Animals living in a coniferous forest. Mixed forest animals: elk, otter, wolf, beaver, raccoon, lynx. Animals of coniferous forests

A forest is not only a collection of all kinds of shrubs and trees, but whole ecosystem. It is a complex community of closely intertwined elements of living and inanimate nature. This ecosystem includes both living organisms, called biota, and non-living ones - the abiotic component: water, soil, air. In this article, we are interested in forest biota, which includes not only all kinds of vegetation and microorganisms, but also mammals. In particular, we will find out what the brightest animals of the forest zone of Russia are.

What is a forest?

WITH scientific point In general terms, a forest is a more or less significant natural space overgrown with vegetation and trees. Moreover, vegetation, consisting of ferns, shrubs, mushrooms and herbs, must necessarily cover the soil between the trees, otherwise the territory cannot be considered a forest. Another component of this concept is the fauna of the forest (animals, birds, insects). Without them, he simply cannot exist, just as they cannot exist without him.

The breath of our planet

There is a saying: “Life small forest“This is the breath of the whole planet.” And it’s hard to disagree with this. After all, it is the forest with its ecosystem that purifies the air on our planet, saturating it with oxygen. Even for a person who is difficult to surprise with anything, a painfully familiar forest can open up a world full of secrets and mysteries! Despite its alluring silence and fabulous peace, life here is, as they say, in full swing.

The forest biota contains quite a lot of birds, animals and insects. To see them and enjoy the wildlife with your own eyes, you just need to come to the nearest oak forest and carefully look around. Even tiny ants and spiders are already a whole “zoo society”, a microcosm, which is the “foundation” of the entire forest biota. So, what are they - the brightest animals in the forest zone of our country?

Red-haired beauty

First of all, it is worth mentioning the cheating fox! This mischief inhabits forest areas throughout almost all of Asia and North America. In our country, foxes can be observed in large quantities in Siberian forests. This predator from the canine family has a medium-sized body, covered with a warm red fur coat. The distinctive pride of foxes is their fluffy tail.

These animals live mainly on the edges of mixed forests and inhabit the banks of lakes and forest streams. Foxes are wild animals, but despite this, they are often kept as pets. The favorite delicacies of red cheats are mice, hares, berries and fruits. The role of foxes in the life of the forest cannot be overestimated. So, without a doubt, this is a useful animal, regulating the number of mouse-like rodents that cause irreparable harm to cultivated plants.

Without hedgehogs, a forest is not a forest!

In deciduous and mixed forest zones you can find common hedgehogs. As the famous zoologist Nikolai Drozdov said: “A forest without hedgehogs is not a forest!” Which of us has not seen this animal at least once in our lives? Probably there are simply no such people. Nevertheless, we will briefly describe it. Hedgehogs are small animals covered with fur and spines. These animals of the forest zone live throughout Europe, as well as in Asia and the Far East.

The lifestyle of hedgehogs can seem quite boring and even somewhat dull. During the day, these animals sleep as if killed, and at night they search for food. By the way, their diet consists of earthworms, small birds, and beetles. Those who have kept ordinary hedgehogs as pets are well aware of their nocturnal lifestyle: the animal quickly runs around the house, tap-dancing with its paws. It's simply impossible to fall asleep!

Russian forest orderlies

You probably immediately guessed who we're talking about. These are, of course, wolves. True, these predators are not so much animals of the forest zone as of the forest-steppe, and sometimes steppe. These animals are widespread throughout our country. Wolves, like foxes, belong to the canine family, being quite large animals with strong paws. Wolf fur is coarse and very thick.

These animals are unsurpassed collective hunters. As you know, they track their prey in whole flocks, which allows them to successfully hunt even large boars, and on moose, and on domestic animals. In times of famine they feed on carrion, birds, and hares. As is known, natural role of this predator is to improve the health of the animal population. The wolf is a kind of “filter” of the forest, which regulates the number of sick and weak animals, bringing invaluable benefits to the entire forest biota.

