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 Antelopes By Halle What do they look like? Antelopes are hoofed animals with hollow horns. They have long ringed horns, big ears and eyes, light brown fur, a white stomach, a small white tail, a white stripe on its snout to its eye. Where do they live? They live on grasslands. What do they eat? Antelopes are herbivores. They have 4 stomachs. The food goes from one stomach to another. This helps the antelope digest. Who are their predators? The antelopes are hunted by lions, leopards, and wild dogs. Babies Antelopes have two fawns each year that are born in late spring. How were they important to the native people? The native people used their horns and ate their meat. Other important facts No true antelope is native to the Americas. Some kinds of antelope include Impala, Springbok, Bongo and Kob. Antelopes are great runners, but they can also jump very well. They can bounce with all four legs in a stiff position. This is called pronking. All four of their feet leave the ground and land at the same time. Antelopes are closely related to some kinds of sheep. |
 What Do Bison Look Like? by Jack The American bison is the heaviest mammal in North America. A bison is another name for buffalo. Bison usually live between 12 and 15 years. Bison have a huge head with long black hair. On its back it has short black hair. Bison are about 5 to 6 1/2 feet long and weigh from 900 to 2,000 pounds. Right now there are about 20 to 30 million in the world, and in America there are about 250,000. Bison are usually found near forests and on the plains. Bison usually eat grass and weeds. Bison's predators are humans, wolves and coyotes. Most bison babies were born in May when the weather was warm. When a baby is born, its eyes are open and it weighs between 30 and 70 pounds. |
 Buffalo by Justice A buffalo is a large animal. It looks sort of like a bull. Buffalo live in South Dakota. The buffalo eat plants and grass. Wolves and coyotes are the predators. Most baby buffalo are born in May when the weather is warm. The buffalo were used for meat. They are mammals. A grown up male can be six feet tall. They were endangered by settlers who shot buffalo. |
 THE PRAIRIE DOG By Matthew and Adam N Where They Live Prairie dogs live in twelve states and they are Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming and elevations of Mojave desert and the Great Basin. Habitat Prairie dogs live on grasslands in the plains of North America. Prairie dogs live in tunnels that they dig. What Do They Look Like? The prairie dogs have brownish fur and white under parts. They have large eyes and small tails and round ears. They use their teeth and claws for digging tunnels. The prairie dog is the size of a football. Baby prairie dogs are born with no hair. The pups stay in the burrows for six to seven weeks. Food Prairie dogs eat leaves, grasses, grass roots, corn, seeds, bugs, cutworms, grasshoppers and other plants. Who Are Their Predators? Many animals that hunt the prairie dog are badgers, weasels, ferrets, hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, bobcats and snakes. They also get diseases from flea bites. How they are important to Native Americas? The Native Americas hunted the prairie dogs for food. Tunnels Prairie dogs live in tunnels that can hold hundreds of prairie dogs. The towns are divided into wards and the wards are divided into neighborhoods. The tunnels connect to rooms. There are nurseries, bedrooms, toilets, storage rooms, listening posts and nest chambers. The entrance to the prairie dogs tunnels go down ten feet and can be fifty feet from each other. The entrance is surrounded by a pile of soil. It is a lookout for predators and also protects the burrow from floods. Other Facts Prairie dogs are rodents. |
 JACK RABBITS By Eliana What do they look like? Jack rabbits have long ears and long legs for rabbits. They have big eyes and long whiskers. They have short stubbed tails and big hind feet. Their fur is brown, black and white. What is their habitat like? Jack rabbits live in lots of places including prairies, deserts, forests and grasslands. What do they eat? Jack rabbits are herbivores which means plant eaters. They eat grasses, herbs, leaves, bark and twigs. Who are the jack rabbit's predators? Jack rabbits are hunted by wild dogs, foxes, raccoons, weasels, bobcats, lynxes, hawks, dogs, eagles and people. Fortunately, they are not endangered. What kind of animals are jack rabbits? Lots of people think rabbits are rodents but they are not. They are just mammals. How are they important to the native people? The native people used the skin, ate the meat and used every part of the body they could. What are their babies like? Jack rabbits have 4-6 babies. They are blind when they are born. They can first come out of the nest when they are 2 weeks old. The mother jack rabbit will make the nest for the babies. Fast Fact The jack rabbit can run 40 miles per hour. |
 Coyotes By: Alia What do they look like? A coyote has long legs, sharp teeth, dark eyes and a long bushy tail. A coyote can have brown, gray, black or white fur. Tell about their habitat. Coyotes live in forests, mountains, plains, deserts and chaparrals. What do they eat? Coyotes eat rodents, dead animals that they find, fish, snakes, lizards, grains and fruits. Who are the predators? The coyote has no predators because it is at the top of the food chain. Tell about their babies. The coyote mates between February and April. After mating, the female coyote can have one to nineteen pups. The average amount of pups is six. How were they important to the Native Americans? The Native Americans called the coyote "little wolf." Native Americans used it for a dog before they had horses. What kind of animal is it? A coyote is in the dog family. |
 Gopher Snakes By Justin What They Look Like The gopher snakes are yellow or cream with black, dark brown, reddish brown and frequently spotted with black. Habitat Gopher snakes are found in a wide variety of habitats such as desert flats, coniferous forest, but they prefer grasslands and open brush areas. What They Eat Gopher snakes eat rodents, rabbits, birds, eggs, and lizards. Predators The gopher snakes predators are birds, of such as hawks and eagles. Their other predators are kit foxes and coyotes. Babies Six weeks after mating, females lay a clutch of eggs with 2 to 24 eggs. Hatchlings emerge fully developed within 10 weeks, and are large enough to eat small mice. Importance to Native Americans The Native Americans used the skin probably for decorations. Other Interesting Facts In winter, gopher snakes hibernate, retreating to communal dens, sometimes shared with a rattlesnake. |
