Card 2 RED

TROUBLE MAKER

Squirrel

1. Species and Family

Common Name: Squirrel (covers many species)
Scientific Family: Sciuridae
Includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels, and chipmunks.
Well-known species include the Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).

2. Appearance

Size varies by species: 5–20 inches (12–50 cm) body length, with tails often as long as the body.
Weight ranges from 0.5–3 lbs (0.2–1.4 kg).
Features: Large eyes, sharp claws for climbing, and a bushy tail used for balance, warmth, and communication.
Fur color ranges from gray, brown, and red to black or white depending on the species.

3. Habitat and Range

Found almost worldwide except in Australia and Antarctica.
Habitats include forests, woodlands, urban parks, and gardens.
Tree squirrels live in nests called dreys high in trees, while ground squirrels dig burrows.

4. Social Life and Behaviour

Tree squirrels are generally solitary, while ground squirrels can be social and live in colonies.
Communicate with tail flicks, chirps, and scent marking.
Active during the day (diurnal) and highly territorial over food sources.

5. Diet

Omnivorous, but mainly nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and buds.
Also eat insects, small animals, or bird eggs occasionally.
Known for food caching — burying nuts to eat later, though many are forgotten and sprout into trees.

6. Role in the Ecosystem

Key seed dispersers, helping forests regenerate.
Provide prey for predators like hawks, foxes, and snakes.
Their digging and caching improve soil health.

7. Relationship with Humans

Viewed as both charming wildlife and pests (especially in gardens and attics).
Common in parks where they may become tame and beg for food.
Historically hunted for fur in some regions.

8. Fun Fact

A squirrel’s front teeth never stop growing — they’re kept short by constant gnawing.

plant(heart/diamond)

Acorns

Type: Nuts (seeds) of oak trees (Quercus species).

Needles: None – they come from broadleaf trees.

Lifespan: Viable for germination for only a few months after maturing.

Habitat: Found wherever oak trees grow — forests, woodlands, and urban parks across the Northern Hemisphere.

Uses: Food for wildlife, can be processed into flour for human consumption after leaching tannins.

Adaptations: Hard shell protects the seed; bitter tannins deter some predators.

Ecological Role: Critical food source for birds, squirrels, deer, and many forest animals; helps regenerate oak forests.

Fun fact: A single mature oak can produce thousands of acorns in one year, but less than 1 in 10,000 grows into a tree!

ChokeCherry

Type: Deciduous shrub or small tree (Prunus virginiana).

Needles: None – has simple, oval leaves with fine teeth.

Lifespan: Typically 20–40 years.

Habitat: Found in forests, prairies, riverbanks, and roadsides across much of North America.

Uses: Edible berries (when cooked) for jams, jellies, and syrups; traditional medicinal uses by Indigenous peoples.

Adaptations: Grows in a wide range of soils, spreads through root suckers to form dense thickets.

Ecological Role: Provides food for birds, bears, deer, and pollinators; dense growth offers shelter for wildlife.

Fun fact: Despite their bitterness, chokecherries are a favorite snack for bears, who help spread the seeds in their droppings!

hockey team (heart/diamond)

Buffalo Sabres

Team Name: Buffalo Sabres
Founded: The Sabres joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1970.
City: They are based in Buffalo, New York, USA.

Biggest Achievement:

The Sabres have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals twice: in 1975 and 1999.
Unfortunately, they lost both times, so they have not yet won a Stanley Cup.
Despite this, they have had several successful playoff runs and produced many NHL stars.

Activities in the City ( Buffalo, New York, USA):

Visit Niagara Falls – Just a short drive away, see the world-famous waterfalls and take boat tours like the Maid of the Mist.
Explore Canalside – Waterfront district with parks, paddleboarding, concerts, and seasonal ice skating.
Tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House – Admire the iconic architecture and historic home tours.
Enjoy Buffalo Wings – Visit the Anchor Bar or other local spots to taste the city’s famous original Buffalo wings.

Laval Rocket

Team Name: Laval Rocket
Founded: The team was established in 2017.
City: Based in Laval, Quebec, Canada.

Background:

The Laval Rocket are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens.
The team was created when the Canadiens relocated their AHL affiliate from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (the St. John’s IceCaps) to Laval.