The Onset of Autumn Means Romance and Danger
In The Onset of Autumn Means Romance and Danger, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how animals struggle for survival in broadleaf forests in autumn. Male red deer fight one another in mating season. The rare Amur leopard hunts to feed its cub, despite sparse prey and vegetation for coverage. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: What does “winner takes all” mean?
A: Only the dominant male wins the right to mate with the female deer.
Q: Consider the season of the deer’s rut. How does this line up with other aspects of their life cycle?
A: The deer mate in late summer and fall; females give birth in late spring, when there is plenty of food and cover of vegetation.
Q: Should people intervene to help the Amur leopard survive winter?
A: Student responses will vary.
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