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Be warned! There are devils living in Tasmania! These devils aren't after your soul, though. They are small animals living on the island of Tasmania - southeast of Australia. Their bad tempers and loud screams led European settlers to call them devils. When fighting for a mate or a meal, they bare their teeth, lunge at each other, and growl wildly. The inside of their ears turns bright red!

Tasmanian devils are mammals. They have black fur. Sometimes, they have white patches around their chests and rumps. Tasmanian devils are stocky animals with a shape similar to a baby bear. They weigh from nine to twenty-six pounds. Adults grow to twenty to thirty inches long. Devils are the largest meat-eating marsupials. Marsupials are mammals, too. A female Tasmanian devil gives birth to about thirty babies. The babies are about as big as raisins and are called joeys. Each joey must climb into its mother's pouch. She only has four nipples. The first four joeys to make it into the pouch will live. The others will die. She carries the joeys inside her pouch for several more months. Kangaroos, koalas, and wombats are also marsupials.

Tasmanian devils eat small animals like fish, snakes, and birds. They often eat dead animals, or carrion, too. They have powerful jaws and sharp teeth. They eat everything - hair, bones, and all! When white settlers came to Tasmania, they blamed the devils for killing their farm animals. Hunting nearly wiped out devils from Tasmania. Finally, help came in 1941. The Australian government passed a law to protect Tasmanian devils. Tasmanian devils enjoyed a healthy comeback. In the last decade, a deadly disease has been killing tens of thousands of the devils. They may become extinct if not protected.

How are Tasmanian Devils similar to kangaroos?
1. They are both the same size.
2. They have the same number of babies.
3. They are both marsupials.
4. They are both found in Australia
Which of the following would be unusual?
1. A Tasmanian Devil with black fur.
2. A Tasmanian Devil that weighed 50 pounds.
3. A Tasmanian Devil with black spots on their chests.
4. An adult Tasmanian Devil that measured 25 inches long.
Check all that are TRUE.

Tasmanian Devils...
1. are the largest marsupials.
2. are related wo wombats.
3. are very common.
4. eat mostly plants.
Which of the following best describe the situation that joeys are born into?
1. Most will survive.
2. About half will survive.
3. Most will venture out on their own soon after birth.
4. A few will survive.
Which of the following would most likely be something that early White settlers would say about Tasmanian Devils?
1. These animals are helpful because they eat so much carrion.
2. These animals must be killed because there are too many of them.
3. These animals must be killed so we have food to eat.
4. These animals must be killed because they are eating our farm animals.
What is the latest threat to Tasmanian Devils?
1. overhunting
2. habitat loss
3. predators
4. disease
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
1. Baby bears are stocky in shape.
2. Tasmanian Devils will likely make a comeback in population.
3. Tasmanian Devils will probably spread to mainland Australia and beyond.
4. Tasmanian Devils will never be protected and will become extinct.