Hello there and welcome to my part in the woods. This page also shows just some of the mammals living in the Northern Hemisphere of the world. Here you will also learn some interesting facts about some amazing animals living here, but also about land and soil pollution from soil erosion to the disposal of garbage. Have you ever wondered what a Herbivore or a Insectivore is? Scroll down to find out!

Did you know?

Only one male wolf and one female wolf in each pack will mate each year. The female gives birth from 4-7 pups, which are cared for by their parents and other pack members, known as helpers.

The moose's name comes from the natives meaning "bark eater" (but in Europe it is called "elk"). It's antlers may spread 6.6 feet (2 meters) across.

The bald eagle's name came from England when bald origanally meant "white". Also they build a large nest which can measure 2 feet accors and 6 feet deep!

Shrews are extremely nervous and sensitive. Their hearts may beat 1200 times per minute, and a shrew may die from the shock of a rough touch or a loud noise.

The whitetail deer can jump as high as 7 feet and can leap over 20 feet if it's running.

Now scientists have considered for the panda to be included as part of the bear family. But the koala "bear" is still part of the marsupial family (related to kangaroos, wombats, and opossums).

The puma is the largest cat in North America and is able to jump heights of 18 feet (5.5 meters) or more

The North American porcupine, may have more than 30,000 quills (each up to 3 inches [7.5 centimeters] in length)! Porcupines cannot shoot their quills they ONLY detach easily that can become painfully embedded in the enemy's skin.

The rusty brown eastern chipmunk has five dark and two light stripes; the gray western, five dark and four light stripes. They have inner cheek pouches that they can stuff with food. Chipmunks can climb and swim fairly well.

The grizzly bear, is the fiercest animal in North America. It is strong enough to carry off small horses and cattle.


Here is some facts about land and soil pollution

In order to sustain the continually growing human population, current agricultural methods are designed to maximize yields from croplands. In many areas, the overuse of land results in the erosion of topsoil. This soil erosion, in turn, causes the over-silting or sedimentation of rivers and streams.

One of the most hazardous forms of pollution comes from agricultural pesticides. These chemicals are designed to kill insects, weeds, fungi, or rodents that pose a threat to crops. When airborne pesticides drift with the wind or become absorbed into the fruits and vegetables they are meant to protect, they can become a source of many illnesses, including cancer and birth defects. Pesticides are often designed to withstand rain, which means they are not always water-soluble, and therefore they may persist in the environment for long periods of time. Some pests have developed a genetic resistance to these chemicals, forcing farmers to increase the amounts or types of pesticide. Still thousands of pesticides remain in use and, in some cases, their agricultural value may balance out their risks.

Some urban areas are beginning to experience a serious problem regarding the disposal of garbage and hazardous wastes, such as solvents and industrial dyes and inks. In many areas landfill sites are approaching their full capacity and many municipalities are turning to incineration as a solution. Giant high-temperature incinerators have become another source of air pollution, however, because incineration ashes sometimes contain very high concentrations of metals as well as dioxins, a dangerous family of chemical poisons.

One answer to the garbage problem is recycling. Some towns have passed ordinances that encourage or require residents to separate glass and aluminum cans and bottles from other refuse so that these substances can be melted down and reused. Although lightweight steel, cardboard, and paper are also economically recyclable, most industries and cities still burn or bury large amounts of scrap metal and paper products every day.

Here is some info on Carnivores, Herbivores, Omnivores, and Insectivores and who they are.

Animals that eat other animals are called carnivores. Many mammals are carnivores. They all have special kinds of teeth for tearing their food into chunks and chewing it. Most of them have claws for catching and holding their prey. Among the carnivores are cats, dogs, weasels, bears (some are omnivorous), hyenas, civet cats, and seals. Some fish subsist on plant and animal life known as plankton. The baleen whale is an enormous animal. It feeds upon shrimplike creatures only about 1 inch in length. When it finds a school of shrimp, it opens its mouth and gulps in several barrelfuls of water. Horny strainers that hang from the roof of its mouth catch the shrimp and drain out the water.

A large group of animals are plant eaters (herbivores). Many herbivores are prey of the carnivores. Insects are the dominant herbivores in most parts of the world, although they may be less conspicuous than plant-eating mammals and birds. Herbivorous mammals include horses, cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, rodents, elephants, deer and antelope.

Also there are a few mammals that are omnivores. They are mammals which eat some meat and some plant life. Although unlike herbivores, they are NOT always prey of the carnivores. Omnivorous mammals include mainly humans, monkeys and apes, wildboars and pigs, skunks, and raccoons.

A few mammals live on insects moles, shrews, and hedgehogs, bats, armadillos, aardvarks, and anteaters. Many bird species are insect eaters, as are certain kinds of insects, such as ladybugs.


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slovacek@echo-on.net

Last Updated 22/11/97

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