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

A forest is not only a collection of various shrubs and trees, but a whole ecosystem. It is a complex community of closely intertwined elements of animate and inanimate nature. This ecosystem includes both living organisms, called biota, and non-living organisms - the abiotic component: water, soil, air. Within the framework of 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 are the brightest animals of the Russian forest zone.

What is a forest?

From a scientific point of view, 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 animal world of the forest (animals, birds, insects). Without them, he simply cannot exist, as, indeed, they cannot exist without him.

The breath of our planet

There is a saying: "The life of a small forest is the breath of the whole planet." And it's hard to disagree with that. After all, it is the forest with its ecosystem that purifies the air on our planet, saturating it with oxygen. Even 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, here life abounds, as they say, in full swing.

There are quite a lot of birds, animals and insects in the forest biota. 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 "zoosociety", a microcosm, which is the "foundation" of the entire forest biota. So, what are they - the brightest animals of the forest zone of our country?

redhead beauty

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

These animals live mainly on the edges in mixed forests, inhabit the shores of lakes and forest streams. Foxes are wild animals, but despite this, they are often kept as pets. The favorite delicacy 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 that regulates 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 meet ordinary hedgehogs at almost every step. As the famous zoologist Nikolai Drozdov said: “A forest without hedgehogs is not a forest!” Who among us has not seen this animal at least once in his life? Probably there just aren't any. However, we will briefly describe it. Hedgehogs are small animals covered with hair and needles. These animals of the forest zone live throughout Europe, as well as in Asia and the Far East.

The lifestyle of hedgehogs can seem rather 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, beetles. Those who kept ordinary hedgehogs as pets are well aware of their nocturnal lifestyle: the animal runs around the house briskly, beating a real tap dance with its paws. Sleep is simply impossible!

Russian forest orderlies

You probably guessed right away what we are talking about. It is, of course, wolves. True, these predators are not so much animals of the forest zone as of the forest-steppe, and sometimes even the steppe. These animals are widely distributed throughout our country. Wolves, like foxes, represent the canine family, being rather large animals with strong paws. Wolf hair is coarse and very thick.

These animals are unsurpassed collective hunters. As you know, they hunt down their prey in whole flocks, which allows them to successfully hunt large boars, moose, and domestic animals. In times of famine, they feed on carrion, birds, hares. As you know, the 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.

Quiet in the forest, only the badger does not sleep ...

Badgers are animals of the forest zone of a 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 a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. During the day, the animals sit in burrows. Badgers eat both plant and animal food. 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 just India, China, Iran and Afghanistan. These animals are the second largest land predators after bears. Their distinctive feature is a flexible body, painted in bright orange-black stripes. However, not all tigers have only this coloring. There are also white tigers. In our country, these large wild cats inhabit the Far East, living in mixed forests and taiga.

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

Elk

Forest animals feel confident in their 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 adornment of the forest community is the elk, belonging to the Deer family. Individual 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 that silently moves through the forest.

He is very strong and, oddly enough, swims and dives remarkably. In addition, he has a fine ear and a good flair. Imagine that an elk can jump over a four-meter hole or a two-meter obstacle without a run. This is not possible for every animal.

It lives exclusively in forests. In other areas, it can be found only during spring migrations. At such a time, you can encounter him in the fields, sometimes he even enters the villages. Moose feeds on shoots of pine, mountain ash, aspen, buckthorn, bird cherry, willow. It also eats herbaceous plants, mushrooms, moss, berries. Forest animals are forced to look for food in winter. And it's not always easy for them to find it. Sometimes moose are very harmful by eating young pine forests and forest plantations. This happens only in the winter, when food is very tight, and a decent number of individuals are concentrated in a relatively small area.

However, forestries are trying to carry out biotechnical measures in order to create comfortable and satisfying conditions for these wonderful animals to live.

forest animal bear

The most famous forest dweller. He is an indispensable hero of most folk tales. And he always acts as a good character. However, it should be noted that bears are predatory animals of the forest thicket.

They can rightfully be called the masters of the forest. The bear has a powerful body, but at the same time small eyes and ears are enough. At the withers, he has a hump, which is nothing but muscles that give him the ability to deliver very strong blows. The bear's tail is quite small, about twenty centimeters. He is practically invisible in his thick shaggy coat. 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 has five fingers. The claws on the paws of the beast reach ten centimeters in length.

