Web Animals

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Youth Education Programof San Francisco Botanical Garden Society

Web of Life Walk

Animals in SFBG

HOW IT RELATES TO

PLANTS

WHERE & WHEN TO

FIND IN SFBG

WHAT EATS IT WHAT IT EATS OTHER TIDBITS

INVERTEBRATES

Earthworm Mixes up soil and breaksinto fine pieces. Often

pulls dead leaves into soil

and aids decay. Burrows -

lets air into soil and helps

water drain.

Comes to surface at

night to mate like slugs

and snails. Worms are

both male and female

but still have to mate to

lay eggs.

Birds. Eats soil to obtain small

pieces of decaying plant

and animal food. Soil

comes out as worm

casts.

No eyes, ears or nose.

Skin can feel light. Also

can feel vibrations of the

ground.

BeesHoneybees and

bumblebees

80% of plants today are

pollinated by bees. Over

60 food crops in CA are

pollinated by honeybees.

Honeybees: Usually

seasonal behaviorlate

fall & winter, if cold stay

in hive or nest. Feed

when warm. Breed in

early spring.

Bumblebees: Come out

to feed anytime.

People. Yellow jackets,

wax moths, vertebrate

raiders prey on

honeybees.

Pollen and nectar.

Special adaptation on

hind legs to collect

pollen. Honey is stored

food for adults and

pollen is for larvae and

young.

Bees first appeared 100

million years ago.

Became major force in

reproduction of plants 65

million years ago.

Wasps (Paper Nest) Queen and workers usewood or tree. Chew to

paste that dries as paper

for nest materials.

In autumn, queen stops

egg laying so workers go

out to find sweet things.

Wasps die in cold

weather. Queen sleeps

until spring.

Caterpillars, fruit,

flowers.

Wasps were the first

makers of paper.

Yellow Jackets Build nests (open-facedcombs) in debris, hollow

logs, soil cavities.

Colonies become quite

large by late summer and

fall.

Raccoons and skunks

destroy nests and eat

the insects.

Voracious workers

attack everything from

nesting insects to picnicfoods.

Most abundant and

troublesome wasp in CA.

Vicious defenders of thenest.

Dragonflies Plants create habitat.Most of life spent as

nymphs hiding in mud or

among weeds

underwater.

Dwarf conifer pond.

Nature trail pond.

Nymphs eaten by frogs

and turtles. Birds eat

dragonflies in adult form.

Hunt and eat other

insects. Adults can see

40 feet away. Nymphs

eat small animals in

water.

Among oldest insects on

earth. 4,500 species of

dragonflies & close

relative damselflies. Used

to be 3 across before

birds & flowering plants

appeared.

Spider (orb weaver & garden) Uses plants to propwebs. Spiders can be in

silk case covered by leafin upper corner of web.

Orb weavers spin at

night and wait for flying

insects on warm brightdays. Sept & Oct very

Birds. Lives entirely on liquid

dietpours enzyme over

insect which dissolvessoft tissues.

Web is fluid protein

exuded by spinnerets on

lower side of body andthen hardening to silk in


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large, colorful backs

red to yellowish striped

legs. Can disappear with

winter storms.

air. Hummingbirds &

bushtits use webs as nest

materials.

Water strider Lay eggs on trailing waterplants.

Year roundmore in

spring & summer in any

shallow pond or streamsuch as Redwood Forest.

Dragonflies eat larvae of

water striders.

Feed on mosquito larvae

& other small insects.

Beak to pierce prey, suckup juices. Enzyme

secretion from straw-like

stylets out of beak.

Body covered with tiny

hairs. Front short legs for

grasping. Middle legsvery long, serve as oars

with only tips touching

water. Hind legs steer.

True bug.

Crayfish (most likely the

invasive signal crayfish)

Eat plants Though they live in the

water, they are more

often seen when they

cross wet lawn areas.

Humans, egrets,

snapping turtles,

raccoons, possums

Omnivore and

scavenger, eats plant

material, snails, small

fish

Relatives of lobsters,

crabs and shrimp.

Amphipod (hoppers) Recycles leaves. Primarily summer andfall, under logs and in

leaf duff.

Wild jumping is defense

against predators.

Leaves, decaying plant

material-can digest

cellulose.

Terrestrial crustaceans

related to sand fleas.

Centipede Protects plants fromharmful insects.

Live in damp places,

under logs, stones, bark

and heaps of dead

leaves.

Birds. Harmful insects and their

larvae.

Two legs on each

segmentmore than 14

legs. Can have painful

bite.

Millipede Recycles dead anddecaying plants. Can be

destructive to crops.

In damp places, under

logs, stones, bark & dead

leaves.

Raccoons Dead & decaying plants

sometimes crop plants.

Four legs on each

segment. Curl into tight

spiral in self-defense.

Pillbug (roly-poly) and sowbug Breaks down plantmatter into small bits so

even smaller creatures

can feed.

Under logs, leaves in

spring, summer & fall.

Winter (cold) crawls into

sheltering cracks and

remains quiet until

spring.

Spiders, birds. Pillbug has

hard coat of armor, soft

underside so rolls up for

protection. Sowbug

cannot roll up.

