Maine

= Maine Animals = = Research Projects =

= Loons = by Adam, Steven, and Katie The loon is a mostly black bird that has a white ring around it’s neck, white spots, and red eyes. The loon lives near lakes and streams because it eats fish. Loons can stay underwater for up to five minutes and they can dive 250 feet. The loon need a marshy area for its nest and it lays two brown spotted eggs. The babies are called chicks and they ride on their parent’s back. The loon’s predators are pike, mink, skunk, snapping turtles and raccoons. These animals try to eat the loon’s eggs. A loon protects itself by water dancing, that is when it spreads its wings and splashes the water. One interesting fact about loons is that they are Canada’s national bird. In Maine we enjoy seeing loons on our lakes.

=**Puffins **= by Briar, Emma H, and Jadyn Puffins are birds that live on the cold Atlantic coast of Maine. They have white tummies and black feathers on the back of their head and on their back. Puffins have orange webbed feet with little black claws. The puffin’s beak is yellow, orange, and black-blue but the beak is only colorful during nesting season. A puffin usually lays one egg and the baby is called a chick. Puffins dive in the sea and they eat mostly small fish and other small crustaceans. The Puffin’s predators are hawks, leopard seals and the orca. A puffin will protect itself and it’s babies by digging a hole in the dirt and hiding in the hole. They also protect themselves by spreading out their wings. We were sad to learn that people in Iceland eat puffins because in Maine we think they are beautiful.

Raccoons by Kenny, Emma, and Jack Raccoons are mammals that live in Maine. Raccoons look like they have a black mask that is fuzzy. Raccoons live in logs, dumpsters, farms, trees, stumps, and caves. Raccoons eat garbage, bugs, loon eggs, leftovers, worms and snails. Raccoon’s predators are owls, wolves, coyotes, fox, and bobcats. A raccoon makes a hissing or barking sound to protect itself. Female raccoons have four or five babies called kits. One interesting fact is that raccoons turn their feet backwards when they climb a tree. Raccoons are often seen in Maine.

Moose by Reece, Madeline, Bridget, and John The moose is a mammal. Moose have fur, long legs, and antlers. A moose is a ruminants which means their stomach has four parts to help them digest what they eat. Moose like to eat willow tree branches, berries, kelp, twigs, lilly pads, and roots. Moose can go underwater to eat pond lilies and other plants. Moose need snow in the winter to make a shelter to stay warm. They live in the woods or near by lakes. The predators are the grizzly bears, men, wolves, and coyotes. Moose protect themselves with their antlers and they charge at the predator. Moose babies are called calves. Moose mostly have twins, triplets are rare. The mother group will kick the father moose to protect their babies. The moose is a very big Maine mammal.

Lobsters by Nathan, M.J., and Collin The lobster is an invertebrate that lives in the oceans of Maine. A lobster has two claws, the big claw is called the crusher claw and the smaller claw is called the pincher claw. They have legs like spider’s, a tail, and two antennas. The lobster needs food, caves and water in it’s habitat. Lobsters eat snails, fish, mussels, sea urchins, crabs and starfish. A female lobster has between 5,000 - 100,000 eggs. When lobsters are babies they are called larva and their predators are fish. Lobsters have no protection when they are babies. One interesting thing about lobsters is that if a lobster loses a body part it grows it back. Lobsters are important to Maine people because many people like to eat lobsters.

Deer by Maggie, Skyler, and Patrick The deer is a mammal that has white underneath it’s tail, belly and neck. The deer lives in open valleys and wood lands. It needs a safe place to hide and a tree to sleep under. Deer eat berries, leaves, branches and acorns. The male deer spends more time looking for mate than eating. The deer's predators are bears, wolves, coyotes, and hunters. A deer protects itself by smelling it’s enemy and either stomping loudly or snorting loudly. When a doe has a baby for the first time it only has one. The next time it has two fawns. The fawns have white spots to blend in with the woods. The male deer has antlers but the female does not. The deer is an interesting mammal in Maine.