>> A HABITAT IS WHERE YOU LIVE.

BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO THRIVE
IN YOUR HABITAT, THERE ARE SOME

THINGS YOU NEED.

FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE.

SCIENTISTS ARE HERE TO ANSWER
THAT QUESTION AND YOUR

QUESTIONS, ALL ABOUT HABITATS.

STAY TUNED.

"D4K" IS NEXT.

>> HELLO, I'M JOAN
CARTAN-HANSEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON
IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND ON

THE WORLDWIDE WEB.

>>> EVERYTHING IN NATURE --
PLANTS, ANIMALS, EVEN HUMAN

BEINGS, LIVE IN A HABITAT.

AND EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE HAS
A JOB TO DO IN THAT HABITAT.

AND IF EVERYBODY DOESN'T DO
THEIR JOB, THEN THAT HABITAT CAN

FALL APART.

IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THAT
EVERYTHING PLAYS, YO CAN FIGURE

OUT WHAT MAKES A HABITAT WORK,
AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE IN

NATURE.

IF ANIMALS HAD BUSINESS CARDS,
IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO

UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY LIVE AND
WHAT THEIR ROLE IN NATURE IS.

>> VEGETATION REMOVAL
SPECIALIST.

SWAMP CITY, USA.

IF MY FEET ARE WET, I'M NOT
THROUGH YET.

>> MEET BLACK BEAR.

>> BLACK BEAR.

BERRY PICKER.

U.S. NATIONAL FOREST.

NEVER GRIPE WHEN THEY'RE RIPE.

>> EVERY WILD ANIMAL HAS A
SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE AND A

SPECIAL JOB TO DO THERE.

THE PLACE AN ANIMAL LIVES, THE
CREATURE'S ADDRESS, IS CALLED

ITS HABITAT.

AND THE JOB AN ANIMAL HAS IS
CALLED ITS NICHE.

A HABITAT IS MADE UP OF FOUR
THINGS THAT ALL ANIMALS NEED.

FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, AND SPACE.

WHEN AN ANIMAL LIVES IN A PLACE
THAT HAS THE RIGHT AMOUNTS OF

ALL THESE THINGS, THEN IT'S
LIVING IN A HEALTHY HABITAT.

FOOD.

WATER.

SHELTER.

AND SPACE.

THE FIRST THREE ARE PRETTY EASY
TO UNDERSTAND, RIGHT?

WHAT ABOUT SPACE?

EVEN PEOPLE NEED SPACE.

BUT SOME OF US REQUIRE MORE THAN
OTHERS.

IT'S THE SAME WITH WILDANIMALS.

A SPIDER WOULD ONLY NEED A SMALL
AREA TO BUILD A WEB.

MAYBE IN YOUR BACK YARD.

BUT WHAT ABOUT A COUGAR?

TOO MANY ANIMALS IN THE SAME
SPACE IS NOT A GOOD IDEA EITHER.

THEY MAY EAT ALL THE FOOD, OR
PASS ON DISEASES TO EACH OTHER.

SO SPACE IS AS IMPORTANT TO
WILDLIFE AS FOOD, WATER, AND

SHELTER IN CREATING THE PERFECT
HABITAT.

IF THERE'S LOTS OF SPACE,
DIFFERENT KINDS OF ANIMALS CAN

LIVE IN THE SAME HABITAT.

HERE'S THE TRICKY PART -- THEY
NEED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT NICHE

OR JOB THERE.

YOU SEE, IF THOSE ANIMALS NEED
THE EXACT SAME FOOD, WATER,

SHELTER, AND SPACE AND THEY HAVE
THE SAME JOB, ONE WOULD

OUTCOMPETE THE OTHER, BECAUSE
THEY'RE BOTH DOING THE SAME

THING.

NATURE DOESN'T LIKE TO WASTE
TALENT, SO IT DOESN'T ALLOW TWO

ANIMALS DOING THE SAME JOB TO
LIVE IN THE SAME PLACE.

FOR EXAMPLE, SOME HAWK AND OWLS
OCCUPY THE SAME TYPE OF HABITAT,

BUT THEY DO HAVE DIFFERENT JOBS,
BECAUSE ONE WORKS THE NIGHT

SHIFT, WHILE THE OTHER, THE DAY
SHIFT.

