Badger

Badgers are found living in the forests of Europe and western Asia, scavenging

for roots and berries as well as worms and insects.

Amazingly badgers can run up to 30km an hour for short periods of time and have been known to successfully fight off bigger mammals such as wolves, coyotes and bears!

There have been occasional reports over the years of badgers being 

particularly aggressive towards dogs and even humans! The badger is capable of producing a painful bite, and some badgers are also known to carry a type of rabies.The most commonly known badgers are the white and black striped badgers in western Europe.

Badgers are thought to be related to otters and weasels and can often grow to nearly a meter in length! The badger lives in underground burrows which often contains a maze of tunnels. It is thought that when digging its den, the badger is capable of removing tonnes of soil!

Badger is the common name for any animal of the badger three subfamilies, which belong to the family Mustelidae. This is the same mammal family as the ferrets, the weasels, theotters, and several other types of carnivore meaning that the badger is most closely related to these animals.

There are eight different species of badger, and these badger species are split into three badger subfamilies, the badgers of Europe and Asia, the Ratel badger or honey badger, and the American badger. The Asian stink badger was once classified as a badger but today this badger species is thought to be more closely related to the skunk than the badger.

Typical badger species have short legs and badgers also tend to have a relatively heavy build. The badgers lower jaw is articulated to the badgers upper jaw meaning that it is almost impossible to dislocate the badgers jaw. This enables the badger to maintain its hold on the badgers prey with great ease, but limits the badgers jaw movement to hinging opening and shutting or sliding from side to side.

Badger Facts

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mustelidae
Genus:	Taxidiinae
Scientific Name:	Taxidea Taxus
Type:	Mammal
Diet:	Omnivore
Size (L):	40cm - 75cm (16in - 29in)
Weight:	11kg - 14kg (24lbs - 30lbs)
Top Speed:	30km/h (18mph)
Life Span:	4 - 10 years
Lifestyle:	Solitary
Conservation Status:	Threatened
Colour:	Brown, Black, White
Skin Type:	Fur
Favourite Food:	Worms
Habitat:	Woodland and hedgerows
Average Litter Size:	3
Main Prey:	Worms, Roots, Fruit
Predators:	Human, Eagle, Wildcats
Distinctive Features:	Flattened body and long claws

Ainu Dog

Ainu Dog

Ainu Dog History and Domestication
The Ainu dog is thought to be one of the oldest breeds ofdog in the world, first bred by the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido, to hunt Salmon, Deer and Bears. Despite being hunter-gatherers that survived in freezing conditions, the Ainu are thought to have kept Dogs from the very beginning and respected them in nearly the same way as other Humans. The Ainu Dog is thought to have descended from medium-sized Dogs that arrived on the island with migrants from the main island around 3,000 years ago. Today, despite it's strong links to the Ainu people, it is more commonly referred to as the Hokkaido-Ken by the native Japanese people. Although the characteristics of the Ainu dog are thought to have changed a little over the years due to cross-breeding, this breed is said to still have a very wild streak.

Ainu Dog Physical Characteristics
The Ainu Dog is a medium sized canine that is well known for it's strength and power. Generally the double coat of thick fur used to keep the Dog warm, is light in colour, with white, grey and fawn being especially common. They are known to have a fearsome expression, due to their small dark, brown eyes, a broad head and a pointed muzzle that is tipped with a black nose. The ears of the Ainu Dog are small and sharply pointed making this breed appear even more alert. The tongue of the Ainu Dog is commonly covered in black spots which is said to suggest a relation to the Chow Chow, a smaller species of domestic Dog that is natively found in neighbouring China.

Ainu Dog Behaviour and Temperament
The Ainu Dog breed is a naturally wild and powerful Dog, making this breed an excellent guard Dog, They are also suspicious and alert and incredibly courageous when needing to protect their owner. The Ainu Dog is well known for it's faithfulness, bravery, and the ability to withstand the cold, among it's other desirable traits. It has an innate sense of direction and can therefore return to it's master no matter how great the distance it has travelled alone. The Ainu Dog is also known to howl, making a similar sound to that of a Wolf, when it believes it has done good by it's keeper. They are incredibly active Dogs and are known to not be suitable for apartment living or in households that contain other animals or young children.

Ainu Dog Breeding
The Ainu Dog was originally bred by the indigenous hunter-gathers to both help them to catch food, but also to protect them from large animals. Since then, the breed has changed slightly from these original Dogs, due to cross-breeding with similar domestic breeds throughout the Far East. Despite it's long history as a working breed, the Ainu Dog ideally now combines the roles of family pet and hunter. Today, Ainu Dogs are most commonly kept for hunting or as guard Dogs due to their alert and incredibly bold nature. On average, the female has around 7 puppies per litter which, like many other canines, are born both blind and with hardly any fur. Within their first month however, the Ainu Dog puppies will be up on their feet and begin to grow fast. The Ainu Dog can live to be 14 years old and is known to have relatively few genetic health issues.

Ainu Dog Interesting Facts and Features
The Ainu Dog has made a name for itself through it's courage nature, known to actually take on very large Bears, a number of times their size, in order to protect their owner. Today, although they can be found in households in parts of Europe and America, the AinuDog is most commonly found in Japan, where it remains to be considered a cherished national breed by the Japanese people. The Ainu Dog was officially named the Hokkaido-Ken in 1937, despite it's rich history with the Ainu people.

