How Woolly Mammoths Survived the Ice Age

by Bruno Torres, age 8

One of the largest creatures to roam Earth thousands of years ago was the woolly mammoth. Woolly mammoths used their large tusks to fend off predators and find food underneath the snow. These creatures roamed across North America, Europe, and Asia and their diet consisted of many plant leaves and tree branches.

The woolly mammoth roamed the Earth from about 300,000 years ago until around 1650 B.C. They traveled in herds of about 15 individuals; the herd consisted of female and young mammoths. The male mammoths left their herd at an early age.

To survive very cold temperatures, as low as minus 58°F, mammoths had a lot of fur and small ears similar to camels. Mammoths also had a hump on their back. If there was little to no food, mammoths used the fat stored in their back for energy.

Although they are extinct, woolly mammoths are fascinating creatures to study and there is still more to learn about these animals along with the environment and periods they once lived.

[Source: National Geographic]