LOTS OF ANIMALS CAN SHARE GOOD
HABITAT IF THEY DO DIFFERENT

THINGS THERE.

SOME EAT PLANTS.

SOME EAT ANIMALS.

SOME LIVE IN THE GROUND.

SOME LIVE IN TREES.

WELL, YOU GET THE IDEA.

AND NOT ONLY DO THEY ALL LIVE
TOGETHER, THEY ALL DEPEND ON

EACH OTHER.

AS USUAL, NATURE KNOWS BEST,
WHICH IS WHY ANIMALS LIVE IN

SPECIFIC HABITATS WITH SPECIFIC
NICHES, ALL OVER THE PLANET.

AND JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT HABITATS

AND NICHES ARE TWO SCIENTISTS.

SARA FOCHT IS A WILDLIFE
EDUCATOR WITH THE IDAHO

DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND JOINING SUS RORY, REGIONAL
WILDLIFE MANAGER FOR THE IDAHO

DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME.

OF COURSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM
YOU.

GIVE US A CALL TOLL-FREE AT
1-800-973-9800.

OR EMAIL US AT D4K@IDAHOPTV.ORG.

AND REMEMBER, WHEN YOU SEND IN A
QUESTION YOUR CLASS WILL BE

ENTERED INTO OUR CHANCE TO WIN A
FREE D.V.D. PLAYER AND OTHER

PRIZES.

LET'S GO TO OUR FIRST QUESTIONS.

WE'VE GOT A CALLER ON THE LINE.

FROM MRS. SCHWEITZER'S CLASS.

I'M SORRY, WE LOST YOU.

JAIRKS ARE YOU THERE?

NO.

CALL RIGHT BACK.

I APOLOGIZE.

LET'S GO TO OUR FIRST EMAIL
QUESTION FROM THE SAME CLASS, A

QUESTION FROM ANDREW.

IS THERE AN ANIMAL WITH MORE
THAN ONE HABITAT?

>> WELL, THERE ARE LOTS OF
ANIMALS WITH MORE THAN ONE

HABITAT.

A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE A BIRD
THAT MIGRATES.

WE HAVE LOTS OF BIRDS THAT
MIGRATE HERE IN THE SUMMER AND

MOVE HERE IN IDAHO IN THE
SUMMER.

AND THEN IN THE WINTER THEY
MIGRATE TO THE SOUTHERN UNITED

STATES, OR EVEN SOUTH AMERICA.

AND THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT
HABITAT DOWN THERE.

THEY LAY THEIR EGG AND RAISE
THEIR YOUNG.

SO THAT WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF AN ANIMAL THAT HAS TWO VERY

DIFFERENT HABITATS, AND THEY
NEED THEM BOTH.

>> DO ANIMALS' HABITATS GET
BIGGER, WILL THAT HURT THE

ECOSYSTEM?

>> DOES IT GET BIGGER OR SMALLER
THROUGH TIME?

>> I THINK IT DOES VARY
SEASONALLY.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT HURTS THE
ECOSYSTEM, IT'S JUST A CHANGE.

AND IT MAY BE A BENEFIT TO THAT
PARTICULAR SPECIES, BUT THAT MAY

BE A DETRIMENT TO ANOTHER
SPECIES THAT USE AS DIFFERENT

HABITAT THAT'S SHRINKING.

>> ISABEL WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF HABITATS

ARE IN IDAHO.

>> OH, WOW.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT KIND
OF HABITATS.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE IMPORTANT
ONES THAT I CAN THINK OF,

SAGEBRUSH HABITAT, THAT'S A BIG
ONE IN SOUTHERN IDAHO.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A LOT
OF DIFFERENT SPECIES, OVER 200

SPECIES DEPEND SAGEBRUSH.

THAT WOULD BE A VERY IMPORTANT
HABITAT HERE IN IDAHO.

WE HAVE CONIFER FORESTS, THAT'S
AN IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR OWLS

AND LARGE GAME, THEY LIKE TO
HIDE THERE.

LET'S SEE.

RIPARIAN HABITATS ARE ANY SORT
OF WATER HABITAT.

THAT COULD BE ANY KIND OF WATER,
IT COULD BE A STREAM, A LAKE, A

POND, AND THOSE HABITATS ARE
VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE KNOW

THAT ALL ANIMALS NEED FOOD,
WATER, SHELTER, AND SPACE.

WATER, WE NEED THAT ONE.

