Where the Books are Based On

One day I was looking at the Warriors official site and I found where the books are set in. The Forest is based on a place called New Forest in England in the county of Hampshire. Because it is in England the cats don't meet elk or raccoons, for those live in North America, and that's why they meet badgers and foxes. But, then the lake and mountains aren't based on anything; the Erin Hunters made it.