American
Beech
Shelter: Beech trees live in shady to sunny places.
Food: They make their food from sunlight. This process is
called photosynthesis.
Size: 18–24 meters (60–80 feet) tall
Kind of Organism: Plant
Habitat: Temperate forest
Predators: Birds, squirrels, deer, skunks, bears
Adaptation: Beech trees have many leaves to catch the sunlight.
Interesting Facts: Wood from the beech tree is almost white. It is used to
make toys and furniture.
1 of 8 Temperate Forest
Photos: © John Sohlden/Visuals Unlimited; © Patti Murray/Earth Scenes (inset)
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Black Bear
Shelter: Black bears live in a cave or a hole in a tree or the
ground.
Food: They eat fruit, nuts, berries, insects, fish, eggs, honey,
turtles, and small mammals.
Size: Males 90–105 centimeters (36–42 inches feet) tall; females smaller
Kind of Organism: Mammal
Habitat: Temperate Forest
Predators: Brown bears, wolves
Adaptation: Black bears are mostly active at night. They can swim and climb
trees.
Interesting Facts A mother black bear gives birth to two cubs in her winter
den.
2 of 8 Temperate Forest
Photo: © Art Explosion
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Cicada
Shelter: Adult cicadas live on leaves and branches. Cicada
babies and young live underground.
Food: The babies and young eat roots underground. The
adults suck tree sap.
Size: 2–5 centimeters (1–2 inches) long
Kind of Organism: Insect
Habitat: Temperate forest, grassland, desert
Predators: Rattlesnakes, birds, foxes, skunks
Adaptation: After hatching, baby cicada dig underground, where they live for
three or more years.
Interesting Facs: Adult cicadas come out of the ground in June. They and feed
on the plants by sucking the sap and juices.
3 of 8 Temperate Forest
Photo: © Harrison Shull/shullphoto.com
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Earthworm
Shelter: Earthworms live in the upper layers of the soil.
Food: They eat plants and animals that have died.
Size: 1–10 centimeters (0.4–3.9 inches) long
Kind of Organism: Annelid
Habitat: Temperate forest, wetland, grassland, rain forest
Predators: Birds, frogs, lizards, salamanders, raccoons, turtles
Adaptation: Earthworms can tunnel in the soil to find food, and to hide from
predators.
Interesting Fact: People add earthworms to gardens to help break up soil, and
to add nutrients.
4 of 8 Temperate Forest
Photo: Carol Sevilla/Lawrence Hall of Science
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Robin
Shelter: Robins live in trees, bushes, gardens, and towns.
Food: They eat fruits, nuts, insects, and earthworms.
Size: 23–28 centimeters (9–11 inches) long
Kind of Organism: Bird
Habitat: Temperate forest, grassland
Predators: Foxes, skunks, raccoons, hawks, bobcats
Adaptation: Robins build a nest in trees made of mud, grass, and twigs. They
line it with soft grass.
Interesting Fact: Robins lay hree to five blue-green eggs twice a year.
5 of 8 Temperate Forest
Photo: © Art Explosion
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Striped
Skunk
Shelter: Striped skunks live in burrows or dens that other
animals have left.
Food: They eat mice, insects, bird eggs, grass, leaves, seeds,
and fruits.
Size: 52–80 centimeters (20–31 inches) long
Kind of Organism: Mammal
Habitat: Temperate forest, grassland
Predators: Bobcats, foxes, golden eagles, coyotes
Adaptation: The black and white stripes of the skunk are a warning to
predators. A skunk will lift its tail and spray a bad smell to defend itself.
Interesting Fact: The spray of skunks is not poisonous, but it can make you
feel sick, and sting your eyes.
6 of 8 Temperate Forest
Photo: © Renee Lynn/Photo Researchers, Inc.
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Sundew
Shelter: Sundew grows best in moist places where it is
sunny.
Food: They make their food from sunlight. This process is
called photosynthesis. They also catch insects.
Size: 10–25 centimeters (4–10 inches) tall
Kind of Organism: Plant
Habitat: Temperate forest, wetland
Adaptation: The leaves of a sundew have tiny, sticky hairs. Insects stick to the
hairs, and the plants are digested by them.
Interesting Facts: The sundew can grow in wet places where the soil has few
nutrients.
7 of 8 Temperate Forest
Photo: © Stephen P. Parker/Photo Researchers, Inc.
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White-Tailed
Deer
Shelter: White-tailed deer sleep at dawn in places hidden
under bushes and trees.
Food: They eat grass, fruits, nuts, leaves, and mushrooms.
Size: 68–114 centimeters (27–45 inches) tall
Kind of Organism: Mammal
Habitat: Temperate forest, grassland
Predators: Coyotes, wolves, bobcats, bears
Adaptation: White-tailed deer are active at night. They can run fast or hide to
escape predators.
Interesting Fact: Mother deer give birth to one to three fawns in the spring or
summer.
8 of 8 Temperate Forest
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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