Animals of the forest belt. Animals of the coniferous forest. Animals of mixed and deciduous forests

The coniferous forests of the Northern Continent represent the most extensive areas of continuous forest cover on Earth. Conifers do well in high latitudes because they are evergreen, and photosynthesis can begin immediately as soon as conditions become favorable for growth, without the need to grow leaves first, as is the case with deciduous forests. In this way, conifers compensate for shortness growing season, which lasts from 50 to 80 days, depending on latitude. Seed maturation and reproduction are also related to climate. Coniferous trees, unlike deciduous trees, do not form fruiting organs, which are pollinated and ripen within one year. Fertilization in female bump may take a year or more to complete and may take up to three years until the bud develops and the seeds are ripe for propagation.
The result of the lack of leaf litter and the prevalence of cold climatic conditions that retard the natural decomposition of the carpet of fallen pine needles, a material that is difficult to decompose in any case, is only a very thin layer of soil and little or no undergrowth. Mammals inhabiting these places for the most part herbivores and live on a diet of moss, pine needles, bark and cones. Insectivorous birds are rare compared to those that feed on the seeds and buds of conifers. Forest fires are infrequent in these areas, and usually occur in the spring, when there is little sap in the trees. At this time, vast areas can be devastated.
Re-occupancy begins deciduous trees- birch, alder and rowan, which only after some time are replaced by climax vegetation - spruce, larch, cedar * or pine.
Characteristic for coniferous trees The tall, pointed shape is ideal for supporting the weight of snow that falls in the winter and allows the snow to slide off quickly when it begins to melt in the spring. The shallow root system is perfectly adapted to the thin layer of soil that characterizes this habitat.
In northern regions where underlying soil layers remain frozen all year round, and therefore impervious to water, many rivers, streams and swamps arise with their local flora of mosses and sedges. The forest becomes more and more sparse and mixes with the neighboring tundra. Large areas of tundra mosses and lichens grow at higher elevations. Near the rivers in the transition region, the forest remains dense and encroaches far to the north, into the tundra, along the river valleys. On the southern edge of the taiga belt, coniferous forests are gradually replaced by deciduous forests.
Small areas around the world coniferous forests are found outside their main latitudinal distribution, especially on mountain slopes, where altitudinal zones create climatic conditions, similar to the conditions formed near the poles.
During the Human Age, coniferous forests suffered significant damage due to clearing for Agriculture And industrial forestry. As a result, large areas of land were subject to wind and rain erosion, which destroyed the soil structure and, naturally, reduced its ability to retain moisture. Coniferous forests took some time to recover from the damage because the normal process of succession cannot take place immediately.

* It should be remembered that in the northern coniferous forests there is no true cedar (genus Cedrus). Under English word“cedar” can refer to juniper, Siberian cedar pine (most often called that), thuja and cypress. – V.P.