Territory of the brown bear

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

The size and body weight of bears entirely depend 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 of shrubs and trees. However, they also love rough terrain, and therefore they can be found both in the tundra and in high mountain forests.

What does a predator eat?

I must say that the bear eats almost everything that you can only eat. 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. Large representatives can afford to hunt ungulates. It is only at first glance that these forest animals seem very clumsy. In fact, bears, chasing prey, show miracles of dexterity. They are capable of speeds up to 55 kilometers per hour.

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

Winter hibernation of bears

However, the life of forest animals in winter changes a lot. Bears spend half of the year in their shelter-den, hibernating. They choose a place for their home in the most inaccessible places. As a rule, they make a winter rookery under the huge roots of broken fir trees, in rock crevices, in the rubble after windbreaks. Inside their house they line with dry moss and grass. Bears sleep quite sensitively. If disturbed, 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, he does not fall asleep. The animal simply wanders in search of food. Such a bear is called a rod. During this period, he becomes very aggressive and is able to attack even a person.

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

After mating, the bear cubs appear after about six months. They are born in a den. As a rule, two babies weighing up to half a kilogram are born. By the time the couple leaves the den, the offspring have reached the size of a dog and are already beginning to feed along 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 the wild for up to thirty years.

Wolf

Forest animals are always associated with predators. One of their representatives is the wolf. There are a huge number of them in our country. Since ancient times, they have been actively fighting, 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. Many of them live in the tundra, They prefer open spaces. And people are forcing them to go into the forests, leading an active struggle with them.

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

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

This animal has a well-developed hearing, excellent sense of smell and vision. The wolf receives all information about the surrounding world through the 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 is able to distinguish.

The habits of wolves

Wolves are very strong and hardy animals. They develop speed in pursuit of prey up to 60 kilometers. And on the roll, this value rises to 80.

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

Usually a pack consists of ten wolves, which are representatives of one family. Sometimes several flocks can unite into one larger one. This is possible in a severe snow season or in the presence of very large prey.

What do wolves eat?

Since the wolf is a predator, meat is the basis of its diet. Although sometimes the animal can try and plant food. The wolf hunts absolutely any animal that will be within its power. If he has enough game, then he will not come to look into the villages of people. Wolves are very intelligent and understand the full degree of risk.

In the forest, this animal preys on almost all the inhabitants, from elk to chipmunk and vole. Of course, his favorite prey, depending on the habitat, is the red deer, roe deer. However, the wolf will not disdain the fox, raccoon, rat, ferret, piglet, hare. The hunting habits of wolves are varied. They can wait for their prey in ambush, or they can drive it for a long time. And their collective hunting 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 he knows how to catch fish, frogs, mice, and also loves to destroy bird nests.

But not always only forest animals and birds become the prey of a predator. There is not enough game in the populated areas, and therefore, in the harsh winter months, when it becomes very difficult to survive, the wolves stay closer to the villages and begin to rob. Sheep, dog, pig, horse, cow, goose can become their prey. In general, any living creature that a predator can only get to. Even one individual is capable of inflicting great damage in one night.

A 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 fabulous 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 sly narrow muzzle, small eyes. This predator is really slender and graceful, in size it is commensurate with a small dog. It weighs six to ten kilograms.

We are accustomed to the fact that from childhood we call the red fox. And this is fair. But in life she has a white belly or grayish. The back and sides are colored differently: from light gray to bright red. As a rule, northern foxes have a bright color. And more faded - 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 wildlife. And among people, their fur is especially popular for beauty.

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

The habits of a cunning fox

There is a fox not only in the forest, but also in the tundra, mountains, steppes, swamps, and even near human habitation. She remarkably knows how to adapt to any conditions, but still loves more open spaces. She does not like the deaf taiga.

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

In fox behavior, you can see downright fabulous episodes. People invented them for a reason. All stories are taken from real life. Foxes are really cunning predators who are smart about hunting. Rather, they take prey not by force, but by seduction. No other animal is called 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 Patrickey has been associated with cunning people. The fox has long been known among the people as a cheat, which is why she was dubbed Patrikeevna.

Who do foxes hunt?

Foxes are very active animals. In winter, its tangled footprints 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 a fast prey. Of course, if she stumbles upon defenseless rabbits somewhere, she will certainly take the opportunity. Therefore, hares are a very rare dish in her diet. She just can't keep up with them.

