Page 3 - Kind News, Jr. Teacher Guide, November/December 2020

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“Do You Remember” Puzzle answers FROM PAGE 2

D N I K P A W Q G Y B X N S C
I D T U I A P U Q J I R U V G WORD LIST
E L B I S N O P S E R O A T N

T I S N W P I Q B U I X C V H KIND BRAVE
C N S R P K M L S R S H Q X E RESPONSIBLE SHY
CALM
CONFIDENT
A U E Y C G V W U S Y I R U I SILLY CURIOUS
L L E D F J Q C R L L Y L Z S FUNNY QUIET
M H S U I S H Y A T D A G L K

V I N C T F E F V S N X G E Y
opposite page: from the top: redrover; rdodson/bigstock; redrover. this page, from top: ruslankphoto/bigstock; raja: bryan huff.
R N L S F N N D Z S E M A C H

Y E Q U I E T O D K I E O Y E
R A V H J O K I C A R R A R K

Critter Clues FROM PAGE 7

Our mystery critter is the moose. As the largest
member of the deer family, they can weigh up to 1,200 pounds!
They are the tallest mammal in North America and can be five
to six and a half feet tall — and that’s not including their antlers!
They live in forests with snowy winters and bodies of water, such as
swamps, streams, and ponds nearby. Because they are so large, they
don’t tolerate heat well and avoid living in warm climates. However,
moose are excellent swimmers and often swim to cool off in the summertime.
Moose means “twig-eater” in Algonquin. Moose eat twigs and tree bark in the
winter months and leaves and buds in the warmer times of year. Although they have poor eyesight, they have
great hearing and an excellent sense of smell. Generally, moose are peaceful animals, but will defend themselves
with their hooves or antlers when threatened, especially when protecting their calves.
Moose are currently being monitored by wildlife experts. Their populations have declined in states across the
U.S., including New Hampshire, Michigan, Minnesota, and Montana. Despite their size, moose do have predators
such as wolves and bears, and an infected bite from a predator can kill a moose. Moose have also been heavily
impacted by climate change. They have always been threatened by parasites like ticks, but these threats have
increased in the last several years as climate change effects, such as shorter winters, higher temperatures, and
less snowfall, have become more drastic. Moose are also the target
of hunters, with the male moose being hunted the most frequently.
This has caused the moose’s average life expectancy to shorten over time.
What can you do to help protect moose? Encourage children to learn
more about moose and other types of wildlife that they may not see often. Where’s Raja?
Educate them about climate change, how it directly affects animals like Raja is hiding
moose, and what they can do to combat it. on page 4!