RESOURCE: Prey of the Clans

Prey, as you might expect, is a very important part of the Clan lifestyle. There are multiple patrols sent out per day in order to hunt, kill, and bring back prey to camps in order to support their family. Therefore, it is extremely important to know what prey lives in what territory!

Beside each name of animal is a dot that looks like this: ● . These tell you which Clan this certain animal is located in. if it is in more than one, there will be multiple dots colored to show you.
● = ThunderClan
● = StormClan
● = WindClan
● = SunClan


Large
Elk ● ● ●
(Cervus canadensis)

Elk is one of the largest deer species in the world. They migrate from place to place in groups known as herds. Normally they are found in forests and forest-edges, eating grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. Male elk, known as bulls, have large antlers, which they shed each year. Elk cows average 225 kilograms (500 lb), stand 1.3 metres (4.3 ft) at the shoulder, and are 2 metres (6.6 ft) from nose to tail, while bull elk average 320 kilograms (710 lb), standing 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) at the shoulder and averaging 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) in length. Bull elk have a loud vocalization known as a bugle, which can be heard for miles. This is primarily used for mating, as female elk are attracted to the bull with the loudest bugle. Female elk can produce offspring by the autumn of their second year. When females are preparing to give birth, they isolate themselves from their herd until their baby is old enough to escape predators. After two weeks, the the calves join the herd and stay with their mother until the next time its mother produces offspring. Elk live 10-13 years in the wild. During the spring, elk migrate to places of higher altitudes. Read More


Moose ● ●
(Alces Alces)


The moose is the largest deer species in the world. Behind the bison, moose are the second largest land animals in North American and Europe. Unlike most deers species, moose are solitary animals and prefer to live alone and not in herds. They typically live in forests and eat terrestrial and aquatic vegetation. Male moose, known as bulls, have very large antlers, which they drop after mating season in order to conserve energy for the winter. Antlers take three to five months to grow. Moose are normally slow moving, but can move very fast and aggressive if angered or startled. On average, bulls weigh 380–700 kg (840–1,500 lb) and females (or "cows") typically weigh 200–360 kg (440–790 lb). Mating season for moose occurs in September and October and cows give birth in May or June to one or two calves depending on how much food there is. The strongest bonds between moose is the one between a mother and her calf. Calves will stay with their mothers until just before a new one is born. Moose live about 15-25 years. If separated from her calf, a mother moose will charge and become very aggressive. Both bulls and cows can do large amount of damage if threatened. Moose are excellent swimmers and are attracted to marshes and river banks during the summer months. Read more


American Bison ●
(bison bison)

American bison are also known as American Buffalo. The bison is the largest land animal in North America. They are herbivores and graze on the plains and eating grasses. Both male and female bison have short, curved horns. They are massive animals and their heads and forequarters are very large. They are 2 to 3.5 m (6.6 to 11.5 ft) long, the tail adding 30 to 91 cm (12 to 36 in). Shoulder height in the species can range from 152 to 186 cm (60 to 73 in). Typical weight can range from 318 to 1,000 kg (700 to 2,200 lb). Bison mate in August and September and bison cows are mature enough to mate at 3 years of age. They are migratory animals and live in herds. They travel from place to place in order to graze, and move further in order to find a better source of food or water. During fall and winter, bison like to move into more wooded areas. Herds are normally separated into males and females, and they only intermingle during mating season. Male bison will leave their herds at 3 years of age and join herds of males. Bison have hierarchies based on birth date, so the older, larger bison are more dominant. This exists in both male and female herds. Bison have a life expectancy of about 15 years of age. Due to the fact that the American Bison was almost hunted to extinction, they are restricted to a few national parks and reserves. For our purposes, however, we will assume that there are still many American Bison grazing and traveling in lands today. Read more

Medium
White-tailed Deer ● ● ● ●
(Odocoileus virginianus)



The White-tailed deer is also known as the Virginia deer or simply whitetail. It is a medium sized deer which is very common throughout the territories. They are commonly found in forests or on plains, but migrate elsewhere as well, including mountains in some areas and are very adaptable. Their diet includes legumes and other plants including shoots, leaves, cacti, grasses, fruit, corn, and acorns. They can also digest other food sources with the use of their special stomach. Their food source varies on the availability of what is around at that time. The male deer is known as a stag, and a female is known as a doe. The stag has magnificent antlers which are used to fend off predators or to fight with other males in order to mate. The whitetail has a reddish brown coat in spring and summer, which changes to a grey brown during the fall and winter. The most well-known feature of this type of deer is that their tail has a white underside, which they use to signify danger. Stags normally weigh around 60 to 130 kg (130 to 290 lbs) and does typically weigh 40 to 90 kg (88 to 200 lbs), although their weight is highly variable. Male deer re-grow their antlers every year and they begin to grow in the spring. Males spar in order to have the opportunity to mate and they create a dominance hierarchy. Most females mature at 1-2 years of age. In mid-to late spring (mostly May and June), does give birth to 1-3 spotted young known as fawns. Fawns lose their spots during their first summer and weigh 44-77 lbs by their first winter. For their first four weeks they hide in vegetation while their mothers forage, and then after that they are able to follow their mothers. Males leave their mothers after one year, and females leave their mother after two. Read more

