Arctic Animals Research Papers By Melissa Michael These research papers were written to make it easier for early readers to find information and write a report about an animal in the Arctic. There are 24 animals featured in this pack. Students can choose an animal and then complete the research form by reading the research paper and other books. There are 2 copies of the research paper. One is for a rough draft and 1 is for a final copy. I like to have a photo board (I use a science fair type display) with all of the animals. I introduce each animal by telling an interesting fact about it. I then draw names and let students choose their favorite animal. I stress that all of these animals are very interesting – there isn’t a “bad” or boring choice! The photos can be used for a photo board or bulletin board type display. Enjoy! ~Melissa Teacher Treasure Hunter Name: Arctic Animal Research – Rough Draft The animal I’m learning about is Where does it live? It eats How does it get food? This is what it looks like: Its baby is called Its enemies are 2 interesting things I learned about this animal: * * Practice drawing this animal: Name: Arctic Animal Research The animal I’m learning about is Where does it live? It eats How does it get food? This is what it looks like: Its baby is called Its enemies are 2 interesting things I learned about this animal: * * Here is a picture of this animal: Polar Bear FEATURES & INTERESTING FACTS -Its paw is as big as a large plate! -Their skin is black. -Their fur appears to be white or a light yellow color. Each hair is a hallow tube (like a straw) that reflects light. That is why they look white. -Polar bear babies are called cubs. -When cubs are born they only weigh about 1 pound and are the size of a rat. -Male polar bears can weigh more than 1400 pounds. -Males can be up to 10 feet tall. HABITAT They live in the Arctic on the frozen seas and on land. The female makes a snow cave in winter and waits there for her babies to be born. DIET Their favorite food is a seal. They will wait by a seal’s breathing hole and strike (hit) them with their large paws when they come out of the hole to breathe. They can smell seals more than 20 miles away! PREDATORS Their only enemies are humans. Pollution (dirty air or land), pesticides (poisons) and ice shortage are dangers for polar bears. © Teacher Treasure Hunter, 2012 Walrus FEATURES & INTERESTING FACTS -Adult male walrus can be 2000-3000 pounds. -Their brownish skin is very thick and wrinkled. -The walrus is covered with short, brown hair. -They have long, sharp tusks (enlarged upper canine teeth). -They have whiskers, small eyes and no external ears. -They can dive to the ocean floor. -They use their tusks to break breathing holes into the ice. -A walrus baby is called calf. A calf stays with its mother for 2-3 years. -They cannot move well on land, but they are good swimmers. -Walruses are threatened by global warming which melts ice in the Arctic waters. -When walruses are in the sun, their skin starts to turn red. The heat causes blood to rush to the skin. HABITAT Walruses live in Arctic seas and on land. They prefer to live on the ice. They have a nearly six-inch layer of blubber, or fat, to block out the cold. DIET The walrus feeds on clams, mussels, krill, crabs, worms and snails. It will also eat octopus and fish. A walrus may also attack a seal. Whiskers help the walrus feel food on the ocean floor. PREDATORS Their only enemies are the killer whale (orca) and polar bear. These animals have teeth that are strong enough to chew through the tough skin of the walrus. © Teacher Treasure Hunter, 2012 Peregrine Falcon FEATURES & INTERESTING FACTS -They are one of the largest falcons. -Their name means “wanderer.” -They are the fastest animal in the world! They can dive up to 200 miles an hour to catch something to eat. -They dive down quickly and strike (hit) their prey with their foot. This kills it or stuns it so that the falcon can catch it. -Their wingspan can be up to 3.6 feet. -The adults have blue-gray wing feathers that are barred (bar pattern). The underside of their body is covered with yellowish feathers. HABITAT Peregrine Falcons live all around the world except Antarctica. They can be found in hot places like the desert and cold places like the Arctic tundra. When it is winter time in the Arctic, these birds fly south! DIET They are a bird of prey. This means they are carnivores (meat- eaters). They eat birds, bats