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Animals
Because of its well developed sense of hearing, eyesight and smell, the Red Fox is an efficient and lethal predator. Being and omnivore, it eats whatever is available including corn, berries, apples, grasses, birds and small mammals. The fox has many enemies including Coyote, lynx, and humans. Environmentalists firmly believe that Coyotes are necessary to preserve the balance of nature. Biologists also agree that Coyote populations have no lasting effects on other wildlife populations. Food habit studies reveal that its principle diet is composed of mice, rabits, ground squirrels, other small rodents, insects, reptiles and fruits and berries of wild plants. Shy and cautious by nature, Coyotes generally avoid contact with humans. Canadian Goose at sunrise Canadian Geese mate for life, and are protected under the migratory bird act The Great Horned Owl can live aproximately 13 years in the wild, and have been known to live 30 years in captivity. Most mortality is related to man - shootings, traps, road kills and electrocutions. The only natural enemies are other Great Horned Owls and occasionally, Northern Goshawks during disputes over nest sites. The Great Horned Owl gets its name from tufts of feathers that appear to be 'horns' which are sometimes referred to as ear tufts, but have nothing to do with hearing at all. The large feet are feathered to the ends of the toes, and the immature birds resemble the adults. Females are 10-20% larger than males. With excellent eyesight in the dark and soundless flight feathers, they hunt for their pray at night. The American Kestral is the smallest and most common of falcons. It prefers open habitats with scattered trees, including cultivated and urban areas. It can hover on rapidly beating wings in search if it's food. It's diet consists of insects, small reptiles, rodents and small birds. Other than man, black bears have few enemies. Wolves and Grizzly bears may attack young bears, or a pack may attack females. This seldom happens. More bears die from accidents and disease than from natural enemies. Black bears can live for 25 to 30 years in the wild, but few live longer than 10 years because of hunting. Thousands are shot by hunters in North America each year.
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