VEGETARIAN BEASTS

Evolution of the helmethorns

Animals feeding woody vegetation, are largest inhabitants in areas overgrown coniferous forest. In the summer they feed mostly on young shoots and needles, and subsist on a diet of bark, mosses and lichens for the rest of the year. Throughout the northern continent, the most numerous species are those descended from the gigantelopes of the African subcontinent. These northern animals, although heavier than their distant antelope ancestors, are not even close in size to the African giantelopes. Only shaggy forms from the Far North, living in the tundra, can compare with them in size.
The difference in size between the two different northern forms stems from two different periods resettlement. The first of these took place about forty million years ago, before the giant mountain ranges were erected between Africa and Europe, and around the time that the rabbits drove the antelopes from their original home on the African plains. Gigantelopes, then still in the early stages of their evolution, were forced to move north into coniferous forests, where they later began to flourish and evolved into helmeted horns. Cornudens spp.
The second wave of migration took place closer to the present, about ten million years ago, when African giantelopes reached their current elephantine proportions. Erosion mountain range, which once separated the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia, opened new routes to the north, and led to the gradual settlement of the tundra and the evolution of the woolly giantelope Megalodorcas sp.
Soon after the appearance of these animals in coniferous forests, the jaws and horns of the ancestral forms of helmeted horns began to evolve in accordance with their new habitat. Like the now almost extinct ruminants, many of these animals did not have upper incisors. They plucked grass using the lower incisors and the bone plate in the upper jaw. But such a system is not very effective in tearing branches from forest trees. The first change that occurred was the growth of the horny plate on the head forward, forming a kind of beak. The lower lip became muscular and extended forward to align
with it, thereby extending the oral cavity forward some distance from the front teeth. Such a primitive structure is still found in some species, for example, in the helmeted helmet Cornudens horridus. In more advanced forms, however, lower jaw also stretched forward so that the front teeth were level with the horny beak. These adaptations are the result of evolutionary pressure to allow only those species that could successfully feed on the branches and bark of conifers and lichens to survive. The bizarre horny formations above the eyes are also used for protection.
The structure of the horns has evolved one step further in the water helmet Cornudens latirostris, which inhabits lakes and river banks. This creature has a horny plate extended forward in the form of a wide structure, similar to a rake, with the help of which this animal collects soft aquatic plants, which it searches for at the bottom of ponds and streams. On each leg it has two wide hooves, widely spread to the sides and connected by a membrane of skin, which protects the animal from getting stuck in soft mud and sand. In its way of life, the water helmet most likely resembles hadrosaurs - duck-billed dinosaurs of the last half of the Age of Reptiles.

As in any other habitat, animals coniferous forest included in the familiar plexus food chains predators and their prey, with carnivores forming the last link. Here, as in deciduous forests temperate climates, the most ferocious and common hunters are predatory rats. They hunt under trees in small flocks, tracking down rabbits or helmeted sheep, separating weak and aging individuals from the herd, and driving them to exhaustion. Predatory rats do this before attacking, then tearing apart the prey with their strong front teeth. Helmethorns have powerful horns, so if they are chased, it can be just as dangerous for the predator as for the one being chased.
A predator unique to coniferous forests is the pamtret Vulpemustela acer, a large animal similar to a weasel, one of the few representatives of true predators still living. Its size - up to two meters in length - makes it the largest predator found in these areas, and it may owe its survival to its low muscular body and the ability to easily run through sparse undergrowth, suddenly appearing in front of its prey. Pamtrets live in small family groups and usually hunt in pairs.
Not all predators are mammals; Birds also take their share of small animal populations. Bigbeak Pseudofraga sp., one of the largest birds of prey, has a wingspan of about a meter and lives in the western forests of the Northern Continent. She descended from the starling, which evolved to fill the gap left when many ancient predator birds became extinct during the Age of Man. It has a rounded tail and wide, blunted wings, thanks to which it flies quickly and maneuverably between frequently growing trees. It has a straight, strong beak and strong claws, which it uses to grab prey. The closest living relative of the greatbeak, Parops
lepidorostris- a completely different creature. It is only ten centimeters long and feeds mainly on insects, which it pulls out of the bark of trees with its thin beak.
With so many predators in the coniferous forest, it is not surprising that small mammals must have many protective devices to ensure their survival. Spine-tailed squirrel Humisciurus spinacaudatus is a great example of their ingenuity. It has a long, wide and flat tail with spines developing on its underside, which lies on the ground at rest. However, when the animal is alarmed, it throws its tail over its back, and with a sharp increase in skin tension, it raises the spines. This becomes an almost insurmountable barrier, and can be used to repel attacks from any side.
The beaver was large rodent, which during the Age of Mammals adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle partly for protection from predators. After man, beaver Castor spp. became even better adapted to life in water. Its tail and hind legs are fused together into one large paddling surface, which, driven by the spine, produces powerful up and down paddling motions. Its ears, eyes and nose are set high up on its head and remain on the surface when the rest of the animal's body is submerged in water. Surprisingly, the paddle surface does not interfere with the animal’s movement on the ground, and is used as a grasping limb, allowing it to climb trees, expanding the range of possible sources of food and building material.

