Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023, issue 109 i Eco Kids Planet Magazine

I'm a fox. Being nocturnal, I prefer stealing through the night unseen. But at this time of year, foxes like me can move around almost invisibly during the day, too. That’s because we are the colour of autumn leaves – just look at my rusty orange, burnished brown coat! I slope through the countryside or city streets with equal ease. No need to hide from anything or anyone. Because I am a sly trickster, superb hunter and top predator – the ultimate survivor! I can find food all year round – and my fur grows thicker the colder it gets. So, I don’t bother hibernating – why would I? See my thick, bushy tail? Perfect for swishing as I strut – or wrapping around my body while I sleep. It…

It’s easy to find squirrels in autumn. They’re always out and about gathering nuts and seeds. I want to ask one a few questions about all that. I usually see them on the go here in my local park. Yes, there’s one scampering towards the trees. Excuse me! Squirrel: Mmf-mmf. Charlie: What’s that? Squirrel: I had an acorn in my mouth. I’ve had to drop it now. Charlie: My mum tells me not to talk with my mouth full, too. Squirrel: I’m busy preparing for winter. No time to talk! Charlie: But there’s no hurry. There’s plenty of food about. It’s autumn, so it’s all dropping from the trees. Squirrel: Yes, but soon there’ll be hardly any around. Charlie: I know you want to store as much food as possible…

Autumn Crossword Down: 1. Where are badgers born? 3. Britain’s smallest bat 5. A duck that nests in trees 7. This queen survives winter by hibernating in the ground Across: 2. Which owls hoot the loudest in autumn? 4. A seal or walrus 6. The only hibernating bird 8. Inactive 9. What do hedgehogs do in winter? 10. Which animals might be seen fighting in autumn? Wild Questions Test your knowledge with these multiple-choice questions. No wild guesses! 1. Which of these animals hibernate during winter? a. Polar bears b. Ground squirrels c. Brown bear cubs d. Honeybees 2. What do we call the insect version of hibernation? a. Torpor b. Brumation c. Slumber d. Diapause 3. What happens during hibernation to an animal? a. Its heartbeat slows down b. Its body…

It’s that time of year when nature seems to say, “Look at ME!” Daylight gets shorter as nights draw in. The air becomes crisper as winter gets closer. Yes, it’s late autumn! Many humans love this season – but how does it affect nature? Well, the woods come alive with a bright makeover. There’s lots to spot – and falling seeds to dodge. Mushrooms, the fruiting bodies of fungi, pop up. Can’t see any? Crunchy carpets of fallen leaves may be hiding them. But did you know that the ‘new’ yellows and oranges of those fallen leaves were there all year round? We only see them when the green part of the leaves that masked them starts fading in autumn. Fun Fact Some of autumn’s leaf displays are so colourful…

This titchy rodent is one of Britain’s rarest creatures, but conservationists are determined to build it a bright new future. Hanging around When is a mouse not a mouse? When it’s a dormouse! That’s right, none of the world’s 29 dormice species are actually mice at all, despite their name. But they are totally adorable. Hazel (or common) dormice live in Europe and western Asia. These nocturnal mammals spend their nights up high in trees or among hedgerows. They are perfectly adapted to this lifestyle. Their paws have sticky pads so they can clamber about the branches without falling off. They can even hang upside down by their feet! And wiggling those long whiskers helps dormice navigate in the dark. Who needs sunlight?! Did You Know? Hazel dormice give birth…

You will need: • Air-drying clay • Acrylic paint (brown, black and any other colours you might like to use) • Two small dark wooden beads • One larger dark wooden bead • Matchsticks (ask an adult to make sure the matches have been used and cannot cause a fire) • A cocktail stick • Glue Step-by-step instructions: 1. Take a portion of air-drying clay, about the size of a hen’s egg. Shape the clay to make the hedgehog’s body. 2. Push the matchsticks into the clay to make prickles. 3. Push the large black bead into the clay to make a nose and use the small black beads for eyes. Remove the beads, leaving hollows. Leave the model overnight to dry. 4. Paint the hedgehog all over. Use a…

Many birds leave the UK in autumn, but others flock in from even colder places. Look out for unusual winged visitors. Startling starlings Our number of starlings doubles as thousands arrive from mainland Europe. Their swirling sky dance is sensational. Somehow, they all know the exact moment to turn without ever colliding! Tawny owls are very active. The young ones who learned to fly in spring are now seeking their own territories. Adult owls defend their spaces. You may hear loud hoots and screeches – and not just in the countryside. Tawny owls turn up in city parks and the outer parts of towns and cities, too. You stand a much better chance of seeing red foxes during this season. Their young can now look after themselves and are out…

Grace Johnson is the hedgehog officer for Hedgehog Street. This charity campaign helps to protect the UK’s only spiny mammal. Grace raises awareness of the importance of hedgehogs and how we can help them. Thea: What do hedgehogs do in winter? Hedgehogs hibernate in winter. It’s a way to press the pause button while their natural insect food is in short supply. They build sturdy hibernation nests out of sticks and leaves. They choose sheltered, hidden spots under thick hedges or sheds. These hibernation nests are called hibernacula. Hedgehogs may switch between different ones during the winter. Florence: How do hedgehogs survive hibernation? Hedgehogs feed more than usual in the autumn to build fat reserves on their body. The fat reserves provide energy to keep them alive through hibernation. Hedgehogs…

NEWS ABOUT MOOS! Hi, Rusty fans! Did you read my annoying sister Rhona moaning about me getting my page in late? Doesn’t she realise it takes time to write brilliant pages like mine? Also, I fell asleep. I had a nightmare about a new discovery I’d heard about. There’s a West African crocodile that moos like a cow. That worried me. I often hear cows mooing from a nearby field I walk past. But what if I just think they’re cows? What if it’s really a field of hungry crocodiles mooing away? I could end up as their dinner! Don’t get me wrong. Crocodiles are cool. They remind me of dinosaurs, the coolest animals of all time (except for our cat Luke Skywhisker). Newer readers may not know I’m the…

Hibernation takes chilling out to the extreme – and some animals literally do chill! In Alaska, Canada and Siberia, Arctic ground squirrels bury themselves in deep burrows for the winter and turn as cold as ice. Their hearts may beat just twice a minute, and they may only breathe once or twice a minute. Fun Fact Western fat-tailed dwarf lemurs can hibernate for seven months each year! But many animals that rest over winter don’t hibernate – including bears. And no animal sleeps through winter! Bears don’t hibernate? Not really. They go into a state called torpor, which lasts for a shorter time. And, like hibernation, it isn’t sleep. It’s a much bigger body change than having a simple snooze. The animal’s body functions slow down almost completely, using fat…