Cards of mammals
Duration: 15 min
Target group: all grades
Where: Indoors
When: At all times of the year
Materials: Mammal cards (print and cut)
Section of wilderness passport: Game management
Learning objectives: Identify game animals occurring in Finland and learn about their habits.
INSTRUCTIONS
In this assignment, students learn to identify 19 mammal species found in Finland. The species
included are game species, with the exception of Arctic fox. The total number of game mammal
species in Finland is 34. To hunt them, a person must complete the test for a hunting license i.e. a
hunting card (and, if necessary, a shooting test) and acquire the necessary permits.
You can print out five different kinds of cards, which can be used in many ways: a) only the names
of the mammals b) only pictures of mammals c) pictures and names of the mammals d) identification
and lifestyle information of mammals e) identification and lifestyle information of mammals without
the names of species. Please note that you can print only the pages you need. You may want to
print out the picture cards and text cards double-sided. When printed on A4-sized paper, the text is
quite small, so you may want to enlarge the prints to A3. Instructions for three different species
identification games are given below. Choose the most suitable one or create your own way of using
the mammal cards!
Memory game
Print the cards (options a & b, b & c, c & d OR c & e) ONE-SIDED on strong paper, preferably in
colour. Cut the sheets into single cards. Place the cards face down on the table. Everyone flips two
cards over, taking turns. If the cards make a pair, the person who turned them may place them in
front of him or her. Now the next player takes a turn. The winner is the one with the most pairs when
all the cards have been turned.
If you play the memory game with cards that do not display the name of the species (options b and
e), it is recommended that you print out the correct answers for checking (options c and d).
Identification game A
Print the identification and lifestyle information, without names (option e) on the rear side of the
pictures of mammals with names (option c). Print DOUBLE-SIDED. Cut the sheets into single cards
and deal them out to the pairs. The pairs should stack their cards with the picture side facing down.
On the basis of identification data, the pairs alternately guess which bird is in question. After the
guessing round, the cards are turned over. If a guess was correct, the guesser gets the card (and
one point). The winner is the one who identifies the most species. Cards can also be divided in half
between the two people forming the pair. One reads the information and the other guesses. If the
guess is correct, you should reveal what the mammal in question looks like.
Identification game B
Print the identification and lifestyle information (option d) onto the rear side of the anonymous
mammal pictures (option b).
Print DOUBLE-SIDED. Cut the sheets into single cards and deal them out to the pairs. The pair
should place the stack of cards in front of them, face up. Both may guess the name of the species,
the food source and the range of occurrence. The one who guesses closest to or knows more
answers gets the card, and one point. The correct answers can be checked on back of the card. The
winner is the one with the most cards when all of the cards in the stack have been used.
Links
Help and tips for species identification (in Finnish): http://www.luontoportti.com/suomi/fi/nisakkaat/
A game and learning corner maintained by Metsähallitus, which provides information on Finland's
large carnivores: http://www.largecarnivores.fi/petola.html
The Finnish Wildlife Agency provides information e.g. on the population dynamics of game
animals, and the species: http://riista.fi/en/riistatalous-2/game-stock/
Game animal themed educational and species identification materials (in Finnish):
http://riista.fi/julkaisut/lajintunnistusmateriaalit/
Topics to consider
1. How do mammals prepare for winter?
-
-
-
-
-
Some mammals sleep in winter (e.g. bears, badgers and raccoon dogs) and some small
mammals hibernate (hedgehog, bat). Before resting, the animals must eat properly in order
to survive the winter in their nests until the following spring.
The colour of their coats changes to blend in better with the environment. For instance,
stoat and hares have white winter fur. Winter fur is also thicker and warmer.
Many mammals living in the north have adapted to moving around in the snow. For
example, hares have webbed rear feet to ease their movement on snow. For the same
reason, a reindeer's toes are fairly wide.
In winter, the animals have to eat whatever is available, including low-quality food. For
example, forest reindeer dig up lichen from under the snow and hares feed on tree bark.
Food is more varied in the summer.
Small mammals take advantage of the excellent insulation provided by snow and spend
time in burrows under the snow cover, where the temperature can be several degrees
warmer than on the surface.
Many mammals expand their home range in winter. For example, when in search of food,
moose may roam over much longer distances in winter than in summer.
2. The elk is Finland's most important game animal. In 2015, the Finnish Wildlife Agency issued
37,400 elk hunting licences. The estimated population after the spring calving season was around
126,000. Consider the importance of elk hunting from the viewpoint of individuals and society as a
whole.
-
Elk is a healthy meat, because it is fairly low-fat and organic.
