Animals Around Us

• Science
• Primary Education

Animals Around Us

When you see this symbol in the lesson:

Use what you already know 

Learn some new facts

Get ready to take part

Reflect on what you have learned

We're going to learn about some of the animals you might be able to spot in your local area.
Which of these animals do you like best?

Squirrel

Buzzard

Fox

Hedgehog

Drag over to the buzzard things you think it would eat...

Rabbit

Acorn

Fruit

Worms

Buzzards are carnivores who eat worms in the mornings by picking through farmers' fields, but as they are large birds require larger animals in their diet too.

They are often found scavenging - feeding from leftovers of another predator's hunt.

Where do you think buzzards go in the winter time?

Buzzards migrate - this means they travel somewhere warmer during the winter months. Most buzzards from the UK and Ireland migrate to the north of Africa.

What are the two types of squirrel that can be found in the UK and Ireland?

1. White and brown
2. Black and orange
3. Red and grey
4. Gold and silver

Red squirrels are native to Western Europe. Grey squirrels were introduced from North America and quickly spread. 

They brought with them squirrelpox, an illness that did not affect them but did harm red squirrels.

Grey squirrels can be very territorial and eat acorns long before they are ripe, when red squirrels prefer to eat acorns once they have turned brown.

All of this has contributed to red squirrels becoming endangered.

Scientists are working hard to raise numbers of red squirrels by controlling the population of grey squirrels. One method is to improve numbers of pine martens - a natural predator of squirrels native to Western Europe. Red squirrels evolved alongside pine martens so are better able to avoid them than grey squirrels, therefore pine martens are an effective natural control measure.

Storing Food

Squirrels are very busy in the autumn collecting and storing nuts and seeds in preparation for winter. They sleep a lot during winter, but they don't fully hibernate as they wake up occasionally to visit one of their food stores.

How many prickles do you think a hedgehog has?

06000

The answer is around 3000 prickles!

A hedgehog's prickles help to protect it from predators.

When frightened, a hedgehog can roll into a ball so that the prickles protect its face and tummy.

In which of these places would we find foxes living?

Drag and drop the correct places to the fox picture...

Ocean

Forest

City

Cave

Field

Park

Why do you think we are seeing more
foxes living in towns
and cities?

More and more foxes are moving into areas with lots of people in search of food. It is much easier for them to eat our leftovers than to try and hunt prey in the wild.

What was your favourite animal fact from this lesson?

How did you enjoy the lesson?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

For more information on animals found in the UK and Ireland check out:

www.ulsterwildlife.org

www.rspb.org.uk

www.irelandswildlife.com