LIFE IN THE TREES

Birds and animals that feed on trees and on trees of coniferous forests

Throughout the Age of Mammals, rodents were one of the most successful groups of animals in coniferous forests. Their powerful teeth helped them cope with the tough plant material they found there, and their warm, fluffy coats helped them retain body heat during hibernation.*
Incisive tooth Tenebra vermiforme, rodent, relative of the moth squirrel from deciduous forests temperate zone, is highly adapted to life in coniferous forests. Its huge incisors and worm-like body allow it to drill deep tunnels in living trees, where in winter it is reliably protected from the cold. Although in some respects this animal is at an advanced stage of development, its parasitic lifestyle is rather more primitive. The basis of his diet is tree bark, which he peels off completely, leaving the tree bare. This, combined with the serious damage it causes by tunneling, destroys the tree within a few years.
Since chiseltooths inhabit only living trees, they must constantly move, and every spring, after hibernation, a new generation of young individuals migrate in search of new lands. They are very vulnerable during migration and many are predated by predators before they complete their journey. The balance between woodworm and predator is extremely fragile, and only a slight decrease in the number of predators is enough for an increase in the number of woodgnaws to occur, which could lead to the complete destruction of coniferous forest over large areas.
Not a single small rodent of any other species among the inhabitants of coniferous forests is so destructive. Many feed on shoots, bark and seeds found in cones. Many species live on the ground and feed from cones when they fall. Other species are lightly built and agile enough to climb branches where cones grow.
One large vole-like rodent travels Scandemys longicaudata, is unusual in that it has a prehensile tail. It is too heavy to reach the cones growing on the thinnest branches, and instead it feeds on them by hanging by its tail on a stronger branch growing nearby and reaching for them with its front paws. Like other rodents of approximately the same size, it collects more food than is necessary to satisfy its one-time needs, and stores the leftovers for hungry times. winter months. Its hibernation nest is a long hanging structure woven from grass, strips of bark and pine needles. Hanging from the end of a branch, it is large enough to accommodate the animal along with enough food for a successful winter.
Among the many seed-eating birds that live in coniferous forests, the largest is the common pine click beetle** Paraloxus targa. The two sexes of this bird differ greatly both in appearance and in lifestyle. The male has a more powerful build and is armed with a massive beak, which he uses to break Pine cones and get the seeds out of them. The female, smaller and duller in color, completely lacks the heavy beak of the male and is a scavenger, including carrion, insects, larvae and bird eggs in her diet. It is most likely that the ancestor of the common pine click beetle was a bird similar in appearance to the modern female, and the distinctive features of the male evolved primarily to mating games, and his food preferences are a secondary adaptation.

Geographically zone mixed forests occupies the territory between the tundra and the subtropical region. Both coniferous trees grow here - pines, larches, spruces, and deciduous trees - beeches, chestnuts, birches. The undergrowth, formed by dense bushes, is often difficult to pass through, and there is less snow under the trees, which allows animals to find some food here. Some of the animals living here hibernate, others travel long distances in search of food.

Winter in the forest.

In winter, cold, snow and short days prevent the growth and flowering of grasses and shrubs. Many herbivores, experiencing a lack of food, move to areas with a milder climate. Some animals prepare their burrows, dug in the ground or built in natural depressions (hollows, caves), in order to fall into a long sleep (hibernation), which will last throughout the winter months, interrupted only by short awakenings. Many holes are filled with food collected over the summer, but sometimes animals have enough subcutaneous fat, accumulated during the warm season, which allows them to survive the long winter. There are also inhabitants of the forest who do not leave their habitable places and do not hibernate: they look for food in dense thickets, where there is less snow.

Many animals fill their holes with acorns and other food supplies.

In spring and summer, hares feed on young shoots, roots and tender grass, and in winter they are content with the bark of bushes and small trees.

In winter, the forest only seems uninhabited, but in fact it is full of life. Mammals and reptiles and amphibians only hid in their burrows, where they hibernated during the cold winter, waiting spring awakening nature.

