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Forests on national wildlife refuges can be dangerous for some, but they enable survival for others. Where would you stand on the food chain?

Are You Predator Or Prey?

It’s your birthday, and your parents are taking you to your favorite steakhouse. The wait for a table is an hour and a half. What do you do?

You’re riding bikes with a friend when suddenly her wheel hits a stick, and she’s sent flying into the ground. What do you do?

Which best describes how you make decisions?

Which of the following careers fits you best?

Which of the following scares you most?

It’s Friday night, and after a long and stressful week, it’s time to have fun. What are you doing tonight?

The view from the top of the food chain is pretty amazing. You have little to fear from other creatures, and so there’s no reason to hide. You’re fiercely territorial by nature; you can fend off on almost any animal that dares enter your domain. As you soar in circles above open fields and dense forests, you take your time in choosing your perfect meal. On the menu are rodents, fish, small mammals and birds, to name just a few. While you’re easily one of the strongest predators of the forest, you seem a bit detached from the world – you hunt alone, and your first instinct is to eat. This means your eyes are constantly focused on the ground, and this single-mindedness might cause you to lower your guard. Watch out. Remember: every now and then, even hawks are hunted by large owls, eagles and foxes! Still, so long as you watch your back, you can look forward to a life where you'll likely never go hungry.

Red-tailed Hawk

Picture this: It’s a dull evening, and except for the low chirping of insects and the occasional croak of a frog, the woods are silent. Stalking the land from atop the tree where you lay your nest, you suddenly hear a rustle through the grass beneath you. You don’t care so much what’s making the sound, because it’s a safe bet whatever it is will be delicious. Your quick wings, sharp talons and night vision give you some serious advantages over your prey, and often, they won’t even see you coming. Your natural talents may impress some and intimidate others, but at the end of the day, everything you do is for your young. Your skill as a predator is matched only by your loyalty to those you love. As one of the rare forest dwellers that chooses a single mate for life, your mind is always on the nest.

Screech Owl

As a garter snake, you slither along the line between predator and prey. While you’re not very picky -- you’ll eat anything from earthworms to birds’ eggs to small mammals -- you must be always on your guard against larger, faster predators. You’re surprisingly quick and an excellent swimmer. Survival of the fittest is the name of the game, and you know it: You show no remorse as you swallow your prey whole. The toxins in your saliva leave your prey with little chance of escape. You’re the predator that nobody sees until it’s too late. Your dark colors allow you to hide in broad daylight, and with a quick rustle of the grass and a quiet hiss, your stomach will be full. But don’t get overconfident: you may be one of the better hunters in the forest, but you're on the menu for owls, hawks, falcons, and even larger snakes!

Garter Snake

In your case, “quick as a bunny” isn't just a figure of speech. Because you're an herbivore, oftentimes in the middle of a forest filled with predators, you try not to draw too much attention to yourself. You're gentle, resourceful, and clever – after all, you've had to learn to protect yourself from snakes, owls and larger mammals, so you've gotten creative. At around 10 inches long, you're able to squeeze your way into tall grasses and the burrows of other animals, and your predators are none the wiser. You likely have a small, tight-knit family to cuddle with through the hard times. Your main weakness is your small size, but you make up for that with speed and with a strong, enduring spirit. You may not win every fight, but at the end of the day, you're quick enough and smart enough to win the race.

Pygmy Rabbit

People sometimes overlook you because you don’t shout for attention, and some may not even believe you have a pulse. But you’re very much alive, and you’re guided by wanting to be there for others. As a producer, you quietly and patiently absorb your food from the sun, and so it doesn’t take much to keep you blooming. You’re often found on the outskirts of cornfields and in forests, and you find a natural home at most wildlife refuges around the country. Producers like you keep the food chain in order. Butterflies and other insects look to you as one of their main sources of food. That’s the reason, along with your natural beauty and authenticity, that people often plant you in butterfly gardens. You’re sweet and nurturing, both in taste and character, and those close to you take notice. Perhaps not surprisingly, you’ve been used as a strong natural medicine throughout history. You take life as it comes, enjoy the simple things, and keep everybody happy.

Wildflower

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Are You Predator Or Prey?

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