RIPARIAN IS A STRANGE WORD, BUT
IT'S JUST ANOTHER WORD TO SAY

"WATER."

AND CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHER
IMPORTANT --

>> HIGH MOUNTAIN HABITATS USED
BY MOUNTAIN GOATS.

SOME PRETTY DENSE FOREST
CANYONLANDS IN THE DESERT.

A HUGE VARIETY IN IDAHO.

>> LET'S TRY CHEYENNE.

I'M HAVING FUN WITH THE PHONE.

HERE WE GO.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YES.

>> THERE WE GO.

CHEYENNE IN MIDDLETON, GO AHEAD
AND ASK YOUR QUESTION.

>> Caller: HAVE YOU EVER SAVED
ANY ANIMALS FROM A FIRE?

>> WELL, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION, CHEYENNE.

REMARKABLY, ANIMALS FOR THE MOST
PART ARE VERY GOOD AT ESCAPING

FIRE.

SOMETIMES THE FIRES ARE VERY BIG
AND MOVE VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE OF

WIND, AND THEY CAN GET TRAPPED
AND BURNT, BUT MOST OF THE TIME

THEY HAVE ENOUGH WARNING AND
THEY DO OK.

THERE ARE SPECIES UNFORTUNATELY,
THAT CAN'T TRAVEL FAST ENOUGH TO

GET OUT OF THE FIRE, AND THEY
END UP GETTING BURNED.

SO THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE TRY
TO MINIMIZE ALL HUMAN-CAUSED

FIRE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET JAKE
IN HERE AGAIN.

GO AHEAD, WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: MY QUESTION IS, IS
THERE ANIMALS THAT CAN SURVIVE

IN ALL HABITAT?

>> YOU MEAN -- I THINK HE MEANS
ONE ANIMAL IN ALL HABITAT?

>> IS THERE ONE ANIMAL --
>> THE ONLY ONE I CAN THINK OF,

MAYBE JON CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M
WRONG, IT'S NOT ONE ANIMAL, BUT

A GROUP, AND THAT'S INSECTS.

I THINK INSECTS ARE ALMOST IN
EVERY HABITAT.

IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT INSECTS.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD ANSWER.

>> COCKROACHES SEEM TO BE ABLE
TO SURVIVE JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT ONE SPECIFIC

SPECIES OF ANIMAL -- I DON'T
THINK SO.

BECAUSE INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS HAVE
PARTICULAR NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE

MET FOR THE WAY THEY'RE
DESIGNED, AND THE WAY THEY LIVE.

AND SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A
MAMMAL THAT COULD LIVE UNDER

WATER EXTENSIVELY LIKE A FISH.

AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A FISH
THAT WOULD DO VERY WELL ON LAND

FOR VERY LONG.

SO -- BUT THE MOST DIVERSE GROUP
WOULD DEFINITELY BE INSECTS.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET CALEB
FROM DONNELLY.

GO AHEAD, CALEB.

DID WE LOSE YOU?

ARE YOU THERE?

[DIAL TONE]
HIS QUESTION WAS, WHAT CHANGE OF

HABITAT -- WILL A CHANGE OF
HABITAT RESULT IN EXTINCTION?

>> A CHANGE OF HABITAT, IF IT'S
GREAT ENOUGH, OR A LOSS OF

HABITAT CERTAINLY COULD CAUSE
EXTINCTION.

LOSS OF HABITAT ST. NUMBER ONE
FACTOR IN WHY ANIMALS GO

INSTINCT.

SO IF THERE'S A BIG ENOUGH
CHANGE OR COMPLETELY LOST, SURE.

>> GABBY FROM JENNIFER HUNT'S
CLASS AT CYNTHIA MANN ELEMENTARY

WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT KIND OF
HABITAT IS THE SMALLEST?

>> SARA, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A
PRETTY GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT.

>> I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT
THE SMALLEST HABITAT IS,

ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, I WAS
THINKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER, I

DID A PROGRAM THE OTHER DAY ON
SPIDERS.

SPIDERS HAVE A PRETTY SMALL
HOIK, BUT I BET THERE ARE EVEN

SMALLER INSECTS THAT -- MY
ROOMMATE'S DOG HAS EAR MIGHTS,

AND THOSE LIVE INSIDE MY
ROOMMATE'S DOG'S EAR, AND THAT'S

A HABITAT, THAT'S A PRETTY SMALL
SPACE.

