Peter the porcupine introduces his best friend Ralph the rabbit. They like to play hide and seek in the forest, but must be careful of Bernard the bear, who may eat rabbits if there is no other food available. If Bernard eats some rabbits, it helps maintain the balance of rabbits and available food in the forest, allowing Peter and Ralph to keep playing together safely.

1. By Lauren Gier and Becca Burt

2. Hi I’m Peter the Porcupine! I live in the forest!

3. This is my best friend, Ralph the Rabbit.

4. We like to play hide and seek in the forest! Where did Ralph go?

5. But we always have to be careful!

6. Sometimes there is danger in the forest!

7. Like Bernard the Bear!!!

8. If he gets hungry and there are berries around, it’s okay.

9. But if there aren’t any berries…we have to run away! 

10. If Bernard and his bear friends don’t take any rabbits they will reach their carrying capacity, which is when there are too many of them.

11. If there were a lot of rabbits in the forest, then there wouldn’t be enough food for all of them.

12. If there is not enough food for all of the rabbits then Ralph would have to move.

13. Sometimes it is a good thing for Bernard to take rabbits.

14. Now Ralph and I can play forever and ever!