Inside its habitat, an animal often has a special place to rest and stay safe. Some animals build their homes. Some dig them. Some find them.
Key idea
Birds build nests, bees build hives, rabbits dig burrows, spiders spin webs, beavers build lodges, and bears rest in dens.
Why it works
Each kind of animal makes the shelter that fits its life. A web catches a spider's food. A hive holds a bee family's honey. A lodge in the water keeps beavers safe from animals on land.
Worked example: Let's think it through
Does a deer live in a nest?
- A deer is too big for a nest.
- It does not build a home at all.
- It rests in thick bushes or tall grass, where it can hide.
Answer: No. A deer does not build a home.
Common mistake
Children often think every animal lives in a nest. Each kind of animal has its own kind of shelter, and some, like deer and many fish, have none at all.
For the grown-up. On a walk, look for animal homes: a nest in a bare tree in winter, a spider web on a fence, a hole at the base of a tree. Look, but leave them as they are.