>> SO YOU CAN GET DOWN TO
AEMEBAS.

MARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT DO
OWLS NEED IN THEIR HABITAT?

>> WELL, I THINK OWLS, THEY NEED
ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS WE

TALKED ABOUT -- THEY NEED TO
HAVE FOOD, AND FOR MOST OWLS

THEY'RE LOOK AT SMALL MAMMALS TO
EAT.

MICE, LITTLE RODENTS, THEY NEED
TO HAVE SOME ACCESS TO WATER.

THEY NEED SHELTER, AND
THAT'S -- NO SHELTER FROM THE

WEATHER, A PLACE TO LIVE, AND I
GUESS ALSO SHELTER THAT PROVIDES

COVER FROM OTHER ANIMALS THAT
MIGHT TRY TO GET THEM.

>> FROM MRS. INFORMING'S SECOND
GRADE -- FOG'S SECOND GRADE

CLASS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE
ANIMALS WHEN THEIR HABITAT WERE

BURNED FROM ALL THE FIRES LAST
YEAR, AND HOW CAN WE HELP

REBUD IT?

>> WHEN THE HABITAT AND FIRES
HERE IN IDAHO LAST YEAR WERE

BURNED, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE
HABITAT IS GONE FOR THOSE

ANIMALS.

SO THEY HAVE TO MOVE SOMEPLACE
ELSE, AND THAT HABITAT NEEDS TO

REGROW.

AND IT WILL REGROW, IT MAY TAKE
A LONG TIME.

SOMETIMES FIRES CREATE BETTER
HABITAT FOR DIFFERENT ANIMALS.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE A
FOREST, A DEEP, DENSE FOREST,

DARK FOREST, IT WOULDN'T BE SO
GREAT FOR ELK, BUT AFTER A FIRE

THE GRASSES GROW, AND THEN THE
ELK LOVE IT.

SO SOMETIMES A FIRE CAN ACTUALLY
HELP THE HABITAT.

BUT IT WILL REPLENISH, IT JUST
TAKES TIME.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET JACK
IN MIDDLETON.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YES.

>> GOOD.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: DO BIRDS LIVE IN THE
DESERT?

>> DO BIRDS LIVE IN THE DESERT?

>> JACK, WE HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF
BIRDS THAT LIVE IN THE DESERT.

WE HAVE BIRDS THAT NEST IN THE
SAGEBRUSH, AND BIRDS THAT NEST

ON THE GROUND.

WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE QUITE THE
RIETY OF SPECIES IN THE DESERT

AS WE DO IN SOME OF OUR DENSER
RIPARIAN-TYPE HABITATS WHERE

THERE'S MORE MOISTURE, BUT WE DO
HAVE A WIDE VARIETY THAT LIVE IN

THE DESERT.

>> LET'S GO TO OLIVIA IN BOISE.

>> Caller: YES?

>> GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: WHAT KIND OF HABITAT
DO --

>> WHAT KIND OF HABITAT DO
BUTTER FLIES NEED?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> WELL, BUTTERFLIES OF COURSE
NEED NECTAR FROM FLOWERS, SO

THAT'S THE KIND OF FOOD THEY
NEED.

AND THAT CAN COME FROM A FLOWER,
IT COULD COME FROM A TREE, IT

CAN COME FROM ANY TYPE OF
FLOWER.

THEY GO NEED WATER, TOO.

-- THEY DO NEED WATER, TOO.

>> A NICE GARDEN WITH LOTS OF
PRETTY FLOWERS.

>> WE HAVE A HUMMINGBIRD AND
BUTTERFLY GARDEN AT THE NATURE

CENTER, AND WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS
OF BUTTERFLIES THERE IN THE

SUMMER.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GO TO
RYAN IN CALDWELL.

RYAN?

>> Caller: UM, HI.

WHAT IS AN EAGLE'S NICHE?

>> WHAT IS THE EAGLE'S JOB?

>> WELL, RYAN, WE HAVE A VARIETY
OF EAGLES.

IN IDAHO WE HAVE GOLDEN EAGLES
AND WE HAVE BALD EAGLES, AND THE

BALD EAGLES ARE PRIMARILY
FISH-EATERS.