It’s quiet in the forest, only the badger is not sleeping...

Badgers are animals of the forest zone of mixed type. These are very active and active forest predators. Their massive body is supported by awkwardly short legs. The fur is rough. These animals inhabit the entire European territory, including Russia. They lead mainly night image life. During the day, the animals sit in burrows. Badgers eat both plant and animal foods. These animals are valuable not only for their fur, but also for their fat.

Tigers

Some people do not know that tigers are animals of the forest zone of Russia, and not only of India, China, Iran and Afghanistan. These animals are the second largest large land predators after bears. Their distinctive feature- flexible body, painted in bright orange and black stripes. However, not all tigers have only this color. There are also white tigers. In our country, these large wild cats inhabit Far East, living in mixed forests and taiga.

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 consists of 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 can 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. The wolf is a large predator, but it can catch fish, frogs, mice, and also likes to destroy bird 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 harsh winter months When it becomes very difficult to survive, wolves stay closer to 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 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. The mammals that inhabit these places are mostly 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.
The characteristic tall, pointed shape of conifers is ideal for supporting the weight of winter snow and allowing 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 the northern regions, where the underlying soil layers remain frozen all year round and are therefore impervious to water, many rivers, streams and swamps arise with their own native 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 for 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, the lower jaw also extended forward so that the front teeth aligned 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, the animals of the coniferous forest are included in a 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 most large predator, living in these places, and perhaps he owes his survival to his 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. It evolved from the starling, which evolved to fill the gap left when many ancient birds of prey 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 coniferous forest no wonder 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 the hungry 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 extract seeds from 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.

Everyone has long known that forests are the “lungs” of our planet. It is the forest that purifies the air and supplies it with oxygen, and also protects the earth from drought. It is quite difficult to describe all the benefits that forests bring to us in a nutshell. It is impossible to imagine anything more delightful than a walk through a sunny, light birch meadow or through a fabulous, mysterious spruce forest. A forest is a place where animals, birds, and insects live. Animals living in the forest get along well in the same territory, despite the fact that among them there are harmless animals and there are also predators.

Animals of Russian forests

From Eurasia to North America There are vast taiga, coniferous forests that are not afraid of either frost or crazy heat. Firs, pines, larches, and cedars grow there, and under them moss and grass grow green. These forests are a real haven for avid mushroom pickers. Since they are rich in berries and mushrooms. In the taiga forests you can see a sable, a marten making its way through thickets of bushes, a shaggy wolverine, a hare running away from a wolf, and also a fox. Many animals of the Russian forest prefer to live in the thicket, since poachers have already mastered the outskirts and frightened them with their shots. In secluded places, bears hibernate for the winter.

You can meet elk or deer. Autumn is especially beautiful in mixed forests. Trees dress in yellow, red, orange outfits. They seem to be wrapped in golden shawls. The smell of withered grass is in the air. And, if you look at the sky, you can see the keys of birds that fly away to warmer climes. But this does not mean at all that winter time there are no birds at all. Here is a tit singing loudly, red-breasted, tufted bullfinches are jumping merrily on a branch. It is only at first glance that the forest seems asleep and deserted. In order to find out what animals usually live in a mixed forest, you just need to carefully look around.

Raccoon

Raccoons are unique and interesting animals. They are wrapped in thick, long and fluffy fur, and on their muzzle there is a black stripe between the eyes. Raccoons are not at all afraid of water and are excellent swimmers. They love to catch fish, crabs and crayfish. Probably the most popular among raccoons is the striped raccoon. He got his nickname because before eating food, he rinses it in water for a long time. By nature, raccoons are quite curious. Raccoons prefer not to gather in packs, but the exception is in places where there is a lot of food. With the onset of winter, raccoons hide in holes or hollows and sleep. And when spring comes, small cubs appear, which will not leave the hole for 2 whole months. They are under the care of their parents for a whole year.