Dead plants. Land crustacean, close

relative of lobster &

shrimp. 14 legs.

Sometimes turn blue due

to viral infection.

Slugs (no shell) and snails (with

shells)

Feeds on plant materials.

Destructive to crops.

In high moisture

conditions and humidity,

hides during the day in

soil cracks.

Raccoons, lizards,

spiders. People.

Fruits and vegetables;

leaves.

Similar to clams &

mussels; produce large

amounts of protective

mucous.

REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS/FISH

Mosquito fish Plants provide cover. Small pondsDwarfConifer and Nature Trail.

Raccoons, egret/heron. Feed on mosquitoes, etc.

at surface.

Minnow family (incl.

carp, goldfish, chub).

Young born alive. Males


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smaller than females.

Turtle (red-eared slider,

western pond turtle)

Cold-blooded. Soak up

sun on rocks, mats of

dead tule, logs, pond

banks. Use water to cool

down.

Ponds, especially

Wildfowl Pond. During

winter, they dig

themselves into holes in

soft pond bottoms.

People, egrets (eat

young), raccoons (eat

eggs)

Scavengers of the pond

community. Pond weed

stems, algae, small fish,

tadpoles, earthworms,

soft insects.

Sliderspet turtles let go

by people who wont

care for them. Western

Pondnative and must

be submerged to eat.

Snapping turtle Omnivorous, eats plantmaterial.

One large individual

rarely spotted basking on

rocks in the Wildfowl

Pond.

People. Voracious omnivore and

scavenger, eats plants

and invertebrates, fish,

other turtles, birds,

mammals.

This large turtle is often

mistaken for a rock when

basking. Powerful beak

used for defense since it

cannot retract into its

shell.

Frog (red-legged) Plants create habitat andprovide cover.

Near waterNoble Pond;

CA Native Plants Pond,

next to nursery chain link

fence; the Nature Trail.

Nocturnal and diurnal.

Raccoons, owls, giant

salamanders,

carnivorous bull frogs,

people.

Insects, beetles,

caterpillars and isopods.

Feeds when it detects

movement.

Rana Aurora. CA native,

2-5 inches in lengthcan

jump 3 feet. Tadpole is 3

in total length.

BIRDSMallard Duck Most food is vegetative

matter. Nests in gardens

near ponds. Female

dull mottled brown. Male

green head, blue

speculum.

Year round. Near Dwarf

Conifer Pond, Asian

Pond, Nature Trail Pond

and Wildfowl Pond.

People. Raccoons,

skunks eat eggs,

snapping turtle, coyotes

and foxes take young.

Seeds and sedges. Likes

rice crops, grain, corn

and other agricultural

crops.

Strong, fast flyers can

dive even though

dabblers. Mallards are

ancestors of domestic

ducks.

American Widgeon Dabbler that walks onlandlegs placed

forward and no lobe on

back toe. Widgeon

makes room for newgrowth by eating plants.

Droppings act as

fertilizer.

Big Pond. Raccoons eat eggs. Aquatic plantswild

celery, eat grass, roots,

food from humans.

Males have brown

bodies, grayish head,

white crown and green

face patch.

Bufflehead Diver duck that is seldomseen on landlegs set

farther back. Flap on toe

helps to swim. Must get

running start to fly. Lay

eggs in tree holes.

Year-round in Big Pond. People. Dive constantly to feed

on small fish and other

small animals.

Quite tame in wild.

Breeding male white,

shiny black back, large

white patch on head.

Femalewhite oval

below and behind eye.


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Gull (Western and Mew) Nets in grass or seaweed. Anytime, primarily at theBig Pond.

Sea lions, sharks. Basic diet of fish, stealfood from & eat young

birds. Omnivorouscan

eat garbage. Visitors

feed.

Mew is smaller than

Western. Adult has

grayish back, white front,

red dot on lower

mandible of yellow bill,

pink feet.

Great blue heron Nest in trees using plantmaterial.

Occasional visitor at allponds and waterworks.

Raccoons eat eggs. Highon food chain.

Small fish, frogs andother aquatic animals.

Ponds, but sometimesfound hunting gophers

on the lawn

Egrets (Snowy and greater) Nest in trees using plantmaterial.

Egrets year round. All

ponds and waterworks.

Raccoons eat eggs. High

on food chain.

Small fish, frogs and

other aquatic animals.

Feathers in hats. DDT

endangered - comeback

since DDT banned in

1972. Snowy Egret

small black bill, yellow

legs. Great Egret has

yellow bill, dark legs.

Robin Disperses seeds/new

plants.

Most areas. Feral cats. Eats worms in breeding

season; otherwise eatsworms and fruits, holly

elderberry.

Average life-span is about

a year and three months;has around 3,000

feathers

Brewers Blackbird Nests in trees. Year roundeverywhereespecially around main

pond in flocks.

Raccoons eat eggs. Primarily insects, also

seeds.

Male jet black with

purplish sheen on head,

yellow eye, pointed bill;

female dull brown.

