Jan Latta - Mia the Meerkat

Mia the MEERKAT Come on an great adventure with me and learn about my family TRUE TO LIFE BOOKS Educating children about endangered species
by Jan Latta Hello! My name is Mia
and Im a meerkat. I live in the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa
with my brothers and sisters. Copyright 2010 Jan Latta. Published in Australia by TRUE TO LIFE BOOKS. www.truetolifebooks.com.au All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission from True to Life Books.

ISBN 978-0-9807958-7-5 Our family group is called a gang. We live two metres under the ground
in tunnels called burrows. We have up to 70 different entrances
to our burrows.
This keeps us safe from predators. I help to dig the burrows with my sharp claws. I can close my ears so sand cannot
get in. At night I go down to the bed chamber burrow.
It is a nice warm place where I curl up
with my family and go to sleep. The desert is very cold in the morning.
I sit in the sun to warm my body. When I stand up
I use my tail to balance. We have a lookout guard who keeps us safe
while we hunt for food.
If there is danger he sends out an alarm call. Then we have to run very fast down into our burrow to escape. I can hear and smell an insect under the sand.
I have to dig very fast to try and catch it. I eat insects, ant eggs, worms, crickets,
spiders, small snakes and fruit.
We all help to feed the young babies. I eat insects, ant eggs, worms, crickets,
spiders, small snakes and fruit.
We all help to feed the young babies.

Sometimes I find a poisonous scorpion
under a log. It is my favourite food. My mother taught me how to bite off
its stingers so I dont get stung. After hunting, I like to rest in
the shade with my friends. We groom each other to remove ticks and insects. I have excellent eyesight, hearing
and sense of smell. My front claws are curved and act as shovels when
I dig for food. My front claws are curved and act as shovels when
I dig for food.

My back claws help me to climb trees.