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Mount Asahi Dake stretches
above the forests of Daiset-
suzan National Park on the
Japanese island of Hokkaido.
The tallest mountain on the
island, Asahi Dake is called
the “roof of Hokkaido.”
The Ural owl is one of the
Siberian flying squirrel’s
primary predators in
Japan. Scanning treetops
for rodents, these birds
keep the squirrel popula-
tion in check.
Reindeer lichen—an
organism made up of
algae and fungi—covers
the boreal forest floor. It’s
a favorite winter snack of
many animals, including
sika deer.
Munching their way through
the forest, sika deer—which
live in various forests in
Japan—spread seeds for
grass as they move. The
grassy areas support more
tree growth.
You asked what else is
in this boreal habitat:
FOREST LIFE
Siberian
flying
squirrels
can glide
as far as
500 feet.
Baby flying
squirrels like
this one are
called kits.