~wildlife education~ A bear’s winter den. Photo credit: istock.com/ Gennaro Leonardi How do wild animals survive in winter when the weather turns cold and natural food sources are scarce? Many animals hibernate or go into “winter sleep”. During hibernation, an animal’s heart rate and body temperature and movements slow down. Unlike many small mammals, bears do not actually hibernate; instead, they go into torpor, which is a state of decreased physiological activity, usua

~wildlife education~ Deer have microbes in their stomachs that help them digest coarse food such as lichen. If rich foods like alfalfa or apples are introduced to these microbes, it can cause bloat and may lead to the death of the animal. It’s best not to feed wild deer in the winter unless you have small amounts of local hay to offer. istock.com/GarysFRP Anna’s Hummingbirds don’t migrate in the winter; they become dormant daily to conserve energy, entering a state of torpo

~wildlife education~ We have our homes with heating and cooling systems to help us cope with temperature extremes, but how do wild...