1. What Is Camouflage?

2. How do animals protect themselves in the wild? Color or pattern allows the animal to blend into the environment

3. Wild animals are shy and always hiding. It is natural for them to be this way.

4. They stay behind whatever is available – a thin tree trunk or even a single blade of grass.

5. Their colors and patterns match the colors and patterns of the places where they live.

6. Because of this protective coloration, called camouflage, animals can hide by simply staying still and blending in.

7. Wild deer are the wariest. They blend in with their environment by lying down and hiding behind shrubby trees.

8. Some birds, called bittern, blend in with cattails or reeds that grow along shorelines.

9. Even better, many animals decide the best way to hide is to become invisible.

10. There are many ways for animals to camouflage or blend in with their environment! Can you name a few? Created by Carol Potter 2005 SRA Open Court Reading 2002 Level 2 Unit 3

11. Check out these websites for more information: Camouflage Field Book Insect Camouflage and Mimicry BBC - Science and Nature - Beasts - Camouflage gamesBBC - Science and Nature - Beasts - Camouflage games Camouflaged Animals Coloring/Info Pages - AllAboutNature.comCamouflaged Animals Coloring/Info Pages - AllAboutNature.com Disappearing Act (right-click on titles to activate hyperlink---computer must be online)