The badger spends the winter in a hole underground. The cubs usually stay with their mother, but can also take refuge in their own burrow.

Canadian forests and groves.

Canada is located in the north of the American continent. big country, rich in forests. As you move north, you can see how deciduous trees give way to conifers, which are more resistant to the harsh winter cold.

Mostly carnivores live in these areas: common and silver foxes, wolves, wolverines, as well as bears, which often attack other animals, although they mainly feed on fruits.

The northern part of Canada is very vast and sparsely populated. There is poor communication and a harsh climate: only three months a year the temperature rises to + 10 0 C, and only during this period does nature wake up. The rest of the year, the struggling vegetation provides food for herbivores. Lakes, rivers and seas are covered with ice. In such conditions, only a few animals lead a sedentary lifestyle. The main mass migrates, moving south with the onset of autumn.

Their house, in which they live, hide and eat, breed. The forest is their protector.

Elk

Forest animals feel confident in their familiar habitat. They are comfortable in the forest, despite the fact that there are dangers here, but each species has adapted to defend itself and hide.

The crown jewel of the forest community is the elk, which belongs to the Deer family. Some specimens reach a length of up to three and a half meters and a height of up to two meters. The weight of such an animal can reach 500 kilograms. Agree, these are impressive parameters. It is very interesting to watch such a giant moving silently through the forest.

He is very strong and, oddly enough, swims and dives remarkably well. In addition, he has a keen ear and good instincts. Imagine that a moose can jump over a four-meter hole or a two-meter obstacle without a running start. Not every animal can do this.

It lives exclusively in forests. In other areas it can only be found during spring migrations. At such times you can encounter him in the fields, sometimes he even enters villages. Elk feed on shoots of pine, rowan, aspen, buckthorn, bird cherry, and willow. It also eats herbaceous plants, mushrooms, moss, and berries. Forest animals are forced to look for food in winter. And they don’t always manage to find it so easily. Sometimes moose cause great harm by eating young pine trees and forest plantations. This happens only in winter, when food is very tight, and a decent number of individuals are concentrated in a relatively small area.

However, forest districts are trying to carry out biotechnical measures to create comfortable and satisfying living conditions for these wonderful animals.

Forest animal bear

The most famous forest dweller. He is the indispensable hero of the majority folk tales. Moreover, he always acts as a good character. However, it should be noted that bears are beasts of prey forest thicket.

They can rightfully be called the masters of the forest. The bear has a powerful body, fairly small eyes and ears. He has a hump on his withers, which is nothing more than muscles that give him the ability to deliver very strong blows. The bear's tail is very small, about twenty centimeters. He is practically invisible in his thick, shaggy fur. The color of the animal varies from light brown to almost black. Of course, the most typical color is brown.

The animal has very powerful paws. Each of them has five fingers. The claws on the animal's paws reach ten centimeters in length.

Brown bear habitat

These majestic forest animals previously inhabited vast territories. Now their range has narrowed significantly. Currently they are found in Finland and Scandinavia, sometimes in forests Central Europe and, of course, in the taiga and tundra in Russia.

The size and body weight of bears depend entirely on their habitat. The weight of animals living in Russia does not exceed 120 kilograms. However, Far Eastern bears are much larger. Their weight reaches 750 kilograms.

Their favorite habitat is impenetrable forest areas littered with windbreaks or places with dense thickets bushes and trees. However, they also love rough terrain, and therefore can be found in the tundra and high mountain forests.

What does a predator eat?

It must be said that the bear eats almost everything that can be eaten. Most of his diet is plant foods: herbs, mushrooms, berries, nuts. When an animal does not have enough food, it can eat insects and larvae, rodents, reptiles and even carrion. Major representatives can afford to hunt ungulates. It is only at first glance that these forest animals seem very clumsy. In fact, when chasing prey, bears show miracles of dexterity. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 55 kilometers per hour.

Bears also love to eat fish. By autumn they eat off and gain about twenty percent of their weight.