Elk hunting is a good form of exercise.
Spending time in nature is a proven method of reducing stress.
Hunting increases a person's patience and concentration.
The likelihood of road collisions with moose reduces when the moose population is
controlled through hunting.
Elk cause damage to forestry and agriculture by feeding on young trees and cultivated
plants.
3. What problems may alien species such as an American mink cause to Finnish nature?
-
-
Invasive alien species are harmful to the original ecosystem and may displace native
species. Originating in runaways from fur farms, the American mink population is held partly
responsible for the disappearance of the European mink from the Finnish natural
environment. The American mink and European mink have similar habits and thrive in
similar environments. The American mink is a more effective competitor, however, and
succeeds better in exploiting resources than the European mink.
They may hunt a particular prey so intensively that the entire population begins to decline.
In the outer archipelago in particular, American mink reduce bird populations dramatically
by eating fledglings and eggs, because the nesting birds have not adapted to the presence
of a predator such as the American mink.
BROWN BEAR
EUROPEAN HARE
WHITE-TAILED DEER
EURASIAN BEAVER
STOAT
MOUNTAIN HARE
in winter coat
ROE DEER
BADGER
FINNISH FOREST
REINDEER
PINE MARTEN
RACCOON DOG
MOUNTAIN HARE
in summer coat
LYNX
RED FOX
ELK
WILD BOAR
GREY SEAL
ARCTIC FOX
WESTERN
POLECAT
AMERICAN MINK
OPTION a
OPTION b
Pictures: Wikimedia Commons, Markku Pirttimaa,
Metsähallitus
EURASIAN BEAVER
WHITE-TAILED DEER
EUROPEAN HARE
BROWN BEAR
BADGER
ROE DEER
MOUNTAIN HARE
STOAT
in winter coat
PINE MARTEN
FINNISH FOREST
MOUNTAIN HARE
RACCOON DOG
REINDEER
in summer coat
WILD BOAR
ELK
RED FOX
LYNX
AMERICAN MINK
WESTERN POLECAT
ARCTIC FOX
GREY SEAL
OPTION c
Pictures: Wikimedia Commons, Markku Pirttimaa,
Metsähallitus
BROWN BEAR
EUROPEAN HARE
WHITE-TAILED DEER
Ursus arctos
Lepus europeanus
Odocoileus virginianus
EURASIAN BEAVER
Castor fiber
Distribution: Almost whole country
Size: height 90–110 cm, weight 60–
200 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Hibernates
during the winter. Strong and agile,
swims and climbs well. Bear hunting
in the reindeer herding region takes
place according to quotas.
Elsewhere in Finland hunting is only
possible with an exceptional permit.
Distribution:
Southern Finland
Size: 50–70 cm, 2–7 kg
Food: herbivorous, grasses and
weeds
More information: Fur is
brownish also in the winter. Ears
are long and snout is slightly
angular. Tail is almost 15 cm long,
underneath is white and upper
side is black.
Distribution: Mostly in Southern
and Western Finland
Size: height 90–130 cm, weight 70–
140 kg
Food: Different sort of plants
More information: Originally from
North-America, introduced Finland in
1930s. Fur is reddish brown in the
summer and greyish brown in the
winter.
Distribution: Satakunta, WesternLapland, partly Southern
Ostrobothnia
Size: 12–33 kg
Food: plants
More information: Tail is flat and
scaly. Front teeth are big and yellow.
Beaver is a good swimmer. Eurasian
beaver become extinct in 19th
century, reintroduced in 1930s.
Canadian beaver is an alien species
in Finland.
STOAT
MOUNTAIN HARE
ROE DEER
BADGER
Mustela erminea
Lepus timidus
Capreolus capreolus
Meles meles
Distribution: Whole country,
different habitats
Size: 18–32 cm, 100–450 g
Food: small mammals, rodents,
birds and bird eggs
More information: Fur is brown
on the dorsal side and white on
the ventral side. In the winter fur is
white except the black tip of the
tail.
Distribution: Whole country
Size: 50–60 cm, 2–6 kg
Food: different plants
More information: Fur is greyish
brown in the summer and white in
the winter. Tail remains white all
year round.
Distribution: Whole country except
Lapland
Size: height 64 - 70 cm, weight 15–
35 kg
Food: plants
More information: Fur is reddish
brown in the summer, greyish brown
in the winter. Only males have
antlers. Tail is about 2 cm long.
FINNISH FOREST
REINDEER
PINE MARTEN
Rangifer tarandus fennicus
Distribution: Whole country except
outer archipelago and northernmost
Lapland
Size: 40–60 cm, 0,5–1,8 kg
Food: small mammals, birds,
insects etc.
