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 ForestPhotos: © John Sohlden/Visuals Unlimited; © Patti Murray/Earth Scenes (inset)FOSS® Habitat Organism CardsCopyright © The Regents of the University of California

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 ForestPhoto: © Art ExplosionFOSS® Habitat Organism CardsCopyright © The Regents of the University of California

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 ForestPhoto: © Harrison Shull/shullphoto.comFOSS® Habitat Organism CardsCopyright © The Regents of the University of California

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 ForestPhoto: Carol Sevilla/Lawrence Hall of ScienceFOSS® Habitat Organism CardsCopyright © The Regents of the University of California

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 ForestPhoto: © Art ExplosionFOSS® Habitat Organism CardsCopyright © The Regents of the University of California

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 ForestPhoto: © Renee Lynn/Photo Researchers, Inc.FOSS® Habitat Organism CardsCopyright © The Regents of the University of California

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 ForestPhoto: © Stephen P. Parker/Photo Researchers, Inc.FOSS® Habitat Organism CardsCopyright © The Regents of the University of California

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 ForestPhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceFOSS® Habitat Organism CardsCopyright © The Regents of the University of California