficult for several species to hide from predators.
- One of the most famous deciduous forest animals is the bald eagle. It is the national symbol of the United States and appears on US currency and on its national seal.
- The American black bear is one of the most dangerous animals inhabiting the deciduous forest. It is the world's most common bear species.
List of Deciduous Forest Animals
- Bald Eagle
- Whitetail Deer
- Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
- Raccoon
- Chipmunk
- Opossum
- Black Bear
- Mountain Lion
- Duckbill Platypus
- European Red Squirrel
- Bobwhite Quail
- European Hedgehog
- Coyote
- Fat Dormouse
- Wood Mouse
- Northern Cardinal
- Least Weasel
- Skunk
- Bobcat
- Banded Hawk
- Lanner Falcon