TESATI Newsletter Week 1

1. TESATI Newsletter Week 1 Welcome and Thank You for signing up to save the endangered species! Each week I will be sending you weekly newsletter, stating what we will be doing that week. If you have any questions about the website: http://www.wix.com/benjaminclayborn/tesati-mammals-part1, please contact the site owner, Ben Clay born. Also, starting next week, [3/12/12] There will be a weekly question at the bottom of the newsletter about an endangered species. First one to answer it correctly, will get a picture of that animal! In this newsletter there will also 2 other pages about 2 endangered animals. This week we will be doing the Black-footed ferret and the Siberian tiger. There is also a scenario test. The scenario test is where you answer a few questions about one of the animals. By: Krista

2. Black- Footed Ferret Black- Footed Ferret Classification The black footed ferret is a member of the family Mustelidae which is also referred to as the weasel family. Other members of this family include the mink, badger, marten, fisher, stoat, polecat, wolverine and domestic ferret. Characteristics The black footed ferret has many characteristics including: • Long, slender body • Average size of 18 to 24 inches • 1 ½ to 2 ½ pounds in weight • Males are slightly larger than females • Female ferrets are called “jells” • Male ferrets are called “hobs” • Young ferrets are called “kits” • Short, sleek fur • Yellowish color to fur • Black mask, black feet, and black tip on tail • Large round ears • Short legs with long front claws • Average life span in wild is 1-3 years • Average life span in captivity is 4-6 years Behavior Black footed ferrets are very solitary. They are also nocturnal, meaning that they are moving during the night most of the time. They are also fossorial. The pups are very playful and can sometimes be seen dance over ground. Here is a website of the black footed ferret dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiUbds5xGp4&feature=player_embedded

3. Siberian Tiger • Siberian (or Amur) tigers are the world's largest cats. They live primarily in eastern Russia's birch forests, though some exist in China and North Korea. There are an estimated 400 to 500 Siberian tigers living in the wild, and recent studies suggest that these numbers are stable. Though their northern climate is far harsher than those of other tigers, these animals have some advantages. Northern forests offer the lowest human density of any tiger habitat, and the most complete ecosystem. The vast woodlands also allow tigers far more room to roam, as Russia's timber industry is currently less extensive than that of many other countries. • Tigers are the largest of all wild cats and are renowned for their power and strength. There were once eight tiger subspecies, but three became extinct during the 20th century. Over the last hundred years, hunting and forest destruction have reduced overall tiger populations from hundreds of thousands to perhaps 3,000 to 5,000. Tigers are hunted as trophies and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. All five remaining tiger subspecies are endangered, and many protection programs are in place. Poaching is a reduced—but still very significant—threat to Siberian tigers. • Tigers live alone and aggressively scent-mark large territories to keep their rivals away. They are powerful hunters that travel many miles to find prey, such as elk and wild boar, on nocturnal hunts. Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes) and hunt by stealth. They lie in wait and creep close enough to attack their victims with a quick spring and a fatal pounce. A hungry tiger can eat as much as 60 pounds (27 kilograms) in one night, though they usually eat less. • Despite their fearsome reputation, most tigers avoid humans; however, a few do become dangerous man-eaters. These animals are often sick and unable to hunt normally, or live in areas where their traditional prey has vanished. • Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old, and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory.

4. Scenario Test • 1. Which animal lives in Russia? • 2. How can you save each animal? Reply with the answer to Ben!