How do wild animals survive in winter?
- Moira Rosser-Peterson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
~wildlife education~
In the dead of winter, most of us are lucky to have heated homes and warm clothes to keep us cozy, but how do wild animals survive in frigid conditions?
Photo credit: istock.com/ Byrdyak
Many animals hibernate or go into “winter sleep”. During hibernation, an animal appears to be dead and its heart rate and body temperature and movements slow down. Creatures like the jumping mouse, little brown bat, and some species of ground squirrels are true hibernators.
Hibernators have regular white fat and special brown fat around the animal’s brain, heart and lungs that sends a quick burst of energy to the vital organs to let the animal know when it’s time to wake up.
Bears do not actually hibernate; instead they go into torpor. Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually marked by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. Bears, raccoons, and skunks are all "light hibernators" that use torpor to survive the winter. What is unique about bears is that they may not eat, drink, urinate or defecate for up to six months during their winter sleep.
Most B.C. black and brown bears den for four to six months every year, entering the den in November or December and emerging in March or April. However, Vancouver Island bears may sleep for a much shorter time as our climate tends to be more temperate.
During torpor, the animal can wake up quickly to avoid danger, defend its territory or if there is an opportunity to feed.
Hummingbirds and the little brown bat practice another type of hibernation -- they become dormant during the day to conserve energy. They may not have consumed enough food to get through the day, so their systems just shut down.
Brumation is another form of becoming dormant; it is hibernation for reptiles and amphibians. Ectothermic or “cold-blooded” animals such as fish, frogs, snakes and turtles burrow themselves in the mud or under leaves and rocks in the winter. Insects find shelter in holes in the ground, under the bark of trees or inside rotting logs.
You can help wildlife in your garden by leaving leaves on the ground to provide coverage for small creatures. And a heated bird bath can be a vital source of drinking water.
You can learn more about wild animals by visiting the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.
You can help the wildlife in care at NIWRA by making a financial contribution on our secure website. Thank you so much for caring about wildlife!