SO THEY'LL PERCH IN TREES, NEST
IN TREES, AND THEY'LL FLY OVER

THE WATER AND REACH IN WITH
THEIR TALONS AND PICK OUT FISH,

AND TAKE THE FISH BACK AND EAT
THEM.

GOLDEN EAGLES ARE MORE LIKELY TO
BE FOUND IN THE DESERT AND IN

THE CANYONS WHERE THEY NEST UP
ON THE ROCKS IN CLIFFING, AND

THEY'LL EAT SMALL ANIMALS, LIKE
JACKRABBITS AND SOMETIMES SOME

OF THE LARGER BIRDS.

AND SO THEY HAVE MORE OF A
DESERT AND CANYON TYPE OF NICHE

IN IDAHO.

>> FROM SUSAN IN MERIDIAN,
CAMERON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DOES

EXHAUST DESTROY HABITAT?

I GUESS POLLUTION, AIR
POLLUTION, CAN THAT DESTROY A

HABITAT?

>> WELL, I CERTAINLY SUPPOSE IF
THERE'S ENOUGH EXHAUST THAT

COD HURT SOME OF THE ELEMENTS
IN A HABITAT.

ON A GLOBAL SCALE, EXHAUST
IS -- HAS BEEN -- SOME PEOPLE

BELIEVE IT CONTRIBUTES TO GLOBAL
WARMING, AND GLOBAL WARMING

CERTAINLY CAN CHANGE HABITATS.

MAYBE MORE QUICKLY THAN THEY
WOULD NORMALLY.

>> IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S
ALSO A CONTRIBUTOR TO ACID RAIN,

WHICH CHANGES THE P.H. OF THE
ENVIRONMENT, AND ALSO HAS

IMPACTS ON HABITAT.

>> CAMERON WOULD LIKE TO ASK,
ARE ELK LOSING THEIR HABITAT?

>> YES, IN SOME PLACES THEY ARE.

HABITAT FOR ELK AND OTHER
SPECIES FACES A VARIETY OF

THREATS.

SOMETIMES ELK ARE IMPACTED WHEN
WE HAVE FIRES GO THROUGH,

PARTICULARLY ON WINTER RANGE,
WHERE ELK NEED TO SPEND THE

WINTER IN SMALLER SPACE IF THAT
HABITAT GETS BURNED, THEY -- OR

DEFINITELY AT A HIGHER RISK OF
DYING OF STARVATION IN THE

WINTER.

WE HAVE OTHER THREATS, INCLUDING
DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSES FOR PEOPLE

IN THE ELKS' FAVORITE HABITAT,
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THREATS OF

WEED SPECIES THAT TAKE OVER THE
NATURAL FOODS THAT ELK SEEK OUT.

AND THOSE WEED SPECIES DON'T
PROVIDE FOOD FOR ELK.

>> SHAUN FROM THE BUSH MAGNET
SCHOOL IN IDAHO FALLS WOULD LIKE

TO KNOW IF PREYING MANTISES LIVE
IN ALL HABITATS.

>> NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DO.

I'VE SEEN SOME IN MY GARDEN,
BUT -- THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T LIVE

IN THE OCEAN, BUT I DON'T THINK
THEY LIVE IN THE DESERT.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY LIVE UP IN
THE ICE AND SNOW AND THE TOP OF

THE MOUNTAINS, EITHER.

>> SO THEY HAVE THEIR NICHE.

>> THEY DO.

>> HANNAH FROM MRS. McCOY'S
THIRD GRADE CLASS WOULD LIKE TO

KNOW WHY DO DEER AND ELK NOT
HAVE SHARP TEETH?

>> WELL --
> -- I THINK THAT HAS TODO WITH THE WAY THEY EAT.

AND BOTH OF THEM, THEY HAVE
INCISORS IN THE FRONT OF THEIR

LOWER JAW JUST LIKE PEOPLE DO,
BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TEETH ON THE

TOP
AND THEY PINCH THEIR TEETH

AGAINST THE TOP OF THEIR MOUTH,
AND THEN THEY TWIST TO BREAK OFF

THE GRASSES OR THE PLANTS, OR
THE STICKS, PART OF THE SHRUBS.

AND THEN THEY PULL THOSE TO THE
BACK OF THEIR MOUTH AND THEY

HAVE MOLARS QUITE SIMILAR TO
WHAT WE DO, A LITTLE SHARPER,

AND A LITTLE DIFFERENT ANGLE,
AND THEY GRIND THEM BACK AND

FORTH.

AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY
EAT.

>> LET'S GO TO MOLLY.

ARE YOU THERE, MOLLY?

[DIAL TONE]
MOLLY ASKED, CAN INSECTS SURVIVE

FIRE?

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT, MOLLY.

>> BOY, I SUPPOSE IF THE FIRE IS
INTENSE ENOUGH, NO.

BUT I HAVE SEEN INSECTS RIGHT
AFTER THE FIRE.

I USED TO FIGHT FIRE WITH THE
FOREST SERVICE, AND AS I'M

STEPPING IN THE HOT ASHES YOU
SEE IES AND INSECTS.

I WOULD SAY SOME DO, AND SOME
PROBABLY DON'T.

>> AND SOME MAY FLY OFF AND COME
BACK.

>> RIGHT.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET
HUNTER.

HUNTER, ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> YOU'RE CALLING FROM
MIDDLETON?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> GREAT.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: HAVE YOU EVER --
>> HAVE OUR GUESTS SLEPT IN A

BEAR DEN?

>> Caller: YES.

>> ACTUALLY, I HAVE TAKEN A NAP
NEXT TO A BEAR DEN, AND, YEAH, I

HAVE BEEN TO BEAR DENS IN THE
WINTER WHEN BEAR WERE

HIBERNATING.

AND I HAVE BEEN TO BEAR DENS IN
THE SUMMER AFTER THE BEARS HAVE

LEFT.

>> WOULD YO LIKE TO SLEEP IN A
BEAR DEN?

>> Caller: NO.

>> OK, THANK FOR CALLING.

LET'S TRY STEWART IN CALLED WE.

WE -- CALDWELL.

>> Caller: I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT IS A CAMILLE I DON'T KNOW
NICHE -- CHAMELION NICHE AND

HABITAT?

>> BOY, I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF BEN
MOSELEY THEM, ACTUALLY.

WE DON'T HAVE THEM IN IDAHO.

JON, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING?

>> I THINK THEY LIVE IN THE
SUBTROPICS, AND TYPICALLY IN A

SUBTROPICAL FOREST TYPE
ENVIRONMENT, AND THEY EAT

INSECTS.

PRIMARILY.

>> OK.

ISIAH FROM CLEAR WATER VALLEY
ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW,

WHY DO ANIMALS TRAVEL SO FAR?

WHY DO SOME ANIMALS DON'T STAY
IN ONE AREA?

>> WELL, SOME ANIMALS TRAVEL A
LONG WAY BECAUSE IN THEIR

HABITAT THAT THEY'RE IN, THEY
LOSE A COMPONENT.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, OUR EXAMPLE
EARLIER WAS MIGRATORY BIRDS.

IN THE WINTER BIRDS LOSE THEIR
FOOD SOURCE, INSECTS, FOR

INSTANCE, LIKE THE MOUNTAIN
BLUEBI, OUR STATE BIRD, EATS

INSECTS.

AND THE INSECTS MAKE THEIR EGGS
OR THEY HIBERNATE OR DIE IN THE

WINTER, SO THEY LOSE THEIR FOOD
SOURCE.

SO THEY HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE
ELSE TO FIND A NEW HABITAT.

SO THAT'S ONE REASON WHY ANIMALS
CAN TRAVEL SO FAR.

AND THAT CAN BE TRUE FOR PRONG
HORN TRAVEL WAWS THEY NEED

WINTER RANGE, SO SOMETHING IN
THEIR HABITAT CHANGES BECAUSE OF

THE SEASONS, AND THEY TRAVEL A
LONG WAY TO FIND ALL THE

COMPONENTS.

>> COLTON IN IDAHO FALL WAS LIKE
T KNOW, HOW HIGH CAN A BOBCAT

JUMP?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO
GUESS.

BETWEEN 10-15 FEET.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD JUMP.

>> HIGHER THAN I CAN JUMP.

>> AND HE'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW,
DO BIG HORN SHEEP FIGHT?

>> WELL, PROBABLY NOT THE WAY
HUMANS FIGHT, BUT, YEAH, THEY

HAVE A LITTLE CONTEST IN THE
FALL, TYPICALLY

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, WHERE THE BOY
BOYS LIKE TO FIGHT OVER WHO GETS

A DATE WITH THE PRETTIEST GIRL.