Foxes feed on various insects, birds and animals. But the basis of their menu are rodents. Predators remarkably exterminate voles. In addition, they are able to fish in shallow water. Sometimes animals eat 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. Earlier we looked at some predators. And now let's talk about the brightest representative of the forests. Of course, about the hare.

Hares, as in fairy tales, are long-eared, with short tails. Their hind legs are much longer and more powerful than the front ones. In winter, it is clearly visible on the snow that the prints of the hind paws are ahead of the front ones. This is due to the fact that they bring them forward while running.

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

Many fairy tales have been written about forest animals, but the hare has always been a favorite hero. In real life, when escaping from the chase, he is cunning and tries to confuse the tracks, jumping one way or the other, just like in children's stories. He is able to run at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour. Not every predator will keep up with such fast prey. In general, in the arsenal of hares there are many ways to get away from persecution. These are such cunning forest dwellers. Animals can both run away and defend themselves, and in each case they use the most optimal tactics - their instinct is so developed.

But it is not so much their cunning that saves the hares, as they take with their numbers. They have four or five litters annually. In each of which there can be from two to five rabbits.

The whites are the most famous. 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. Rusaks do not change their color in winter. But in summer, these varieties are much more difficult to distinguish.

In general, hares are characterized by a sedentary life. Of course, they jump through fields and meadows, moving away at fairly large distances. But then they return to their habitat. Very rarely they can migrate. This happens only in especially 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 dwellers within the framework of the 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 small to large. All of them are very different and interesting. In addition, it would be unfair not to mention the birds, which also live quite a lot in our forests.

forest birds

Not only forest animals are diverse, photos of some of which are given in the article, but also birds. The winged world is no less interesting. They live in the forests of a huge number of species. Here you can meet: woodpeckers, larks, robins, oriole, crossbill, nightingale, oatmeal, magpie, duck, wagtail, swift and many others.

The coniferous forests of the Northern Continent represent the longest areas of continuous forest cover on Earth. Conifers do well in high latitudes because they are evergreen, and photosynthesis can begin immediately when conditions are favorable for growth, without the need for leaves to regrow first, as is the case with deciduous forests. In this way, conifers compensate for the short 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 ones, do not form fruit-bearing organs that are pollinated and ripen within one year. Fertilization in a female cone may take a year or more to complete, and it may take up to three years for the cone to develop and the seeds to mature for distribution.
The absence of leaf litter and the prevailing cold climatic conditions that slow down the natural decomposition of the deadwood carpet, a material that is difficult to decompose anyway, result in only a very thin layer of soil and little or no undergrowth. The mammals that inhabit these places are mostly herbivorous 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 places, and usually occur in the spring, when there is little sap in the trees. At this time, vast areas can be devastated.
Deciduous trees - birch, alder and mountain ash - begin to re-populate, which only after some time are replaced by climax vegetation - spruce, larch, cedar * or pine.
The characteristic coniferous shape is tall and pointed at the top, ideal for bearing 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 is characteristic of 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 spring up with their own native flora of mosses and sedges. The forest becomes more and more sparse and blends with the nearby tundra. Large patches of tundra mosses and lichens grow on the uplands. Near the rivers in the transitional region, the forest remains dense and invades 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.
Throughout the world, small areas of coniferous forests occur outside their main latitudinal distribution, especially on mountain slopes, where altitudinal zonality creates climatic conditions similar to those formed near the poles.
During the Age of Man, coniferous forests suffered significant damage due to clearing for agriculture and industrial forestry. As a result, large areas of land were subjected to wind and rain erosion, which destroyed the structure of the soil and, naturally, reduced its ability to retain moisture. It took some time for the coniferous forests to recover from the damage done, as the normal succession process cannot take place immediately.

