Animals: they’re just like us! All mammals—including humans—use a combination of strategies to get through the long, cold winter.
We scarf calories; they scarf calories
Groundhogs plump up ahead of hibernation; they gain a layer of fat up to two centimetres thick. Wolves would rather eat fresh kills, but they’ll rely on frozen deer or moose carcasses if necessary.
We sleep more; they sleep more
According to research, humans, on average, sleep more each night during the winter because of changes in sunlight and temperature. And even though not all animals hibernate, species such as chipmunks enter a state of “torpor” (inactivity) for chunks of time. Their body temperature drops and their metabolic rate slows.
We bundle up; they bundle up
Both Arctic foxes and least weasels get a heavier fur coat for the winter. When resting, the Arctic fox wraps itself in its long, bushy tail for extra warmth. Deer mice, meanwhile, don’t grow a thick coat, but they do snuggle up in fur- or feather-lined nests when it’s time to snooze.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2024 issue of Cottage Life.
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