Wild animals – 6 fact sheets on the animals of the forest

Which animal would you like to learn more about?

Little explorers love discovering the environment with all its inhabitants and learning more about the fellow creatures on our planet. Let yourself be inspired by childlike curiosity and explore together with your children the Secrets of the forest animals. Conscious engagement promotes a mindful approach to nature in all its facets and is great fun!

And we can learn something too. After all, let's be honest: Do you know what sounds foxes make or which bear is the largest? Later we can continue to gush about the beauty of the animals, for example in a cute pajama with a deer motif or while coloring our adorable forest animal coloring page.

Colouring sheet

Roe deer fact sheet

The elegant roe deer is the most widespread and smallest species of deer in Europe. Nowadays it can be found not only in forests but also on open farmland.

Habitat: Forests, woodland edge zones and fields in large parts of Europe
Age: up to 12 years
Size: 54 to 84 cm shoulder height
Weight: 15-22 kg
Diet: Grasses, herbs, leaves and buds

How do roe deer live?

The way of life varies with the seasons. In summer roe deer mostly live alone. Especially after the birth of the fawn, female animals, also called does, spend their time alone within a small home range. Male animals show pronounced territorial behavior and occupy their territory usually for several years. At the start of autumn the roe deer gather into small groups together. The peaceful coexistence within the species makes life easier for the animals during the winter months. In late winter the groups begin to break up again. By the time the young are born in May the dissolution phase is completely finished.

When are roe fawns born?

Roe fawns are born in the favorable early summer months May and June into the world. They are usually born singly or as twins, in rare cases as triplets. About three to four weeks after birth the fawns remain crouched on the ground at a sheltered lying spot with dense undergrowth. The mother visits her young only to nurse. This conserves energy for the resting fawns and at the same time provides them with the best possible cover. Only from an age of about four weeks do the young begin to accompany their mother.

What does a roe deer look like?

The roe deer, with its wedge-shaped body and long legs, is perfectly adapted to silently moving through dense vegetation. With its body characteristics the roe deer is classified as the so-called "slipping type" is assigned. This means that when threatened it seeks shelter in the thicket with a few quick jumps instead of running away. In summer the animals' coat is a brown-red to pale yellow color. The winter coat is rather light to dark gray and provides better insulation against the cold. Roe fawns have a white-spotted coat for optimal camouflage on the ground. The spots, however, disappear completely with the first change to the winter coat.

Do roe deer have antlers?

Only the male animals, i.e. the roe bucks, have antlers. These are used primarily in fights against conspecifics to determine hierarchy. They normally consist of three tips or branches on each antler beam and on a fully grown roe buck are about 15 to 20 centimeters high. In bucks that have at least completed their first year of life, the antlers fall off annually between October and November. They regrow under the nourishing velvet skin again. The growth phase lasts about 60 days and ends in January. After the end of antler formation the dead velvet is rubbed off on bushes and trees in the second half of March.

Wolf fact sheet

Steckbrief Wildtiere für Kinder | Bild | Wolf

The wolf was long considered extinct in Germany. Today the pack animals can once again be found in certain forest areas.

Habitat: Vor allem Waldgebiete in Osteuropa, Russland sowie Kanada und Alaska
Age: up to 13 years
Size: approx. 60-80 cm shoulder height
Weight: 30-50 kg
Diet: Herbivorous mammals of their respective range

Are wolves extinct in Germany?

Once, wolves were among the most widespread mammals worldwide – they were found across the entire Northern Hemisphere. In many parts of Europe, however, wolves were displaced by humans – in Germany they were considered exterminated since the 18th century. In 2000, however, a major conservation success could be reported: the first free-living wolf pups in around 150 years were born in Germany. Since then wolves have slowly reclaimed their former habitat. In the survey period 2017/2018 there were 73 packs, 31 pairs and three territorial individuals in six federal states registered.

How fast does a wolf run?

The wolf is an excellent runner. During short sprints it can reach top speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour. But the wolf is not only a good sprinter but also a true endurance runner. It often travels up to 20 kilometers within its territory, sometimes even 80 kilometers a day. While trotting it moves at an average speed of 10 to 12 kilometers per hour.

What makes up a wolf pack?

A wolf pack is a kind of family group. It consists of a parent pair and their offspring. Wolves are very social animals with strong bonds – a wolf pair usually stays together for life. The young leave the pack when they reach sexual maturity after one to two years to found their own family. Each wolf pack lives in its own territory. The size varies greatly depending on the number of prey and can range between 75 and 2,500 square kilometers.

How much wolf is in the dog?

Our modern domestic dogs are domesticated, i.e. bred, forms of the wolf. They belong to the same species (Canis lupus). Wolves show some characteristic features that distinguish them from dogs. For example, the snout and legs are longer, and the ears, which are always erect, are generally smaller than those of domestic dogs. Wolves also often have a light spot above the eyes; the eyes themselves are yellow to yellow-green and slanted. The extent of the differences varies greatly depending on the dog breed. How much wolf is in a dog can only be determined conclusively by a DNA analysis.

Squirrel fact sheet

Steckbrief Wildtiere für Kinder | Bild | Eichhörnchen

Squirrels have adapted to living near humans and now frequently live in cities, gardens and parks. For the winter they create food caches.

Habitat: Forests and parks in large parts of America, Europe and Asia
Age: up to 10 years
Size: approx. 30 cm
Weight: approx. 200-400 g
Diet: Seeds, kernels, nuts, tree fruits, leaves, shoots

Which species are there?

