Jeffrey Salazar
Many animals change their diet in the winter, as food is harder to find. Some animals, like squirrels, mice, and beavers, gather extra food in the fall and store it to eat later. Other animals, such as marmots, brown bears, and black bears, build up fat deposits to use as energy while hibernating during the winter. Migration is another strategy used by some animals to escape the cold and find better access to food.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet change | Animals eat more during winter to survive |
| Animals that live outdoors require more calories | |
| Animals that hibernate eat more during the fall and store it as body fat | |
| Some animals store food for later in the winter | |
| Migration | Migration is stressful for animals |
| Migration requires a lot of energy | |
| Migration leads to competition for resources | |
| Hibernation | Bears, skunks, chipmunks, bats, groundhogs, and some rodent species hibernate |
| Hibernation is a state of long-term dormancy or inactivity | |
| Animals curl up into a tight ball to keep warm | |
| Body temperature, heart rate, and respiration decrease | |
| Some animals enter a state of "torpor", or short-term inactivity | |
| Colour change | Snowshoe hares, weasels, arctic foxes, and ptarmigans change colour from brown to white |
| The white colour provides camouflage in the snow | |
| The new fur or feathers are thicker and act as better insulators |
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What You'll Learn
Migration to escape harsh winters
Migration is a strategy used by many animals to escape harsh winters and survive. It is a seasonal movement from one habitat to another, often triggered by changes in daylight duration and temperature. For example, animals like ducks, geese, and birds migrate to areas with open water and warmer climates to meet their food and safety needs. Nectar-eating birds, such as hummingbirds, also migrate as flowers become scarce in winter.
In warmer regions, like Michigan, certain animals migrate during the colder months. For instance, birds such as pine siskins, dark-eyed juncos, snow buntings, and crossbills are only seen in Michigan during the winter, having migrated from even colder regions further north. Reptiles and amphibians, being cold-blooded, cannot survive cold weather and thus migrate vertically, burying themselves in mud or deep underground.
In Tanzania, wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles migrate in large herds to find fresh grass and water, which are scarce during the dry season. Humpback whales migrate for similar reasons, travelling to polar waters in the summer for feeding and returning to warmer waters in the winter to raise their calves.
Monarch butterflies provide another illustration of migration to escape harsh winters. Unable to survive freezing temperatures, they migrate long distances, such as from Canada to Mexico, to keep warm during the winter.
Migration offers survival benefits, particularly during harsh and prolonged winters. Migratory animals may have higher survival rates compared to residents, as they can escape adverse conditions and take advantage of better breeding opportunities in new territories.
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Hibernation to survive cold temperatures
Hibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species to survive the cold winter months. It is characterised by low body temperature, slow breathing and heart rate, and a low metabolic rate. This state of 'torpor' is not exactly sleep, but animals are not exactly awake either. They periodically 'wake up' from hibernation, possibly to catch up on slow-wave sleep.
Hibernation is a way for animals to conserve energy and survive adverse weather conditions and lack of food. To prepare, animals in the wild eat extra food in the fall and store it as body fat to use as energy while hibernating. Some also store food like nuts or acorns to eat later in the winter. Animals that hibernate include bears, skunks, chipmunks, bats, hedgehogs, hamsters, squirrels, and some birds like the tawny frogmouth.
Reptiles also hibernate, deliberately cooling their internal body temperatures. Reptiles trigger their own hibernation through their behaviour, seeking out colder temperatures based on an internal clock. This is known as brumation and helps them survive colder conditions, increasing their survival rates and slowing aging.
Hibernation is especially common among smaller animals, as it is one of the only survival strategies available to them. Migration is not an option for these tiny creatures, and they are more susceptible to losing heat from their skin. Curling up into a ball helps to reduce their surface area and minimise heat loss.
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Hunting strategies for prey under snow
Winter is a challenging time for animals, especially those living outdoors. They need to adapt to the cold and the lack of food. Many animals change their diet in winter, eating more to survive and adjusting their food intake according to their lifestyle. Some animals, like squirrels, mice, and beavers, gather and store food in the fall to eat later. Others, like rabbits and deer, resort to eating moss, twigs, bark, and leaves.
For predators, winter offers a unique opportunity to scout and hunt prey. Snowy conditions reveal hunting patterns and preferred prey types, helping hunters predict where predators will be. Coyotes and foxes, for example, exhibit different behaviours during winter, adapting to the challenges of colder temperatures. Their food sources may be covered by snow, making the hunt for food more urgent.