More information: Fur is brown,
yellow bib on throat. Extremely agile.
Mainly nocturnal.
RACCOON DOG
MOUNTAIN HARE
Nyctereutes procyonoides
Lepus timidus
Distribution: Almost whole
country except northern Lapland
Size: 45–80 cm, 3–12 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Fur is colored
with black, brown and grey. Legs
are quite short. The cheeks are
coated with long hair. Hibernates
during the winter. Is classified as a
harmful alien species.
Distribution: Whole country
Size: 50–60 cm, 2–6 kg
Food: different plants
More information: Fur is greyish
brown in the summer and white in
the winter. Tail remains white all
year round.
Distribution: Kainuu and
Suomenselkä
Size: height 85–120 cm, weight 60–
250 kg
Food: plants
More information: Legs are taller,
snout is wider, antlers are narrower
and fur is darker compared to
domesticated reindeer. Both male
and female have antlers.
Distribution: Whole country
except Lapland
Size: 6–15 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Fur is grey.
Head is white with two black
stripes. Nests in tunnels and
hibernates during the winter.
Nocturnal.
Martes martes
LYNX
RED FOX
ELK
Lynx lynx
Vulpes vulpes
Alces alces
Distribution: Whole country,
forested areas
Size: height 0,7–1,4 m,
10–25 kg
Food: carnivore
More information: Fur is reddish
brown in the summer and greyish
in the winter. Fur is usually
colored with dark spots. Black
tufts of hair on ears. Hunting is
possible with an exceptional
permit.
Distribution: Whole country,
especially southwest
Size: height 56–75 cm, weight 3 –10
kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Dorsal side is
reddish brown, neck, chest and tip of
the tail are white. Paws are black.
Tail is long and dense. Nests in
caves.
GREY SEAL
ARCTIC FOX
WESTERN POLECAT
Halichoerus grypus
Vulpes lagopus
Mustela putorius
Neovison vison
Distribution: Northern Lapland,
last nesting in 1990s
Size: height 50–75 cm, weight
2,5–4 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: During the
summer dorsal side and legs are
brownish grey and ventral side is
light. In the winter fur is white. Tail
is long and dense. Protected
species.
Distribution:
Especially northeast Finland
Size: height 1,6–2,3 m, weight
0,4–1,5 kg
Food: rodents, birds, amphibians
More information: Fur is yellowish
brown and there are white markings
on the face. The ferret is a
domesticated form.
Distribution: Whole country
Size: height 30–47 cm, weight
0,5–2 kg
Food: rodents, fish, birds etc.
More information: Fur is blackish
brown with a little white patch on the
chin. Mink is an invasive alien
species. Originally from North
America, brought in fur farms where
it escaped to nature.
Distribution: Baltic Sea
Size: height 1,6–2,3 m, weight
100–300 kg
Food: Fishes
More information: Males are dark
with light patches, females are light
with dark patches. Pup is white.
Lives in colonies.
Distribution: whole country,
forested areas
Size: height 150–220 cm,
weight 450–800 kg
Food: plants
More information: The biggest
mammal in Finland. Fur is dark
brown, legs are light, can be
almost white. Only males have
antlers.
OPTION d
WILD BOAR
Sus scrofa
Distribution: Southern Finland
Size: height 70–110 cm, weight 80–
230 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Fur is light grey
in the summer and brownish black in
the winter. Snout is narrow and quite
long. Males have big canine teeth.
Wild boar is the ancestor of
domesticated pigs.
AMERICAN MINK
Ursus arctos
Lepus europeanus
Odocoileus virginianus
Castor fiber
Distribution: Almost whole country
Size: height 90–110 cm, weight 60–
200 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Hibernates
during the winter. Strong and agile,
swims and climbs well. Bear hunting
in the reindeer herding region takes
place according to quotas.
Elsewhere in Finland hunting is only
possible with an exceptional permit.
Distribution:
Southern Finland
Size: 50–70 cm, 2–7 kg
Food: herbivorous, grasses and
weeds
More information: Fur is
brownish also in the winter. Ears
are long and snout is slightly
angular. Tail is almost 15 cm long,
underneath is white and upper
side is black.
Distribution: Mostly in Southern
and Western Finland
Size: height 90–130 cm, weight 70–
140 kg
Food: Different sort of plants
More information: Originally from
North-America, introduced Finland in
1930s. Fur is reddish brown in the
summer and greyish brown in the
winter.
