Wild animals are facing huge challenges in the natural world today. Many are endangered - some critically. This eye-opening book shows how animals are being threatened by habitat loss, climate change, non-native species taking over their habitats, pollution, over-fishing, poaching, collisions with cars and boats, and human diseases. Many recovery efforts are in progress to bring back the populations of some nearly extinct animals and to reintroduce some captive ones to their natural habitats. Readers will learn how scientists are working to save blue iguanas in the Cayman Islands, black-footed ferrets in the Canadian prairies, penguins and albatross in Patagonia, and great apes in Africa. This engaging book also encourages students to compare their life challenges to those of animals in the wild.
This fascinating book, illustrated with colorful photographs, makes the topic of symbiosis easy and fun. It looks at the positive, negative, and neutral effects that result when different kinds of animals interact with each other. Symbiotic relationships highlighted include birds and fish that clean parasites off other animals, bacteria that help keep animals and people healthy, mosquitoes that pass diseases such as malaria, predators that hunt prey, and scavengers that help clean the earth. Other examples of symbiotic relationships include several kinds of animals. Students are asked to illustrate symbiosis in human relationships that are similar to those found in nature.
Foxes, rabbits, mongooses, rats, starlings, turtles, Burmese pythons, and Asian carp are just a few of the invasive animals introduced by people into countries and ecosystems to which they do not belong. This important book describes how these animals are destroying habitats and endangering the lives of native animals, some of which have been brought close to extinction. Students will learn how some arrived accidentally on boats, while others were brought in by people, to be used either as a form of pest control on farms, for hunting or hobbies, or as pets that sometimes get abandoned in the wild by owners. Many native animals, such as raccoons, squirrels, and coyotes have also become invaders in cities, back yards, and homes. Students can research invasive species in their areas and help find ways to stop these wild invaders from taking over the natural habitat.
From where they sleep to what they eat and how you can make them feel safe and at home, this book gives you all the pet care advice you need to become a lizard’s best pal. Learn the inside information on how lizards communicate, what games they like to play, and how to understand their behavior, so you can build a bond with your pet that will last a lifetime.
From where they sleep to what they eat and how you can make them feel safe and at home, this book gives you pet care advice on a variety of different pets. Learn the inside information on how to care for and understand the behavior of pets such as snakes, insects, chinchillas, newts, and salamanders.
From where they sleep to what they eat, this book gives you all the advice you need to become a pony’s best pal. Learn the inside information on how ponies communicate, and how to understand their behavior, so you can feel confident about your pony knowledge.
Deserts - both hot and cold - are home to animals that have adapted to dry conditions. From snakes to oryx, this title features enticing color photographs and engaging text that encourage readers to learn about these fascinating, and growing biomes.
Swamps, bogs, marshes are all wetland biomes teaming with life. Located on every continent except Antarctica, wetlands are diverse and necessary for a healthy planet. Readers will enjoy learning about swamp creatures such as alligators and snakes, and the many kinds of fish and plants that thrive in wetlands.
This engaging title introduces readers to one of the the richest biomes in the world - the rain forest. A special section on this habitat under threat helps readers use their mapping skills to research endangered rainforest animals.
Some of the world’s most interesting animals - lions, cheetahs, and bison - live on grasslands. These fragile ecosystems are often taken for granted and have been nearly wiped out in many places around the world. This colorful book introduces readers to this fascinating but constantly threatened landscape.
Mountains are alpine biomes, which are home to an intriguing number of plants and animals. Some mountain animals, such as the yak, have been adapted for agriculture by humans. This intriguing book soars to new heights with simple-to-understand maps and detailed facts about an often-overlooked biome.
Take a captivating journey across the continent of Europe to view the incredible array of plants and animals that live, hunt, and hide in Europe’s distinct habitats. Stunning photographs take you along the vast length of the Danube River, through ancient Caledonian pine forests, up active volcanoes, and across the Alps.