When it comes to hunting strategies for prey under snow, here are some specific approaches:
- Sound attraction: Using electronic calls to replicate distressed prey sounds can be very effective in attracting predators within range, especially after a snowfall when silence prevails. This technique is commonly used for predator scouting and calling, allowing hunters to observe wildlife without disrupting their natural behaviour.
- Hearing: Predators such as owls, foxes, and coyotes have excellent hearing. They listen carefully for faint sounds, such as squeaks and movements, under the snow before ambushing their prey. Red foxes, in particular, can detect very low-frequency sounds, enabling them to locate rodents beneath several feet of snow.
- Magnetic field navigation: Scientists believe that foxes may use the Earth's magnetic field to their advantage when hunting. As a fox follows the sound of its prey, it aims to find the "sweet spot" where the sound aligns with the planet's magnetic field, allowing for precise distance calculation for the attack.
- Diving technique: Foxes are known for their unique hunting style, often jumping high and then diving headfirst into the snow to catch their prey. This technique, called "mousing," showcases the agility and adaptability of foxes in winter conditions.
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Dietary changes for indoor/outdoor pets
As the temperature drops and daylight hours wane, you may wonder if your pet's diet needs to change. The answer depends on where you live, the type of winter weather you experience, and how much time your pet spends outdoors. If you live in a region with mild winters and your pet lives indoors, you likely won't need to adjust their diet, provided their activity level remains consistent. However, if your pet spends a significant amount of time outdoors or lives outdoors year-round, you may need to make some dietary adjustments.
For outdoor pets, the harsh winter temperatures can lead to increased calorie consumption as they burn more energy to maintain their body temperature. The recommended caloric intake for animals spending the cold season outdoors may need to double or even triple. Additionally, the metabolism of outdoor pets changes, and they rely more on fat deposits for energy. Therefore, increasing the fat content in their meals during winter is advisable.
On the other hand, indoor pets may experience a decrease in activity levels during winter as owners become less inclined to venture outdoors for walks or playtime. As a result, indoor pets may consume less energy, and continuing with the same diet could lead to weight gain. In such cases, you may need to reduce their caloric intake or ensure they receive adequate exercise, even if it's indoors.
It's important to note that every pet is unique, and the best approach is to tailor their diet to their specific needs. Consult with your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, especially if your pet has underlying health conditions. Additionally, ensure that your pet always has access to fresh, unfrozen water, preferably in a non-metallic bowl to prevent rapid cooling and freezing.
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Animals that store food for winter
Many animals store food to prepare for the winter months when food is scarce. This is especially true for animals that live outdoors, as they need to increase their caloric intake during winter to survive.
Squirrels are well-known for hoarding food. Red and grey squirrels store acorns or hazelnuts in tree hollows, also known as "acorn larders". They also scatterhoard acorns and other nuts close to trees. Squirrels may also store fungi in tree branches, which can last through the winter after drying out.
Other rodents that store food include chipmunks, hamsters, mice, and beavers. The eastern chipmunk of North America gathers seeds and other foods to store in its burrow, which can be over 10 feet long. Ground squirrels, groundhogs, and mice also use this method. Beavers store food to eat later in the winter.
Some birds, like jays, also scatterhoard acorns and beechmast, often at a considerable distance from trees. The acorn woodpecker of western North America stores nuts in "granary trees". They drill holes in the thick bark of dead tree limbs and wedge nuts inside, making it difficult for other animals to steal them.
Insects also store food for the winter. Honeypot ants store honey in "living storage kegs" for their colony. They hang from the ceiling and store food across seasons or even years. Ants also stockpile shelf-stable foods like seeds in their nests.
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Frequently asked questions
Animals have different ways of preparing for winter. Some animals migrate to warmer places, while others hibernate or enter a state of torpor, a short-term inactivity. Many animals also build up fat reserves to survive the winter. Some animals like squirrels, beavers, and mice, gather extra food in the fall and store it to eat later.
Black bears, skunks, bats, groundhogs, and some rodent species like the meadow jumping mouse hibernate during winter.
Many animals migrate to escape the harsh winter. Some examples of migratory animals are Clark's Nutcracker, elk, and mule deer. Winged species like songbirds, waterfowl, some bat species, and monarch butterflies migrate south during the winter.
Animals that live mostly indoors do not need a change in their diet. However, animals that spend most of their time outdoors need to increase their caloric intake. For example, the red fox eats fruit and insects during the warmer months but switches to eating small rodents in the winter.
Some animals change their appearance during the winter to better adapt to their environment. For example, the snowshoe hare, weasels, arctic foxes, and ptarmigans change their fur or feathers from brown to white, providing better insulation and camouflage in the snow.