Hedgehog

Hedgehogs are dressed in a coat of sharp, prickly needles. She protects them from all attackers. As soon as they sense danger, hedgehogs instantly turn into a small prickly ball. But when it’s safe, a smart little face with a black nose and beady eyes appears to the world. Hedgehogs puff, snort and make funny sounds. During the day they sleep, huddled in a hole, and in the evening they look for food. In autumn, hedgehogs eat a lot and store fat for hibernation. Then they dig a hole under the stump, take leaves and grass there and go to bed. In spring, small hedgehogs are born. They have soft needles that look like wool. But until the kids grow up, they never leave their mother’s side. Hedgehogs are very useful. They exterminate harmful insects and mice.

Elk

Looking out what animals live in the forest, you will certainly notice a moose. He has a massive, large body, and on it is a scruff, very similar to a hump. The body is covered with thick, warm wool, which protects from frost. These animals have very well developed hearing. Moose can run fast and, if necessary, swim or even dive. The moose's head is decorated with wide, big horns. In winter, animals shed their main decoration, and in summer they grow new ones. Moose are very brave and strong. They are not afraid of wolves or bears. In the spring, the mother elk gives birth to her cubs. Moose are amazing animals.

Mongoose

Mongooses are flexible long body, on which the head with ears is located. They slightly resemble a marten or a cat. When approaching prey, the mongoose bends its whole body. Its fur practically merges with the dense thickets. Thanks to agility, quick reaction and courage, the mongoose defends itself from enemies. The animals live in long burrows or in thickets. This is where babies are born. Mongooses live mainly in families, and the mongoose father is responsible for raising children. In case of danger, the whole family protects the cubs.

Deer

Not all animals living in the forest stand out for their beauty or strength. But this statement does not apply to deer at all. They are beautiful and strong and noble. Like moose, their heads are decorated with branched antlers. Deer have well-developed hearing and sense of smell. Deer live on mountain slopes, in thickets of bushes, or in clearings with thick grass. They prefer to live in herds. Most big enemy deer is a wolf. The means of protection for a deer are strong hooves and antlers. Cubs are born spotted, but this goes away with age. The mother protects her cubs and talks to them.

Wolf

The wolf is the main character of many fairy tales. Wolves are slightly larger than the average dog. The body is covered with thick, warm, gray fur. These are very smart, cunning, and brave animals. Wolves hunt in packs. They ambush and attack their prey. Despite their cruelty, wolves are very caring and good parents.

Fox

Lisa is very beautiful. She has a warm, beautiful, red fur coat and a long, fluffy tail. She is very smart, cunning and dexterous. When she is in danger, she can run very fast. The fox's main delicacy is mice, hares, birds, fruits, and berries. She has very well developed hearing and sense of smell. In order to breed offspring, the fox digs holes. Fox cubs are very curious, but they listen to their mother unquestioningly.

Sable

The sable is a very beautiful, agile and fast animal. Lives among snags and fallen trees. It has a strong, flexible body and a fluffy small tail. Sable fur is very beautiful, thick and warm. It goes hunting both night and day. In the spring it gives birth to offspring. Nowadays, sable hunting is prohibited.

Badger

The body of a badger is covered with fur. He prefers to feast on bumblebee honey, beetles and worms. Before the onset of cold weather, the badger must accumulate fat reserves. Since he is going to sleep in a hole all winter. Badgers are very clean and tidy animals that carefully and carefully look after their offspring.

Brown bear

Considering what animals usually live in a mixed forest, one cannot fail to note brown bear. He is practically the king of the forest thicket. Bears have enormous strength. The body is covered with a warm, thick, brown fur coat. At first glance, bears may seem clumsy, but they are not. They are very agile, fast and silent running. Bears love berries, fish, insects and fruits. They winter in dens. This is where the cubs are born.