Small Mammals
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit ● ● ● ●
(Sylvilagus floridanus)

The eastern cottontail is frequently found in meadows, clearings, and other grassy areas. The optimal land has plenty of herbs and shrubs in order for the rabbit to take cover quickly and easily. They are occasionally found in marshes, but almost never in dense forests. Cottontails eat vegetation almost exclusively. Eastern Cottontails are described as "chunky red-brown or gray-brown in appearance with large hind legs, long ears, and a short, fluffy tail. It's underside fur is white." They have large brown eyes and large ears to look out for danger. The eastern cottontail's fur becomes more gray in winter in order to hide more easily from predators. Weight can range from 800 to 2,000 g (1.8 to 4.4 lb), with an average of around 1,200 g (2.6 lb). The cottontail is a very territorial mammal and when chased it can run up to 18mph in a zig-zag fashion. They prefer areas where they can hide quickly than areas like open meadows. They are most active on days where visibility is bad, like in fog. They can be seen at all times of day, but mostly spend the daytime hiding and then come out at night. They are active all year round. They move short distances and can stay completely still for up to 15 minutes. Baby rabbits are known as kits. Female rabbits dig holes for their young and line it with fur and other soft materials. Breeding season is normally around March to September and gestation is about 28 days. Kits are born blind and with a very soft coat of fur. They begin to move out of their dens at around 12 to 16 days and are completely weaned by 4 to 5 weeks and litters disperse by 7 weeks. Read more


Woodchuck ● ● ●
(Marmota monax)

The woodchuck is also known as a groundhog, whistle-pig, or land beaver. It is a rodent and belongs to a group of large ground-squirrels known as marmots. They are well adapted to digging and have short, powerful limbs and thick claws. Woodchucks live in some light forests (not dense ones) as well as clearing and meadows. Their diet includes vegetation, but also bugs and insects. They are also known to sit up on their back legs and eat nuts like squirrels, but do not bury them for further use. Instead of drinking from a water source, they eat leafy plants. Groundhogs dig burrows for sleeping, hibernating, protection, and rearing young. Burrows are woodchucks primary escape from predators. These animals often dig a separate winter burrow and enter "true hibernation". They normally hibernate from October to March. They eat and are maximum weight before entering hibernation in order to survive. Woodchucks are excellent swimmers and tree-climbers, and can climb trees to escape from predators. If their burrow is invaded, they will protect it by lashing out with their claws. When outside their burrows, it is common to see a woodchuck to be high on alert and standing on its back legs. If it sees danger, it will alert the others of its colony and retreat to its burrow. Baby groundhogs are known as "pups". A female groundhog matures around their second year. The breeding season extends from March to mid or late April after hibernation. They have about a 31-32 day gestation period. A litter is produced annually, and the pups are blind, hairless and helpless. The mother usually produces about six pups. Young groundhogs are weaned at five to six weeks of age. Read more


Raccoon ● ● ●
(Procyon lotor)

Raccoons, also known as simply coon, are the largest member of the procyonoid family. The raccoon is normally nocturnal and omnivorous. They are commonly known to climb trees, and therefore prefer highly wooded habitats. Raccoons normally measure from 40 to 70 cm, and their body weight varies drastically to their habitat, but normally is within 2 to 14 kilograms (for an adult raccoon). The most characteristic physical feature is the black fur around the raccoon's eyes which contrasts with the white face coloring. This "mask" is reminiscent of a bandit's mask and the raccoon is therefore connected to mischief. A raccoon can stand on its hind legs to look for danger, but cannot run fast or jump very far because of its short legs. The mammal can also swim and stay in the water for several hours. Its diet can consist of worms, insects, acorns, birds, fish, bird eggs, walnuts, and fruits. Raccoon babies are known as kits and raccoons mate from late January to mid-march, with a gestation period of 63 to 65 days. A litter of two to five is typically born and are born blind and deaf. The group splits up during the fall. The father takes no part in raising the young. Raccoons are known to live for about 1.8 or 3.1 years in the wild. Read more...

Beaver ● ●
(Castor)

Beavers are primarily nocturnal, large semi-aquatic rodents. They are the second largest rodent in the world. They create dams to protect themselves against predators using sticks and other pieces of wood. Beavers have powerful front teeth that they use on wood and plants for both building and food. Beavers are known for their alarm signals. Once the alarm is sounded beavers will disappear under water and not come back out for a while. Beavers can stay under water for about 15 minutes. Beaver families consist of a mother and father (a monogamous pair) along with their yearlings and kits. Read more...


Riverclan:
Fish
Muskrats
Otters


Shadowclan:
Snakes
Rats