Hobbies And Interests
Wolves
Wolves are pack animals, with one of the most evolved social structures of any group animal. A wolf pack consists of six to fifteen animals. The members of the pack are organized into a complex power structure, although the ranking of individual wolves can change over time. The leaders of the pack are the breeding couple, also known as the alpha male and female. Most of the other members are their pups at various stages of development. Eventually, most young wolves break off from the pack to go find other wolves to form new breeding pairs with.
White-Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer are found throughout most of North America and travel in large herds. Deer live in different-sized groups depending on what season it is. In summer, deer spread out and claim a wide range. In autumn, mature males range out to find new females to breed with, especially if there are none that they can gain access to in their previous range. In the winter, ranges shrink and deer gather into larger herds for protection. As many as 125 deer might call a square mile range home in winter, but that number is closer to 25 in the summer time.
Beavers
Beavers live in small groups called colonies. Beaver colonies usually have about six to seven members, but groups can be smaller or larger. All the beavers in a colony are related. A colony will have a particular pond as its territory. The beavers use special scent markers to warn other beavers way from private territory. Once beavers are grown, they leave the colony and find mates and new territory to make a new home in.
Elk
Like some other forest animals, the group composition of an elk herd changes throughout the seasons. In the winter, cows and bulls live in different areas, but by summertime, larger herds of animals form in order to help care for the young. The larger groups allow for protection of the young by one cow while the others are out and feeding. In the autumn, bulls try to integrate themselves with the other groups to form mating groups called harems.