Hibernation of bears

However, the life of forest animals changes very much in winter. Bears spend half of the year in their den-den, hibernating. They choose a place for their home in the most inaccessible places. As a rule, they make their winter rookery under the huge roots of broken spruce trees, in rock crevices, and in rubble after windbreaks. They line the inside of their house with dry moss and grass. Bears sleep quite lightly. If you disturb him, he may well wake up, and then be forced to look for a new cozy place to sleep.

When there are very hungry years and the bear cannot gain enough fat reserves, it does not fall asleep. The animal simply wanders in search of food. Such a bear is called a connecting rod. During this period, he becomes very aggressive and is capable of attacking even a person.

The mating season for bears is in May and June. It is usually accompanied by strong roaring and fights between competing males.

After mating, a female bear gives birth to cubs after about six months. They are born in a den. As a rule, two babies are born weighing up to half a kilogram. By the time the couple leaves the den, the offspring have reached the size of a dog and are already beginning to feed with the adults.

The cubs live with their mother for a couple of years. They reach sexual maturity at three to four years. In general, bears live in wildlife up to thirty years of age.

Wolf

We always associate forest animals with predators. One of their representatives is the wolf. There are a huge number of them in our country. They have long been actively fought against, since they cause significant damage to the household.

It is widely believed that the wolf is a forest animal. However, this is not quite true. There are many of them living in the tundra, they prefer open spaces. And people are forcing them to go into the forests, actively fighting them.

Outwardly, the wolf looks like a large large dog. He has a powerful physique. The length of its body reaches up to 1.5 meters. Weight ranges from 30 to 45 kilograms. Females are generally smaller than males.

Wolves have strong and resilient paws. They are long distance runners. In general, this is a highly organized animal and also very smart. Looking at each other, the wolves exchange information.

This animal has well-developed hearing, excellent sense of smell and vision. The wolf receives all information about the surrounding world through its sense of smell. He is able to distinguish the tracks of forest animals by smell many hours after they left them. In general, it is difficult for us to imagine the variety of smells that a wolf can distinguish.

Habits of wolves

Wolves are very strong and hardy animals. They reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers in pursuit of prey. And in a throw this value increases to 80.

In summer, wolves live in pairs and raise their offspring strictly within their own territory. By winter, young individuals, together with older ones, gather in groups and lead a wandering lifestyle. Wolves, like all forest animals, change their lifestyle in winter.

Usually a pack consists of ten wolves, which are representatives of the same family. Sometimes several flocks can unite into one larger one. This is possible in severe snowy times or when there is very large prey.

What do wolves eat?

Since the wolf is a predator, meat is the basis of its diet. Although sometimes an animal may try plant foods. The wolf hunts absolutely any animal that is within his power. If he has enough game, he will not stop looking into human settlements. Wolves are very intelligent and understand the full extent of the risk.

In the forest, this animal hunts for almost all inhabitants, from elk to chipmunk and vole. Of course, its favorite prey, depending on its habitat, is wapiti and roe deer. However, the wolf will not disdain a fox, a raccoon, a rat, a ferret, a pig, or a hare. The hunting habits of wolves are varied. They can wait for their prey in ambush, or they can for a long time drive her. And their collective hunt is generally a complex, well-coordinated mechanism where everyone understands each other without words.

Very prudently, they drive their prey into the water in a flock. Wolf is large predator, but he knows how to catch fish, frogs, mice, and also likes to destroy birds' nests.

But it is not always only forest animals and birds that become the prey of predators. IN populated areas There is not enough game, and therefore in the harsh winter months, when it becomes very difficult to survive, wolves stay closer to the villages and begin to rob. Their prey can be sheep, dogs, pigs, horses, cows, and goose. In general, any living creature that a predator can reach. Even one individual is capable of causing big damage overnight.

