Northern Forests, Grasslands, and 

Rainforests  

KaZoo Animals   

  

Name: Frieda  Species: Red Tailed Hawk Age: Unknown, but we estimate that she’s over 20 years old Current Location: Outside area of the ambassador animal building Diet: Mice/Rats Size: 3.6 pounds 

 Name: Donovan, Murphy and Coky Species: African Lion Age: Donovan is 9 and Coky and Murphy will be celebrating their 8th birthday in June! Current Location: At the top of the hill, above the Wildlife Hall and Red Panda Exhibit Diet: They eat a specialized big cat diet and chicken. They also get bones once a week as treats Size: The average lion stands about 4 foot tall and weigh anywhere from about 270 pounds to 500 pounds 

  Name: Prism Species: Brazillian Rainbow Boa Age: He will be turning 20 on June 10th! Current Location: Inside of the Ambassador Animal building Diet: Large Mice Size: About 3.7 pounds  

Visit us at Http://www.Uticazoo.org/kazoo . Mission: Utica Zoo creates unique experiences and promotes public appreciation of wildlife through

education, conservation and recreation.

  

    

Temperate Forests  Temperate forests can be found between tropical and polar regions, including eastern North America, northeastern Asia, and western and central Europe. They experience four well defined seasons and can have many varieties of trees. These forests are home to variety of animals, from small mammals to birds, but all of these animals must be well adapted to survive the changing seasons 

● Although Red Tailed Hawks are very common in temperate forests in upstate New York, they can be found in a variety of habitats across the country. They 

are very well adapted to living in different places and surviving off different types of prey depending on where they are! 

● Animals that live in temperate forests have a variety of adaptations to survive in winter. Some species of birds and insects will migrate during the colder months, while some mammals hibernate. Animals that are active during the winter months, like porcupines, grow a thicker coat and have to survive off different types of food that are available. 

● Reptiles that live in temperate forests go into a state of dormancy during the winter, also called brumation. They often go underground during colder periods, but can reemerge on warmer days to find water.  

 Grasslands 

Grassland habitats can be found on every continent except Antarctica and go by a variety of names. In North America, we sometimes use the word prairie to describe a grassland, but in Africa they are often called savannahs. They receive more rain than deserts, but not enough to support a large amount of trees, as in a forest. Grasslands are home to a variety of grazing animals like zebras and gazelle, as well as the predators that hunt them, like African lions and cheetahs. 

● African Lions live together in a pride, which usually consists of about 30 individuals including related females and their cubs and one or more males. The females are the primary hunters and work together to capture large grazing animals 

Visit us at Http://www.Uticazoo.org/kazoo . Mission: Utica Zoo creates unique experiences and promotes public appreciation of wildlife through

education, conservation and recreation.

● Have you ever wondered why zebras have stripes? There are a lot of theories out there about the zebras' distinctive black and white pattern. It is thought that their pattern may confuse predators, help them to cool down, and/or repel biting flies that carry disease! 

● Prairie dogs build huge underground burrows, and each entrance is marked with a large pile of dirt. These dirt piles help to protect their homes from weather, but also provide a higher spot for them to look out for predators. They often also eat a lot of the tall grasses and plants around their prairie, making it harder for predators to launch sneak attacks. 

 Rainforests 

Rainforests have some of the tallest trees in the world and provide shelter and food to a variety of animals. Rainforests have four layers, the forest floor, understory, canopy, and emergent layer. Few plants grow on the lowest two levels, the forest floor and understory, and those that do require very little light to survive. The canopy is home to most of the animals that we think about when we think of a rainforest, like birds and primates. The emergent layer is home to the tallest trees that grow taller than the rest of the forest. Some rainforests are so expansive and dense that there is thought to be many plants and animals there that have yet to be discovered! 

● Rainbow Boas have a special type of camouflage called countershading. The top of their body is darker in color and the bottom of their body is lighter. When seen from above, they blend in with the darker forest floor and when seen from below, they can blend in to the brighter top of the forest. 

● In addition to countershading, rainbow boas also have iridescent scaly skin. Tiny ridges on their scales act like a prism and refract light. This may also help them to camouflage as well! 

● Parrots that live in the rainforest, like macaws, have very bright colors that make them stand out when you visit them at a zoo or conservation center. However, in the rainforest, they are able to blend in leaves, fruit, and even the shadows of the forest.      

Visit us at Http://www.Uticazoo.org/kazoo . Mission: Utica Zoo creates unique experiences and promotes public appreciation of wildlife through

education, conservation and recreation.

  

Conservation Message  One of the biggest threats to habitats, especially forests, is the use and removal of habitat for resources and development. It is thought that the Amazon Rainforest, which is the world’s largest rainforest, has lost over 15% of its forest cover in the last half century. However, forests are incredibly important to us. They provide us medicine, many kinds of food, and other resources. Plus they are incredibly important in mitigating climate change, since the trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen!  There are many ways to help protect and preserve habitats! The easiest thing you can do is use your resources wisely! Do your best to reuse and repurpose materials as much as possible, like using the back and front of a piece of paper or creating an art project out of something you no longer use! Use a refillable water bottle and reusable lunch containers, instead of single use bottles and plastic bags. And always recycle and dispose of any waste properly!  What should you do if you see an injured bird of prey? Reach out to the DEC conservation office, the wildlife rehabilitation center or a vet. They will give you instructions from there. You can find a wildlife rehabilitator at https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/83977.html  

Visit us at Http://www.Uticazoo.org/kazoo . Mission: Utica Zoo creates unique experiences and promotes public appreciation of wildlife through

education, conservation and recreation.