Hummingbirds (Annas and

Allens)

Great pollinators of red

and yellow flowers. Tiny,

tightly woven nest cup

on sheltered branch of

pine, redwood. Uses

lichen and spider webs as

nest material.

Annas year-round,

especially succulent

garden.

Allens Summer

resident, winters in W.

Mexico.

Hawks, feral cats. Nectar from agave, aloe,

eucalyptus flowers,

many others. Insects for

protein.

Annas two-part buzz

song. Iridescent red

forehead and throat.

Allens Buzz call. Green

cap, red throat.

Scrub Jay Nests in scrub using mossand other material.

Buries seeds then

forgets.

Year-round resident

anywhere in the Garden.

Several around

Fragrance, Demo and CA

Native Gardens.

Hawks. Seeds and nuts, other

bird eggs. May eat

peanuts out of human

hands.

Rounded, crestless head

sets it apart; 20 different

call types

Quail Nests in grass or shrubsusing plant material.

Uses low brush area for

Year-round resident of

the Garden. CA Native

garden, W. Australia and

Hawks, feral cats. Acorns, seeds,

sometimes insects.

The Garden is home to

the last breeding group in

Golden Gate Park. Flock


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cover. Succulent Garden inclu.

Salt Bush hedge.

or covey, up to 10-20.

Song sparrow Nests in shrubs aroundmarshes, using plant

material.

Year-round near water.

Big Pond, and especially

Nature Trail Pond.

Feral cat; blue jay eats

eggs.

Insects, seeds. Heavy brown streaking

on white under parts

prominent central breast

spot in adults. Pumps

long, round tail in flight.Downy woodpecker Nests in tree holes, agave

stalks. Can control pests.

Succulent Garden. Trees

throughout the Garden,

especially pines around

Nature Trail.

Raccoons eat eggs. Feral

cats.

Eats insects, often leans

back to look for food.

Small year-round

residentwhite back,

small red patch on males

back of neck.

Fox sparrow Uses brush for cover.Nests in shrubs using

plant material.

Fall, winter resident.

Found on ground in

thickets, especially

around Nature trail.

Feral cat. Seed eaterscratches

ground in distinctive

manner using both feet.

Looks like dull song

sparrow. Lower bill

yellow, dark upper.

MAMMALS

Gopher (BottasPocket) Furlined pouches or

pockets inside cheeks forcarrying plants to

underground storage.

Aerates and helps

improve soil, mixing in

organic matter.

All over year round,

especially main lawnlook for fan-shaped hill

with plug. Most active in

spring due to abundant

plant material.

It is eaten by feral cats,

garter snakes, weasels,and foxes. It is flea

infested.

It eats grass, roots, nuts,

buds, bulbs, tubers andfarm vegetables.

It is vicious when

cornered. Gophercomes from the French

word gaufremeaning

honeycomb. This

solitary creature makes

honeycombs

underground.

Mole (Broad-footed) Pushes way through soilaerates. Damages

plants by exposing or

breaking up roots &

lifting them up.

Signs of moles are ridge-

like tunnels which are

used only once. Earth is

pushed to surface in

symmetrical mounds.

It is eaten by feral cats

and foxes.

It eats insects and their

larvae, earthworms, and

occasionally bulbs.

Adapted to subterranean

life, eyes are vestigial.

Senses through long

bristles of snout. Fur lies

flat either direction socan run

forward/backwards.

Squirrel (Eastern Gray) Eastern Gray displacedWestern Gray native

which cannot tolerate

crowding. Extensive

damage to plants. Bark

and stick nests high in

trees. Bury nuts and

forgets them.

Where people eat lunch

and/or feed them; demo

garden, Asian and Main

Pondsmost active on

warm days.

Owls, foxes, dogs, feral

cats, hawks, raccoons,

weasels, pests and

parasites. Automobiles.

Acorns. People feed

them peanuts, popcorn.

Introduced in 1930s.

Tails helps with balance,

act as parachute, provide

warmth. Brownish coat in

summer.


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Raccoon Dens in tree hollows,climbs for protection.

Digs up fresh sod and

bulb plants looking for

grubs.

All over, anytime.

Crotches of trees, paths

of the Garden. Adapted

to daylight, feels safe.

Dogs, foxes, wolves. Frogs, crayfish, grubs,

slugs, berries, seeds, bird

eggs, small animals,

garbageDangerous to

approach to feed.

Have opposable thumbs,

40 teeth and do not

hibernate, but sleep for

weeks at a time.

Red fox Dig dens under roots of

trees.

Woodlands, farms;

Native garden and JohnMuir Trail at the Garden.

Wolves, coyotes, eagles,

bear.

Rabbits, rodents,

beetles, fruit, insects andworms.

Non-native with

incredible sense ofhearing. Hunt alone or in

small packs. Bushy, black-

tipped tail.

Coyote Dig dens under roots oftrees.

Adapt to habitats; West

end of the Garden.

Wolves, mountain lions,

bears, humans.

Omnivores that vary diet

with the seasonsfrom

flowers and insects to

cactus fruit and lizards,

birds and snakes.

Weigh between 15-25

lbs. and live an average

of 12 years.

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