Distribution: Satakunta, WesternLapland, partly Southern
Ostrobothnia
Size: 12–33 kg
Food: plants
More information: Teal is flat and
scaly. Front teeth are big and yellow.
Beaver is a good swimmer. Eurasian
beaver become extict in 19th
century, reintroduced in 1930s.
Canadian beaver is an alien species
in Finland.
Mustela erminea
Lepus timidus
Capreolus capreolus
Distribution: Whole country,
different habitats
Size: 18–32 cm, 100–450 g
Food: small mammals, like
rodents, birds and bird eggs
More information: Fur is brown
on the dorsal side and white on
the ventral side. In the winter fur is
white except the black tip of the
tail.
Distribution: Whole country
Size: 50–60 cm, 2–6 kg
Food: different plants
More information: Fur is greyish
brown in the summer and white in
the winter. Tail remains white all
year round.
Distribution: Whole country except
Lapland
Size: height 64 - 70 cm, weight 15–
35 kg
Food: plants
More information: Fur is reddish
brown in the summer, greyish brown
in the winter. Only males have
antlers. Tail is about 2 cm long.
Rangifer tarandus fennicus
Nyctereutes procyonoides
Lepus timidus
Distribution: Almost whole
country except northern Lapland
Size: 45–80 cm, 3–12 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Fur is colored
with black, brown and grey. Legs
are quite short. The cheeks are
coated with long hair. Hibernates
during the winter. Is classified as a
harmful alien species.
Distribution: Whole country
Size: 50–60 cm, 2–6 kg
Food: different plants
More information: Fur is greyish
brown in the summer and white in
the winter. Tail remains white all
year round.
Lynx lynx
Vulpes vulpes
Distribution: Whole country,
forested areas
Size: height 0,7–1,4 m,
10–25 kg
Food: carnivore
More information: Fur is reddish
brown in the summer and greyish
in the winter. Fur is usually
colored with dark spots. Black
tufts of hair on ears. Hunting is
possible with an exceptional
permit.
Distribution: Whole country,
especially southwest
Size: height 56–75 cm, weight 3 –10
kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Dorsal side is
reddish brown, neck, chest and tip of
the tail are white. Paws are black.
Tail is long and dense. Nests in
caves.
Halichoerus grypus
Distribution: Baltic Sea
Size: height 1,6–2,3 m, weight
100–300 kg
Food: Fishes
More information: Males are dark
with light patches, females are light
with dark patches. Pup is white.
Lives in colonies.
Distribution: Kainuu and
Suomenselkä
Size: height 85–120 cm, weight 60–
250 kg
Food: plants
More information: Legs are taller,
snout is wider, antlers are narrower
and fur is darker compared to
domesticated reindeer. Both male
and female have antlers.
Alces alces
Distribution: whole country,
forested areas
Size: height 150–220 cm,
weight 450–800 kg
Food: plants
More information: The biggest
mammal in Finland. Fur is dark
brown, legs are light, can be
almost white. Only males have
antlers.
Meles meles
Distribution: Whole country
except Lapland
Size: 6–15 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Fur is grey.
Head is white with two black
stripes. Nests in tunnels and
hibernates during the winter.
Nocturnal.
Martes martes
Distribution: Whole country except
outer archipelago and northernmost
Lapland
Size: 40–60 cm, 0,5–1,8 kg
Food: small mammals, birds,
insects etc.
More information: Fur is brown,
yellow bib on throat. Extremely agile.
Mainly nocturnal.
Sus scrofa
Distribution: Southern Finland
Size: height 70–110 cm, weight 80–
230 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: Fur is light grey
in the summer and brownish black in
the winter. Snout is narrow and quite
long. Males have big canine teeth.
Wild boar is the ancestor of
domesticated pigs.
Vulpes lagopus
Mustela putorius
Neovison vison
Distribution: Northern Lapland,
last nesting in 1990s
Size: height 50–75 cm, weight
2,5–4 kg
Food: omnivorous
More information: During the
summer dorsal side and legs are
brownish grey and ventral side is
light. In the winter fur is white. Tail
is long and dense. Protected
species.
Distribution:
Especially northeast Finland
Size: height 1,6–2,3 m, weight
0,4–1,5 kg
Food: rodents, birds, amphibians
More information: Fur is yellowish
brown and there are white markings
on the face. The ferret is
domesticated form.
Distribution: Whole country
Size: height 30–47 cm, weight
0,5–2 kg
Food: rodents, fish, birds etc.
More information: Fur is blackish
brown with a little white patch on the
chin. Mink is an invasive alien
species. Originally from North
America, brought in fur farms where
it escaped to nature.
OPTION e