Ainu Dog Facts

Name:	Ainu Dog
Origin:	Japan
Group:	Dog
Average Size (H):	50cm (20in)
Average Weight:	30kg (65lbs)
Average Life Span:	12 years
Average Litter Size:	7
Type:	Working
Colour:	Grey, Tan, Brown, White
Temperament:	Fearless, determined and loyal
Training:	Hard
Distinctive Features:	Sharply pointed ears and upturned tail

Grouse

 

The grouse is a heavily-built bird that is found in the cold, forested areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The grouse is most closely related to other game birds including chickens, peasants and turkeys and, although not commonly farmed commercially, the grouse is hunted by humans in its natural habitat. The grouse inhabits both hot and cold environments, and can be found in a variety of habitats like forests, moorland, shrub-land and close to rural farms.
In order to survive the bitter Northern winters, the grouse has feathered legs and toes which not only help to keep the grouse warm, but they also give the grouse more grip and stability when it is walking around in the snow.
Despite inhabiting areas that often fall within the Arctic Circle, thousands of grouse are hunted as game each year by humans. The grouse population numbers are not drastically effected however as they often lay a large number of eggs so the grouse population is able to increase at a fast rate.
The grouse is an omnivorous animal meaning that it eats both plants and other animals. Despite this though, plant matter makes up the majority of the grouse's diet as the grouse eats grasses, fruits, nuts, berries, shoots, seeds and flowers, along with insects and even rodents.
Due to its stocky build and the fact that the grouse is one of the few animals able to exist within the Arctic Circle, that grouse is preyed upon by a number of native predators. Wildcats including lynx, foxes, wolves and large birds of prey all prey upon the grouse, alongside human hunters.
Female grouse nests in a dip in the ground, following an elaborate mating display by the male grouse. The female grouse can lay up to 12 eggs at a time which hatch after a month of incubation.

Grouse Facts

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Genus:	Tetraoninae
Scientific Name:	Tetraoninae
Type:	Bird
Diet:	Omnivore
Size (L):	31cm - 95cm (12in - 37in)
Wing Span:	45cm - 101cm (22in - 40in)
Weight:	0.3kg - 6.5kg (0.6lbs - 14lbs)
Top Speed:	10km/h (6mph)
Life Span:	1 - 10 years
Lifestyle:	Flock
Conservation Status:	Least Concern
Colour:	Black, White, Brown, Yellow, Green, Blue, Red
Skin Type:	Feathers
Favourite Food:	Insects
Habitat:	Forest, shrubland and grassy plains
Average Clutch Size:	8
Main Prey:	Insects, Nuts, Seeds, Berries
Predators:	Fox, Lynx, Birds Of Prey
Distinctive Features:	Long tail feathers and feathered legs and toes

Cougar

The cougar is native to the Americas, particularly south America and western

North America and is often known by other names such as mountain lion,puma and panther. Cougars can be found mainly in the mountain regions of Canada and Mexico, but as the name cougar is often used to describe an un-spotted leopard, cougars are also found in Asia andAfrica.

The cougar is the fourth biggest feline in the world behind the lion, tiger and jaguar, making the cougar the second largest cat in the Americas. The cougar has longer back than front legs and a long heavy body.

Cougars prey on large mammals such as moose, deer, elk and stray wolves and can often go for long periods of time without food. Cougars are also well known for their amazing ability to jump up to 30ft.

Cougars tend to have between 1 and 4 cubs, generally during the spring and summer time when the adult cougars are hunting well again after the harsh winters. A cougar typically lives until its about 20 years old.

Due to the cougars vast range, the cougar is known in different places by different names. Until the late 1990s there were thought to be 32 different species of cougar inhabiting both North and South America. Recent studies however, have shown that the DNA of the majority of the 32 cougar species was too similar. There are therefore only 5 different species of cougar found on the American continent.

Today the cougar is only found in parts of Florida in North East America and the cougars range on the west coast has been dramatically reduced by human interference. The cougar is most commonly found in the Canadian Rockies and the more mountainous regions of Southern Mexico.

Cougar Facts

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Puma
Scientific Name:	Felis Concolor
Type:	Mammal
Diet:	Carnivore
Size (L):	1.5m - 2.75m (5ft - 9ft)
Weight:	29kg - 90kg (64lbs - 198lbs)
Top Speed:	45km/h (30mph)
Life Span:	10 - 20 years
Lifestyle:	Solitary
Conservation Status:	Least Concern
Colour:	Tan, Black, Brown
Skin Type:	Fur
Favourite Food:	Deer
Habitat:	Forest and mountainous regions
Average Litter Size:	3
Main Prey:	Deer, Elk, Beavers
Predators:	Human, Grizzly Bear
Distinctive Features:	Powerful forearms and paws and muscular jaw

Ragdoll

The Ragdoll cat has emerged in North America as mixed cat breeding has become more popular. The ragdoll cat is usually part
Burmese, Birman, Javanese, Siamese and Persian cat or any of these combinations. The Ragdoll cat is known to be one of the larger species of domestic cat and commonly have a slightly larger tummy than other cats, along with a rounded body and short limbs.
The Ragdoll cat is normally white in colour with the distinctive Siamese cat style brown markings. The ragdoll cat often inherits the long hair and blue eyes from the Persian and Birman cats but this is not always the case.
The Ragdoll cat is most well known for its calm and affectionate temperament, and its generally easy-going nature. The Ragdoll cat is a relaxed and gentle feline that is also well known for its intelligence.
The Ragdoll cat is named so because of the way in which the Ragdoll breed is often found to be easy to handle, even said to turn floppy when picked up. Ragdoll cats are known to be much more chilled-out and friendly compared to other domestic breeds.

Ragdoll Facts

Name:	Ragdoll
Origin:	North America
Average Size:	122cm (48in)
Average Weight:	9kg (35lbs)
Average Life Span:	14 years
Group:	Mediumhair
Colour:	Black, White, Fawn, Brown, Golden, Lilac
Average Litter Size:	4
Temperament:	Affectionate, calm and friendly