96 ] Animals in the Wild 



One of the greatest thrills my family had during a tour of the 

 United States came in Zion National Park in Utah when a bobcat 

 bounded across the highway. The animal was so close to our car 

 that only a quick use of brakes prevented our hitting it. Shortly 

 afterward we learned from a ranger-naturalist that though bobcats 

 were fairly numerous in the park, one of these animals is not 

 likely to be seen by visitors more than once in twenty years. 



VIVID DETAILS 



You need not limit your record to animals actually seen; 

 you can also include evidences of them. Have you seen footprints 

 of deer? Have they led to trees scraped by antlers? Have you 

 found a woodchuck's hole, the burrowings of a mole, or the dug-up 

 turf and smooth incline at the water's edge which proclaims an 

 otter's playground? An account of your experiences may include 

 pictures, tracks, or tufts of hairan endless variety depending on 

 your inclinations and opportunities. Whatever form your findings 

 take, they become a continuously enriched account of your aware- 

 ness of the world of nature. 



How Mammals Survive the Winter 



The rigors of cold weather and the scarcity of food create 

 hardships for mammals in wintertime. However, this is unlikely 

 to impress us as much as the plight of the birds, as mammals are 

 so little in evidence all year round. 



One of the few mammals that we are likely to see during all 

 four seasons is the gray squirrel. On cold winter days children 

 can appreciate the practical value as well as the beauty of this 

 creature's fur coat. He may often be seen scampering over the 

 snow; only on the most frigid days does he curl up in his tree- 

 trunk nest and cover himself with his bushy tail. He has some 

 food tucked away and hunts industriously for more whenever 

 weather permits. 



Even hardier than the squirrel is the cottontail rabbit, which 

 has no cozy retreat. A pile of brush is usually the only protection 

 he seeks. When his favorite grass is no longer available, he nibbles 