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

VEGETARIAN BEASTS

Evolution of the helmethorns

Animals that feed on woody vegetation are the largest inhabitants in areas covered with coniferous forests. In 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 African gigantelopes. Only shaggy forms from the Far North, living in the tundra, can be compared with them in size.
The difference in size between the two different northern forms stems from two different periods of settlement. The first of these took place about forty million years ago, before giant mountain ranges were erected between Africa and Europe, and about the time when the rabbits drove the antelopes out of their original home - from the African plains. Gigantelopes, then still in the early stages of their evolution, were forced to settle north into coniferous forests, where they later began to flourish and turned into helmets. Cornudens spp.
The second wave of migration took place closer to the present, about ten million years ago, when African gigantelopes reached their current elephant proportions. Erosion of the mountain range that once separated the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia opened up new routes to the north, and led to the gradual settlement of the tundra and the evolution of the woolly gigantelope. Megalodorcas sp.
Soon after the appearance of these animals in the coniferous forests, the jaws and horns of the ancestral forms of helmets began to evolve in accordance with their new habitat. Like the now nearly extinct ruminants, many of these animals lacked 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 cutting branches from forest trees. The first change that took place was the growth forward of the horny plate on the head, which formed a kind of beak. The lower lip became muscular and stretched forward to catch up
with it, thereby stretching the oral cavity forward at 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 were aligned with the horny beak. These adaptations are the result of evolutionary pressure that has allowed only those species to survive that can successfully feed on the branches and bark of conifers, as well as lichens. Bizarre horn 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 that inhabits lakes and river banks. This creature has a horny plate stretched forward in the form of a wide formation similar to a rake, with the help of which this animal collects soft aquatic plants, which it looks for at the bottom of ponds and streams. On each leg, he has two wide hooves, widely spread apart and connected by a skin membrane, which prevents the animal from getting bogged down in soft mud and sand. In its way of life, the aquatic helmet is most likely reminiscent of hadrosaurs, the duck-billed dinosaurs of the last half of the Reptilian Age.

As in any other habitat, the animals of the coniferous forest are included in the familiar tangle of food chains of predators and prey, with carnivores forming the last link. Here, as in temperate deciduous forests, predatory rats are the most ferocious and common hunters. They hunt under the trees in small packs, stalking the rabbit or helmet, separating the weak and aging individuals from the herd, and driving them to exhaustion. Predatory rats do this before attacking, then tearing apart the prey with strong front teeth. Helmethorns have mighty horns, so if pursued, it can be just as dangerous for both the predator and the one being pursued.
A predator unique to coniferous forests is the pumtret. Vulpemustela acer, a large weasel-like animal, one of the few still living representatives of true predators. 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 ability to easily run through the sparse undergrowth, suddenly appearing in front of its prey. Pumtrets 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 is descended from the starling, which evolved to fill in the gap left when many of the ancient birds of prey died out in the Age of Man. It has a rounded tail and broad, blunt wings that enable it to fly quickly and agile through densely growing trees. It has a straight strong beak and strong claws that it uses to grab prey. The closest living relative of the big beak, Parops
lepidorostris is a completely different being. 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's no surprise that small mammals must have a variety of defensive adaptations to ensure their survival. needle-tailed squirrel Humisciurus spinacudatus is a perfect example of their ingenuity. It has a long, wide and flat tail with spines developing on its underside, which lies at rest on the ground. However, when the animal is alarmed, it throws its tail over its back, and with a sharp increase in skin tension, raises its needles. This becomes an almost impenetrable barrier, and can be used to repel an attack from any direction.
The beaver was a large rodent that adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle in the Age of Mammals, in part as a defense against predators. Beaver after man Castor spp. became even better adapted to life in the water. Its tail and hind legs have merged together into one large rowing surface, which, driven by the spine, produces strong rowing movements up and down. Its ears, eyes and nose are set high on the head and remain on the surface when the rest of the animal's body is submerged in water. Surprisingly, the rowing surface does not interfere with the movement of the animal 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 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 animal groups in the coniferous forests. Their powerful teeth helped them cope with the hard plant material they found there, and their warm, fluffy skins helped them retain body heat during hibernation.*
Cuttertooth Tenebra vermiforme, a rodent related to the temperate deciduous moth squirrel, is highly adapted to life in the coniferous forest. Its huge incisors and worm-like body allow it to drill deep tunnels in a living tree, 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 primitive. The basis of his diet is the bark of trees, which he peels off completely, leaving the tree bare. This, combined with the severe damage it causes by burrowing, kills the tree within a few years.
Since incisors inhabit only living trees, they must constantly move, and every spring, after hibernation, young individuals of a new generation migrate in search of new lands. During migration, they are very vulnerable, and many of them are taken by predators before they complete their journey. The balance between woodworm and predator is extremely fragile, and only a small decrease in the number of predators is enough to cause an increase in the number of woodworms, which could lead to the complete destruction of the coniferous forest over large areas.
No other small rodent 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 forage from the cones when they fall. Other species are lightly built and nimble enough to climb the branches where the cones grow.
One large, vole-like rodent, traveler 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 on its tail on a stronger branch growing nearby, and reaching for them with its front paws. Like other rodents of roughly the same size, it forages more than it needs to meet its one-time needs, and stores the rest for the hungry winter months. Its hibernation nest is a long hanging structure made of 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 wintering.
Among the many seed-eating birds living in coniferous forests, the largest is the common pine nutcracker** Paraloxus targa. The two sexes of this bird differ greatly in both appearance and lifestyle. The male has a more powerful build and is armed with a massive beak, which he uses to break open 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 nutcracker was a bird similar in appearance to the modern female, and the distinctive features of the male evolved primarily for mating games, and its food preferences are a secondary adaptation.