Fox

Forest animals for children are, rather, fairy tale characters. And the fox is generally the heroine of many children's fairy tales. However, as a fairy-tale person, she is endowed with those features that are inherent in her in real life. The fox is both beautiful and cunning. She has a long fluffy tail and a cunning narrow muzzle and small eyes. This predator is really slender and graceful; in size it is comparable to a small dog. Weighs from six to ten kilograms.

Since childhood, we are accustomed to calling the fox red. And rightly so. It’s just that in life her belly is white or grayish. The back and sides are colored differently: from light gray to bright red. Usually, bright color have northern foxes. And the more faded ones are those that live in the forest-steppe. Silver fox fur is considered the most beautiful and expensive. Such foxes have long been bred on special farms, since they are extremely rare in the wild. And among people, their fur is especially popular for its beauty.

In summer, the animal looks a little awkward due to the fact that the fur becomes short and stiff during this period. But by autumn the fox grows a beautiful winter coat. The predator sheds only once a year - in the spring.

Habits of a sly fox

The fox is found not only in the forest, but also in the tundra, mountains, steppes, swamps, and even near human habitation. She is great at adapting to any conditions, but still loves more open spaces. She doesn't like the remote taiga.

In life, as in fairy tales, the fox is very fast and agile. She runs very quickly and easily catches insects flying by. As a rule, she moves at a leisurely trot. Periodically stops, looks around, looks around. Lisa is very careful. When it sneaks up on prey, it crawls quietly on its belly, almost merging with the ground. But he runs away from pursuit with large and sharp leaps, skillfully confusing his tracks.

You can see downright fairy-tale episodes in fox behavior. People invented them for a reason. All stories are taken from real life. Foxes are truly cunning predators who approach hunting wisely. Rather, they take prey not by force, but by seduction. No other animal is named by its patronymic. And the fox's name is Patrikeevna. Why?

Once upon a time there was such a prince named Patrikey. He became famous for his cunning and resourcefulness. Since then, the very name Patrikey has been associated with cunning people. The fox has long been known among the people as a cheat, which is why it was dubbed Patrikeevna.

Who do foxes hunt?

Foxes are very active animals. In winter, its tangled tracks are clearly visible in the snow. You can immediately see where the cheat was hunting. It is generally accepted that foxes feed on hares. But this is a big misconception. She is not able to catch up with such fast prey. Of course, if she stumbles upon defenseless bunnies somewhere, she will certainly take advantage of the opportunity. That’s why hares are a very rare dish in her diet. She just can't keep up with them.

Foxes feed on a variety of insects, birds and animals. But the basis of their menu is rodents. Predators are excellent at exterminating voles. In addition, they know how to fish in shallow waters. Sometimes animals feast on berries.

Hares

The forest life of animals is very interesting to study. All representatives of the animal world are very different, some run away, others hunt. Previously we looked at some predators. Now let's talk about the brightest representative of the forests. Of course, about the hare.

Hares, as in fairy tales, have long ears and short tails. Their hind legs are much longer and more powerful than their front legs. In winter, it is clearly visible in the snow that the prints of the hind paws are ahead of the front ones. This is caused by the fact that they carry them forward while running.

These animals feed on food that does not attract others at all, for example, bark, young shoots and branches, and grass.

Many fairy tales have been written about forest animals, but the favorite hero has always been the hare. Even in life, when escaping from pursuit, he is cunning and tries to confuse his tracks, jumping first in one direction, then in the other, just as in children’s stories. He is capable of running at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour. Not every predator can keep up with such fast prey. In general, hares have many ways in their arsenal to evade persecution. These forest inhabitants are so cunning. Animals know how to both run away and defend themselves, and in each case they use the most optimal tactics - their sense of smell is so developed.

But it is not so much their cunning that saves the hares as they win with their numbers. They have four to five litters annually. Each of which can contain from two to five bunnies.

The most famous are the white hare. They weigh up to seven and a half kilograms and reach a length of 70 centimeters. Their main difference is the color of the fur. Browns do not change their color in winter. But in summer it is much more difficult to distinguish these varieties.