Currently 29 species of squirrels are distinguished. In Central Europe the Eurasian red squirrel, with the scientific name Sciurus vulgaris. It can be recognized by its reddish coat. It faces competition from the robust and adaptable gray squirrel, which was introduced to Great Britain at the end of the 19th century. Meanwhile the gray squirrel has almost completely displaced the Eurasian red squirrel on the British Isles. In Germany, however, the gray squirrel has not yet been able to establish itself.

Do squirrels hibernate?

Contrary to common belief, squirrels do not undergo true hibernation, but only a winter dormancy. For this they store winter supplies in autumn. They bury these in the ground, where they can find them again primarily using their sense of smell. In the winter months the squirrels use a daily activity period of one to two hours to retrieve food from their stores. Afterwards they return to their sleeping nest and cease activity again.

How far can a squirrel jump?

Squirrels are excellent jumpers. For them it is no problem to five meters to jump. Their special body structure enables them to develop enormous jumping power. Their large feet can also be turned 180 degrees backwards, allowing them to climb headfirst down the tree safely. Their long, sharp claws give them a secure grip.

What does a squirrel's nest look like?

Squirrels build spherical nests in the forks of branches, which are called drey They make these from twigs and leaves. The drey is lined with soft materials such as grass and moss. A drey has an outer diameter of 30-50 centimeters and an inner diameter of about 15-20 centimeters. Usually it has at least two entrance holes for a quick escape and is watertight on the outside and well insulated. An ideal place to raise the initially naked and blind young animals.

Bear fact sheet

Steckbrief Wildtiere für Kinder | Bild | Bär

Depending on the species, a bear's appearance, fur color and distribution range vary. All bears share a stocky body build and short, powerful limbs.

Habitat: Primarily in Eurasia and America
Lifespan: up to 30 years
Size: depending on species up to 1,50 m shoulder height
Weight: depending on species 25-800 kg
Diet: Small animals, fish, fruits, insects – omnivores

What types of bears are there?

The bear family comprises eight species: the American black bear, the Asiatic black bear, the brown bear, the polar bear, the sloth bear, the Malayan bear, the spectacled bear and the giant panda. Some of these species are divided into further subspecies. The brown bear is one of the best-known bears in our regions. When we hear the word 'bear', the first image that comes to mind is probably that of a friendly-looking, large brown bear. The brown bear has a stocky, powerful build and a muscular hump over the shoulders. Although it was once widespread, there are now only small remnant populations in Western and Central Europe.

Are bears dangerous to humans?

No one needs to fear a bear. Although a bear can severely injure a person with a bite or a swipe of its paw due to its enormous strength, bears usually flee when a human approaches. If an attack occurs, it is usually due to provocation or careless behavior on the part of the human. Humans are far more dangerous to bears than bears are to humans. Bears are still hunted in some regions. In addition, bears are displaced from their natural habitat by humans.

Do bears hibernate?

In fact, many species of bears enter a winter dormancy during the cold season. This is not true hibernation, because body temperature drops only slightly and bears are relatively easy to wake. Respiratory rate and heartbeat are reduced only to the extent that the bear can still defend its den at any time. Before the winter dormancy in late summer and autumn they pack on a substantial layer of fat. During the winter dormancy they then lose about one third of their body weight. How long the dormancy lasts cannot be generalized across all bears. Bears are extraordinary individuals.

Which bear is the largest?

The largest bear is the Kodiak bear. It is a subspecies of the brown bear and lives on the Kodiak Islands off the southern coast of Alaska. The Kodiak bear reaches a total length of up to 3 meters and a shoulder height of 1,50 meters. Along with the polar bear and the Kamchatka bear, it is considered one of the largest land-dwelling predators on Earth.

Bear

Hedgehog fact sheet

Steckbrief Wildtiere für Kinder | Bild | Igel

The hedgehog is able to roll up into a spiky ball when threatened. The spines are already formed at birth, but are not yet fully hardened.

Habitat: Forests, gardens and green spaces in Eurasia and Africa
Age: up to 7 years
Size: approx. 20 cm
Weight: 350-1.500 g
Diet: Insects, earthworms, spiders, snails

Which hedgehog species is native to our region?

Two species of hedgehogs live in Europe: the brown-breasted hedgehog and the northern white-breasted hedgehog. In Germany and in large parts of western and central Europe the brown-breasted hedgehog is typically encountered. With the loss of its natural habitat it is increasingly found in human settlements – in hedges, wildlife-friendly gardens and parks.

Do hedgehogs hibernate?

Because hedgehogs find little food during the cold season, they prefer to go to sleep. In November they begin searching for a suitable winter quarters. This must not be too cold or too damp and should, of course, also be safely protected. A large pile of leaves is a popular example. During hibernation the hedgehog lowers its metabolism to a minimum. Breathing, body temperature and heart rate are reduced significantly. The animals live off the fat reserves they have built up before winter during this phase. In spring, when temperatures rise, the hedgehog awakens from its sleep.

Why does the hedgehog have spines?

The hedgehog defends itself with its spines against predators. If danger threatens, it quickly rolls itself into a ball. This protects its soft belly and makes it almost invulnerable. An adult hedgehog has 5.000 to 8.000 spines. These are brown and beige in color, which additionally camouflages the hedgehog in dense leaf litter.

Can you help a hedgehog in winter?

If you see a hedgehog walking around in your garden or in the woods during winter, this is not necessarily a cause for alarm. If you do not notice any injuries or signs of illness, it is likely that the hedgehog has naturally woken from hibernation. It is quite possible that its original winter quarters were damaged. The animal will then look for a new, suitable place. You may be able to create such a place in the garden with a few twigs, leaves or logs. If you are unsure whether the hedgehog needs human help, seek advice from the nearest hedgehog rescue center.

Hedgehog