and ducks. PREDATORS They are near the top of the food chain and have very few enemies. Owls will sometimes catch young peregrine falcons. They also are in danger from running into things like cars or buildings. © Teacher Treasure Hunter, 2012 Narwhal FEATURES & INTERESTING FACTS -The narwhal is a toothed whale that lives year round in the Arctic waters. -Narwhals are usually found in pods (groups) of 2 -10. They have even been seen in pods of over a thousand narwhals all swimming together. -They are called the unicorn of the sea because of their very long, twisted tooth. -They are usually 13-20 feet in length. -Baby narwhals weigh 175 pounds and are about 5 feet in length. -Narwhal babies are called calves. -They make a lot of noise – squeals, whistles and clicks – to communicate or “talk” with the other narwhals. -They have about 4 inches of fat (blubber). This keeps them warm in the icy water. -They are colored white and green with brown spots. -Its tusk is about 9 feet long! It is made of ivory – the same material as an elephant tusk. -Narwhal tusks do not grow back if they break. -A long time ago people paid a lot of money for the tusks and were told they were unicorn tusks. Queen Elizabeth of England paid enough money to buy a castle! -We do not know exactly how narwhal’s use their long tooth. Some people think it is for fighting or breaking ice. Now, scientists think that they use it to tell the temperature of the water. They only like water that is icy cold! HABITAT They live in the Arctic Sea and stay around the ice. DIET They are carnivores. They eat fish, shrimp and squid. PREDATORS They are hunted by polar bears, walruses, sharks, orcas and Inuit (Eskimo) hunters. © Teacher Treasure Hunter, 2012 Musk Ox FEATURES & INTERESTING FACTS -Musk oxen are large animals that look like buffalo, but have wool like sheep. -Their coat is eight times warmer than sheep wool. -Their long brown wool can be 24 inches long and hangs nearly to their feet. -They roam in herds of 10-20. -When they are threatened, they will form a circle around their young and face their enemies. -Both the males and females have horns. -In late spring, they shed large amounts of fur. The Inuit people use it for weaving clothing. -They snort when they are annoyed. -Musk oxen babies are called calves. -Calves huddle under their mother’s long coat to stay warm. HABITAT They live in the frozen tundra of the Arctic. DIET They are herbivores. They eat plants, grass and moss. Their sharp hooves help them dig for plants under the snow. PREDATORS Their biggest enemy is the wolf. © Teacher Treasure Hunter, 2012 Arctic Wolf FEATURES & INTERESTING FACTS -They are covered with thick, white fur. -They are 3-5 feet long, including their tail. -They travel in packs of up to 6-10 wolves. -Their babies are called pups and are usually born in a litter of 2-3. -Pups are born deaf (without hearing) and blind (without sight). They -are helpless and need the pack to take care of them. -Their ears are smaller than the ears of other types of wolves. This helps them to keep body heat and stay warm. -The bottoms of their feet have fur to help them stay warm. -Wolves live for 7-10 years in the wild. -Wolves howl for many reasons. It can be a warning or signal to other wolves. HABITAT They live in the Arctic region. Their dens are usually in caves or openings in rock formations. DIET They are carnivores (meat-eaters). They eat musk oxen, caribou, foxes, hares, seals and lemmings. PREDATORS Their enemies are coyotes and gray wolves. © Teacher Treasure Hunter, 2012 Puffin FEATURES & INTERESTING FACTS -Puffins can fly, swim and dig burrows. -They have thick, waterproof feathers that protect them from the cold. -They “fly” underwater! -They have triangle-shaped beaks that are red and yellow. -They are black with white patches on their head. -They can live for up to 30 years. -Puffins are sometimes called “sea parrots”. HABITAT Puffins live along sea coasts, islands in the north Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. Puffins build their nests in large groups that often include auks, gulls and other birds that live in the arctic. Puffins also make their nests in a hole in the mountains or tundra. DIET They are carnivores. They dive in the sea to get their food. They eat small fish. PREDATORS Their enemies are large gulls, snowy owls, foxes and bald eagles. © Teacher Treasure Hunter, 2012 Wolverine FEATURES & INTERESTING FACTS -Babies are called kits.