RabbitWhat they look like:Rabbits have brownish-gray fur and

long, upright ears. In the wild, they can be between 8 and 20 inches long. They move by hopping.

Where to find it:Rabbits like wooded areas or

meadows. They live in groups in underground burrows or warrens. They can move very quickly and are often hard to spot.

What it eats:Rabbits are herbivores who eat many

different kinds of plants.

What eats it:Many animals eat rabbits including

fox, coyote, and dogs.

Interesting facts:• Baby rabbits are called kits and

are born without fur and blind.• Pet rabbits can be litter box

trained.• Rabbits have excellent eye sight.

Meadow voleWhat it looks like:Meadow voles have black, brown, or

grayish fur and bright, black eyes. They look similar to a mouse, but can be larger in size.

Where to find it:Meadow voles live in grassy fields and

along rivers. They build trails under grasses in order to move without being seen. They also build burrows underground.

What it eats: Meadow voles eat mostly green plants

over the summer. Their favorite is clover. In winter, they eat grains.

What eats it:Herons, crows, snakes, hawks, owls,

raccoons, snapping turtles, skunks, and cats all eat meadow voles.

Interesting facts: • They can eat their weight in food

every day.• A female meadow vole can have

up to 11 litters a year.• They stamp their hind feet to

warn others of danger.

Japanese beetleWhat it looks like: Japanese beetles are iridescent green with

brown wing covers. They have a hard body and legs that pinch.

Where to find it: Japanese beetles hatch during the summer.

Before they hatch, they have spent the winter underground as white larvae (grubs). They particularly like rosebushes and fruit bushes.

What it eats: Japanese beetles eat the leaves of plants

and trees. They will also eat fruit.

What eats it: Most animals will not eat a Japanese beetle.

However, birds, skunks, raccoons, and other mammals will eat the grubs.

Interesting facts:• Japanese beetles are one of the most

disliked insects because they are so destructive.

• They were accidentally brought to the United States from Japan in 1916.

Red-backed salamanderWhat it looks like:Red backed salamanders can be 2 to 5

inches long. They are dark brown with a pinkish-red stripe all the way down their body. They are amphibians.

Where to find it:Red backed salamanders like moist,

humid areas. They bury under rotting leaves and loose soil. Sometimes they will climb a tree in search of food. During winter, red backed salamanders dig down nearly 15 inches into the soil.

What it eats:They eat insects, larvae, mites, spiders,

and slugs.

What eats it:Birds, shrews, and snakes will eat red

backed salamanders.

Interesting facts:• Red backed salamanders never go

through a swimming stage like most salamanders. They live all their lives on land.

• They breathe through their skin.

Snapping turtleWhat it looks like:Snapping turtles are large (8-18 inch

shells) and have very long, thick tails. They have strong jaws and saw-edged shells. They look vicious!

Where to find it:Snapping turtles live in ponds or lakes.

They like ponds with muddy bottoms and lots of plants.

What it eats:Snapping turtles will eat almost anything

they can catch including fish, amphibians, and small mammals. They will also eat water plants.

What eats it: The snapping turtle has no predators.

Interesting facts:• The snapping turtle lures fish with its

tongue that looks like a worm.• They bury themselves in the mud at

the bottom of a pond with only their mouths visible. This is how they ambush their prey.

• Many people eat turtle stew.

EarthwormWhat they look like:Earthworms a large, grayish worms

with segmented bodies. They have no legs or eyes.

Where to find it:Earthworms like gardens and areas

with loose soil and lots of plants. They need to be in moist areas as their skin dries out easily.

What it eats: Earthworms eat decaying plants.

They help loosen the soil and provide nutrients for growing plants.

What eats it:Earthworms are eaten by birds,

skunks, and raccoons.

Interesting facts:• Earthworms are also called

nightcrawlers. They are great for fishing bait.

• Earthworms are not the best composting worms.

• Red worms are annelids. All annelids have segmented bodies. Leeches are also annelids.