Everyone has long known that the forest is the “lungs” of our planet. It is the forest that purifies the air and nourishes it with oxygen, and also protects the earth from drought. It is rather 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, bright birch meadow or through a fabulous, mysterious spruce forest. The forest is a place where animals, birds, insects live. Animals that live 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.

Russian forest animals

From Eurasia to North America, vast taiga, coniferous forests stretch, which are not afraid of either frost or crazy heat. Fir, pine, larch, cedar grow there, and moss and grasses grow green under them. In these forests, a real expanse for avid mushroom pickers. Since they are rich in berries and mushrooms. In the taiga forests, you can see sable, a marten making its way through the thickets of bushes, a shaggy wolverine, a hare running away from a wolf, and also a fox. Many animals of the forests of Russia prefer to live in the thickest, as poachers have already mastered the outskirts and frightened them with their shots. In secluded places, bears are laid down for hibernation.

You can meet elk or deer. Autumn is especially beautiful in mixed forests. Trees dress up 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 to warmer climes. But this does not mean at all that there are no birds at all in the winter season. Here the tit sang loudly, red-breasted, ruffled bullfinches merrily jump on a branch. It is only at first glance that the forest seems to be asleep and deserted. In order to find out which animals usually live in a mixed forest, you just need to carefully look around.

Raccoon

Raccoons are peculiar and interesting animals. They are wrapped in thick, long and fluffy fur, and on the muzzle there is a black stripe between the eyes. Raccoons are not afraid of water at all and swim remarkably. They love to fish, crabs and crayfish. Probably the most popular among raccoons is the 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 flocks, but places where there is a lot of food are an exception. With the onset of winter, raccoons hide in minks or hollows and sleep. And when spring comes, small cubs appear, which for 2 whole months will not leave the hole. 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. Barely sensing 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 mink, and in the evening they look for food. In autumn, hedgehogs eat a lot and stock up on fat for hibernation. Then they dig a mink under the stump, carry leaves and grass there and go to bed. In the spring, little hedgehogs are born. They have soft needles that look like wool. But until the kids grow up, they don’t leave their mother a single step. Hedgehogs are very useful. They exterminate harmful insects and mice.

Elk

Looking out what animals live in the forest, you will certainly notice the 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 hair that protects from frost. These animals have very well developed hearing. Moose can run fast, and if necessary, swim or even dive. The head of an elk is decorated with wide, large antlers. 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, mother moose cows have cubs. Moose are amazing animals.

Mongoose

Mongooses have a flexible, long body, on which a head with ears is located. They slightly resemble a marten or a cat. Getting close to the prey, the mongoose bends with its whole body. His coat almost merges with dense thickets. Thanks to dexterity, quick reaction and courage, the mongoose defends itself from enemies. Animals live in long holes or in thickets. That's where babies are born. Mongooses live, mostly 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 absolutely does not apply to deer. They are beautiful and strong and noble. Like moose, their head is decorated with branched horns. Deer have a well-developed hearing and sense of smell. Deer live on mountain slopes, in bushes, or in clearings with dense grass. They prefer to stay in herds. The biggest enemy of deer is the wolf. The means of protection for the deer are strong hooves and horns. Cubs are born spotted, but this disappears with age. Mom protects her cubs and talks to them.

Wolf

It is the wolf that 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 drive their prey into ambushes and attack. Despite their cruelty, wolves are very caring and good parents.

Fox

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

Sable

Sable is a very beautiful, agile and fast animal. It lives among snags and fallen trees. It has a strong, flexible body and a fluffy little tail. Sable fur, very beautiful, thick and warm. It hunts both night and day. Produces offspring in the spring. Nowadays, sable hunting is prohibited.

Badger

The badger's body is covered with hair. 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 care for their offspring.

Brown bear

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