THAT'S WHEN YOU SEE THEM BUTTING
HEADS, TO SEE WHO IS THE

TOUGHEST BOY.

>> HOW DOES O WIN THAT FIGHT?

>> WHOEVER HAS THE BIGGEST
HEADACHE LOSES, I THINK.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET JOSIE
IN CALDWELL.

>> Caller: HI.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> UH-HUH.

>> Caller: ARE SOME HABITATS
BEING DESTROYED BY OIL DRILLERS?

>> ARE SOME HABITATS BEING
DESTROYED BY OIL DRILLING?

>> WELL, THERE ARE SOME HABITATS
THAT -- I'M THINKING OF ONE IN

WYOMING, ACTUALLY, THAT SEEMS TO
BE FRAGMENTED BY OIL RIGS, I

GUESS, WHERE THEY PUT THE DRILL
DOWN INTO THE EARTH.

AND WHEN I SAY FRAGMENTED, I
MEAN A HABITAT COULD BE LARGE

AND SOLID SO THE ANIMAL CAN MOVE
IN THAT HABITAT, AND FRAGMENTED

IS SORT NF PIECES SO THE ANIMALS
CAN'T MOVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE

WITHIN THE HABITAT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT OIL DRILLING
CAN FRAGMENT A HABITAT,

CERTAINLY.

>> LET'S GO TO -- VIA EMAIL, A
QUESTION FROM MRS. DILLWORTH'S

SECOND GRADE CLASS, NADA WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW WHERE DO BEARS

BUILD THEIR DENS?

WHERE WOULD THEY BE?

>> WELL, DIFFERENT BEARS BUILD A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF

DENS.

SOME BEARS DEN UP ENTRIES OFF
THE GROUND, SOME WILL DEN IN A

HOLLOW LOG.

MOST OFTEN THEY'LL FIND A HOLE,
AN EXISTING HOLE, MAYBE UNDER A

TREE OR JUST IN THE HILLSIDE,
AND THEY'LL MAKE IT BIGGER.

BIG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO CRAWL IN.

WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS A
PLACE WHERE THEY CAN STAY DRY

DURING THE COURSE OF THE WINTER,
AND THE HOLE IS DEEP ENOUGH THAT

IT'S NOT GOING TO GET TOO COLD
FOR THEM WHILE THEY'RE

HIBERNATING.

>> FROM HORIZON ELEMENTARY IN
BOISE, WHAT'S THE HOTTEST

HABITAT?

THE DE?ERT.

>> BOY, THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

IN IDAHO CERTAINLY THE HOTTEST
HABITAT IS PROBABLY THE SNAKE

RIVER PLAIN DESERT.

BUT IN THE WORLD, VOLCANOS, AN
AREA WHERE THERE'S A VOLCANO CAN

BE PRETTY HOT, AND THERE ARE
ORGANISMS THAT LIVE RIGHT THERE.

>> LET'S GO TO NATHAN IN
CALDWELL.

>> HI.

MY NAME --
>> Caller: MY QUESTION IS, WHAT

IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NICHE?

>> WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT
NICHE?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> THAT WOULD BE MINE, THERE,
NATHAN!

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> THAT'S A DIFFICULT ONE TO
ANSWER, CAUSE I THINK EACH

INDIVIDUAL ORGANISM, EACH
INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL IS PROBABLY

GOING TO HAVE A STAKE THINKING
THEIR PARTICULAR NICHE IS THE

MOST IMPORTANT.

AND FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE, I
GUESS THERE'S A LOT OF PERSONAL

OPINION ON WHAT YOU THINK IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT NICHE, WHAT'S THE

MOST IMPORTANT KIND OF ANIMAL.

SO A TOUGH QUESTION FOR ME TO
ANSWER.

>> FROM STEVEN AT HILLCREST
ELEMENTARY IN AMERICAN FALLS, DO

WASPS HELP THE WHOLE PLANET OR
JUST THEIR OWN HABITAT?

I PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE WASPS.

IT'S JUST A PERSONAL THING.

BUT WHERE ARE WASPS IN THE WHOLE
EARTH'S HABITAT?

>> THEY PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART
IN POLLINATION IN SOME AREAS,

AND POLLINATION IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE,

ESPECIALLY HUMANS, BECAUSE WE
GET OVER 60% OF OUR FOOD THAT

NEEDS POLLINATED BY INSECT OR A
BAT OR BIRD OR SOMETHING.