In general, it is characteristic of hares settled life. Of course, they gallop across fields and meadows, going quite long distances. But then they return to their habitat. Very rarely they can migrate. This only happens in particularly cold and snowy winters.

Who else lives in the forest?

We have listed only the most famous animals, since it is difficult to pay attention to all forest inhabitants within the scope of this article. There are actually a lot of them: wild boars, badgers, hedgehogs, moles, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, sables, martens, raccoons, deer, roe deer, lynxes... As they say, from young to old. They are all very different and interesting. In addition, it would be unfair not to mention birds, which also live quite a lot in our forests.

Forest birds

Not only are forest animals diverse, photos of some of which are given in the article, but also birds. The world of winged creatures is no less interesting. There are a huge number of species living in forests. Here you can find: woodpeckers, larks, robins, orioles, crossbills, nightingales, buntings, magpies, ducks, wagtails, swifts and many others.

The fauna of coniferous forests, or taiga in our opinion, is rich and diverse, especially when compared with its closest neighbor, the tundra. Almost all species of coniferous forest animals live here in great abundance and diversity: wolverine, chipmunk, sable, and lynx. Hares and squirrels are numerous - various small rodents are innumerable. Ungulates are represented by noble and reindeer, moose and roe deer. No place in the world is home to so many fur-bearing inhabitants, who are probably the most common animals in the coniferous forests of Russia. Interestingly, the North American taiga is characterized by the same species as Eurasia.

The inhabitants of the taiga, due to the fact that they live in a rather cold climate, are highly susceptible to the influence of the changing seasons. Of course, than colder winter, the more beautiful the sable’s coat will be, but personally this brings little joy to him: the likelihood of being shot increases by orders of magnitude. And life in a modern forest is not conducive to good health anyway - trees are cut down in the most unexpected places, and where yesterday you could have a hearty lunch, today there may be a bare wasteland. Apparently, in this regard, many animals living in coniferous forests have adapted to hibernate seasonally: now the main task remains to eat well in the summer, gain fat and get more comfortable for the winter. Brown bears They approach the choice of diet very responsibly, and it has a fair amount of variety. How do you like the combination of berries, nuts, worms, fish and small rodents? What do you dream about during hibernation?

To the south of the tundra lie vast taiga forests that stretch from Siberia through Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Canada to Alaska and, as if with a belt 12 thousand km long, cover the northernmost regions of the Earth. These boreal, or northern, coniferous forests contain evergreen trees such as spruce and pine, as well as larch trees that shed their needles for the winter.

The undergrowth here is not very dense. The ground is covered with moss, lichen and grass. Despite quite cold climate, many animals find shelter here.

Animals of coniferous forests

Crossbill

The crossbill has adapted to life in the taiga in its own way. It feeds almost exclusively on the seeds of coniferous trees, which is reflected in the structure of its beak. The hooked ends of the crossbill's beak intersect, thanks to which it deftly extracts seeds from cones. Crossbills leave coniferous forests only when they lack food. They often fly long distances in search of new places rich in food.

Squirrel

All summer and early fall, squirrels collect nuts, seeds, mushrooms and more. They carefully hide their reserves in hollow trees or bury them in the ground. Some squirrels let the mushrooms dry first to prevent them from rotting. Unfortunately, squirrels have a poor memory - they often forget where they hid their supplies and cannot find them later.

Wolverine

Wolverine belongs to the mustelidae family. Appearance she reminds little bear, but, unlike him, her tail is long and fluffy. This animal has long claws and strong teeth. Wolverine hunts in the densest forests day and night and even attacks wolves and bears to take their prey.

Porcupine

The North American porcupine lives in the forests of Canada and the United States. It feeds mainly foliage plants and the tender pulp of tree trunks (bast), which is located under the bark. Sometimes it completely gnaws off the trunk at the base of the tree, and the tree dies. The porcupine displays long, stiff quills to its enemies.

Great Eagle Owl

The Great Eagle Owl lives in the forests North America. This night Hunter who sees and hears very well. It feeds mainly on mice and other small mammals.