Can you imagine a mammal that lives without ever drinking water, or a frog that freezes solid but can still thaw out and hop away? This book reveals the extraordinary ways certain animals are able to survive in some of the harshest environments on our planet!
Have you ever heard of a see-through frog, a cartwheeling spider, or a jellyfish that never dies? This entertaining book highlights examples of animals with unusual bodies and surprising behaviors that make them stand out in the animal world.
Animals build structures to shelter their young, catch prey, and even communicate. Some animals even change their environment to suit their needs. This awesome book reveals the amazing ways that certain animals engineer structures and ecosystems in order to survive.
Why would an animal need a disguise? This intriguing book features the fascinating ways some animals use camouflage or mimicry to conceal themselves for protection from predators, or as a way to attract prey or a mate.
What makes an animal famous? Some do important jobs that help humans, and some have super skills or do entertaining tricks. Some become celebrities on the Internet just for being cute—or grumpy! This book offers examples of animals who have accomplished amazing feats, made predictions, and won hearts worldwide.
Did you know that a cheetah can accelerate faster than a sports car or that an impala can jump over three times its height? This fascinating book highlights examples of animals with incredible athletic abilities and skills that make them the record-breakers of the animal kingdom.
Once thought to be extinct in the wild, the southern white rhino is now classified as near threatened and lives mostly on protected reserves. Over 100 years of conservation efforts have made it the only rhino of the five rhino species not listed as endangered. This engaging book explores how habitat loss and relentless poaching for their horns nearly brought this species to extinction. Readers will discover how this species was saved from extinction and whether similar strategies may help other rhino species in peril.
Less than two decades ago, four Island Fox subspecies faced extinction. Human activities, including pollution and the introduction of invasive species, threw the Channel Islands’ ecosystem out of balance. Thanks to the concerted efforts of wildlife biologists, government officials, and others, the island fox has made the fastest recovery of any mammal in the history of the Endangered Species Act. This fascinating book traces the events that nearly caused the island fox’s demise, and the collaborative efforts that led to recovery of this “comeback kit.”
The California Condor is one of North America’s largest birds. These mighty scavengers were nearly wiped out by habitat loss, poaching, and lead poisoning. In 1982, only 22 California Condors remained in the wild! In this engaging book, readers will learn about the captive breeding programs, public education, and other conservation efforts that have led to a small but increasing population of California Condors in the wild.
The Grand Cayman blue iguana is named after the small island in the Caribbean Sea on which it lives. The largest reptile on the island, it had few predators until people arrived. Habitat loss and invasive species quickly diminished the blue iguana population to fewer than 25 by 2005. This captivating book traces the iguana’s remarkable journey back from the brink of extinction and highlights the continued efforts to protect the species.
Would you be surprised to see a coyote wandering down a suburban street? Once considered a native of open grasslands and plains, coyotes have become “adaptors” to the human territory of paved streets and houses. An examination reveals the ways in which animals such as coywolves, white-tailed deer, red foxes, red-tailed hawks, and alligators live on the periphery of developed areas. Special sections address encroachment and how humans can learn to adapt to wild animals in their backyards.
Paris, France has a population of 2.2 million people and 3.8 million rats. Toronto, Canada is the raccoon capital of the world. This intriguing book focuses on urban animals called “exploiters.” These are animals such as squirrels, raccoons, skunks, opposums, rats, and crows who have turned living near humans to their advantage. An examination reveals the ways in which these animals have adapted to living alongside humans. Special feature boxes address city-specific animal control and rehabilitation programs.
When you live in bear or cougar territory, you learn to lock your garbage cans indoors, keep your pets safe, and not feed wild animals. This exciting and highly illustrated book focuses on the “human avoiders,” animals that are sometimes found on the fringes of urban developments, where humans are the new kids on the block. Readers will gain an understanding of human-wildlife conflict, as well as key concepts in wildlife conservation of animals such as gray wolves, mountain lions, and gray foxes.
