Summary
Many animals are active all winter in our area, although they may be evident only by their tracks and droppings. At FortWhyte Alive, there are signs of coyotes, fox, deer, mink, fisher, weasels, muskrats, voles, shrews, squirrels and cottontail rabbits. The different habitat at Oak Hammock Marsh, where you'll also find coyotes, weasels, mink and muskrats, is home to otters, snowshoe hares and jack rabbits.
Barret Miller, special projects interpreter at FortWhyte Alive, explains that some mammals will go into torpor to conserve energy. Torpor is a "super nap" that can last from a couple of days to a few weeks. Squirrels, skunks and raccoons are super nappers, getting up periodically for more food. Chickadees go into a 'mini' torpor every night. Their metabolism and body temperature drops to conserve energy as they sleep.See the full content of this document
Extract
Surviving Winter with Feathers and Fur
By Jane Stewart
PACK on a layer of fat, add extra fur or feathers, eat non-stop all day and you'll survive the winter. These strateg...See the full content of this document
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