Winter Adjustments.....

- We often cope with winter by turning on the heat within our homes, building a fire, or adding clothing when outside. Many reduce the time spent outdoors...while others prefer the cool to cold conditions for hiking, camping, and enjoying the outdoors. Ever wonder how the fauna cope with winter conditions? A few thoughts.......

- The Whitetail Deer (bottom photo) cope by adding insulating layers of fat, especially along the backbone, during the fall. Also, their coat becomes thicker and the dense hairs of the integument (air filled) are excellent insulators. This explains why we often see snow accumulating on the backs of the deer. These factors are especially pronounced in the northern states as well as The Rockies, where the winter conditions are more harsh than the temperate Southeast.

- The Bobwhite (top two photos...look closely) is well insulated as well..... with overlappping layers of down covered by the well insulated primary feathers. This covey was photographed recently in Stone Creek.

- Snakes, being cold-blooded, are driven below ground in autumn. They congregate in large groups, with several species present, often beneath rocks and rock ledges.... on hillsides with southern exposure. Lizards follow a similar adjustment cycle.

- Many species of birds, though warm blooded, migrate.....some only to the Gulf Coast, Florida, or Texas...while other species migrate all the way to Latin America or South America. Other species stay with us year round.....species such as Chickadees, Titmice, Cardinals, and various species of woodpeckers.

- Woodchucks, though a warm blooded mammal (Order Rodentia), makes quite an adjustment as well, similar to the Black Bear. Woodchucks gorge in the autumn...vegetation (they love clover), grasses, corn, or whatever they can find. In mid-autumn, as the temperatures lower, the 'chuck goes underground (burrows may be 30+' feet...with a defecation chamber/sleeping chamber) and becomes dormant for long periods of time. The heartbeat of the 'chuck may go from the 90s/min to less than 5/min. Internal body temperature falls from the 90s to around 40 F. Like Ursus americanus (the Black Bear), the Woodchuck, in abnormally warm winter weather, may emerge from the den for a look around....only to return when the weather cools. Interestingly, mating usually occurs in February, when one would suppose they are still mostly inactive. Also, Groundhog Day (February 2) is not, as legend might suggest, the day the Woodchucks become active. In fact, it is usually later, especially in the northern climes.