SO I'M NOT SAYING WASPS DO ALL
THAT WORK BY THEMSELVES, BUT IN

SOME PLACES THEY NEED TO
POLLINATE THINGS FOR US TO EAT.

SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

>> OK.

HOW ABOUT WILL BE LET'S GO TO
JACOB.

>> Caller: HI.

>> HI.

GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: DO PENGUINS LIVE IN
ALASKA?

>> DO PENGUINS LIVE IN ALASKA?

>> VERY EXCELLENT QUESTION, BUT
NO.

I'M AFRAID THEY DON'T.

ACTUALLY, PENGUINS ALL LIVE IN
THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, ON THE

OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE FROM
ALASKA.

>> DO POLAR BEARS ONLY LIVE IN
THE NORTH?

>> SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE CARTOONS
WHERE THE POLAR BEARS AND THE

PENGUINS ARE HANGING OUT ON THE
ICE TOGETHER.

IT DON'T REALLY HAPPEN THATWAY.

POLARS ARE IN THE NORTH,
PENGUINS ARE IN THE SOUTH.

>> EACH HAS A NICHE AND YOU
DON'T WANT THE BEARS EATING ALL

THE PENGUINS.

>> RIGHT.

>> OK.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GO TO
MATTHEW IN CALDWELL.

MATTHEW, ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GO AHEAD.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: WOULD ANOTHER ANIMAL
TAKE ANOTHER ANOTHER ANIMAL'S

HAB DISPAT MAKE IT ITS OWN?

>> WELL, YEAH.

I THINK THAT DOES HAPPEN
SOMETIMES.

JON MENTIONED EARLIER WHEN WE
HAVE NONNATIVE SPECIES THAT COME

IN, WHETHER THAT BE A PLANT OR
AN ANIMAL, THEY COME IN TO AN

AREA AND TAKE OVER AND SORT OF
TAKE OVER THE HABITAT AND THE

NICHE OF PLANTS THAT WERE NATIVE
HERE OR THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE

HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE A
PROBLEM.

SO, YEAH, SHURKS I GUESS AN
ANIMAL COULD MOVE IN AND TAKE

OVER SOMEONE ELSE'S HABITAT OR
NICHE.

>> WE'RE JUST ABOUT RUN OUT OF
TIME.

I'M GOING TO LET HUNTER AND
CAROLINE, ANYBODY ELSE ON OUR

PHONE LINES TO GO AHEAD AND STAY
THERE.

WE'LL BE TAPING OUR WEB-ONLY
PROGRAM RIGHT AFTER TH SHOW.

IF YOU'RE ON OUR PHONE LINES,
STAY ON THE PHONE AND WE'LL

CATCH YOUR QUESTIONS AS WE MOVE
INTO THE NEXT WEB-ONLY PROGRAM.

I WANT TO SAY, WHY DID YOU
DECIDE TO BECOME SCIENTIST AND

STUDY HABITAT AND NICHES?

>> WELL, I JUST ALWAYS HAD A
FASCINATION WITH WILDLIFE FROM

THE TIME I WAS A KID.

AS I WAS GROWING UP I LEARNED
THAT, YOU KNOW, IF I STUDIED

REAL HARD IN SCHOOL AND GOT GOOD
GRADES, MAYBE I COULD BE A

SCIENTIST.

AND STUDY WILDLIFE.

AND ACTUALLY GET PAID FOR IT.

SO IT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> YOU'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> KIND OF THE SAME REASON.

I JUST -- THAT'S WHAT I LIKE THE
MOST TO DO, IS LOOK OUTSIDE AND

BE IN NATURE, AND LEARN ABOUT
ANIMALS.

SO I FIXED I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE
THAT BE MY JOB.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING
HERE.

WE'VE GOT LOTS MORE INFORMATION.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THAT WEB-ONLY
SHOW, IT WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE

SHORTLY AFTER WE FINISH TAPING
IT.

CHECK IT OUT AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

THERE'S LOTS MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT HABITATS, LINKS AND

INFORMATION, GLOSS RIS, READING
LISTS.

OUR NEXT BROADCAST SHOW WILL BE
ON ROBOTS.

THAT IS NOVEMBER 18th.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BLOG.

THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON
"D4K."

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