The forgotten 'secret city'
Many animals, like bears and groundhogs, hibernate during winter. They slow their metabolism, lower body temperature, and conserve energy while living off stored fat reserves.
Wood frogs survive winter by freezing almost completely. Their bodies produce glucose, which acts like antifreeze, protecting their organs until they thaw in spring.
Birds like geese and monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles to escape harsh winters and find food in warmer regions.
Some animals, such as hummingbirds and bats, enter a state called torpor, a temporary, daily hibernation-like condition. This dramatically reduces their metabolic rate and energy needs, enabling them to survive cold nights with minimal energy expenditure.
Squirrels and chipmunks hoard nuts and seeds in preparation for winter, ensuring they have a steady food supply when resources are scarce.
Many animals, like moles and rabbits, burrow underground to escape freezing temperatures. These shelters provide insulation and protection from predators.
Mammals like foxes and deer grow thicker, insulated fur during winter to retain heat and shield themselves from the cold.
Penguins and bees huddle together in tight groups to share body heat, conserving energy during freezing weather conditions.
Animals like bears and seals bulk up before winter, storing fat to keep them warm and nourished when food is unavailable.
Animals like the Arctic fox and snowshoe hare change fur color to white, blending with snowy surroundings and staying safe from predators.
Some insects, like beetles, avoid freezing by replacing water in their cells with glycerol, which lowers the freezing point of their body fluids.
Deer and elk conserve energy by reducing unnecessary movements and sticking to well-worn paths during deep snow.
Birds like puffins fluff up their feathers to trap warm air close to their bodies, acting as natural insulation.
Some animals, like bears, drastically slow their heart rate during hibernation to conserve energy and reduce calorie consumption.
Turtles and frogs survive in frozen ponds by absorbing oxygen through their skin or slowing their metabolism to live without it.
Voles and mice create tunnels under snow, which acts as an insulating blanket, keeping them warmer than the open air above.
Insects like praying mantises lay eggs in protective cases before winter, ensuring their offspring hatch in favorable conditions.
Animals like walruses have thick skin and a layer of blubber that insulates them against icy waters and freezing winds.
Bats retreat to caves, which provide a stable, above-freezing temperature ideal for hibernation or dormancy.
Arctic foxes curl into compact shapes and use snow as a natural blanket, minimizing heat loss during frigid nights.
Small mammals like squirrels share dens during winter, combining body heat to survive freezing conditions.
Sources: (National Geographic) (Discover Magazine)
See also: These animals travel the furthest
Frogs and toads seek out warm rocks or areas that retain heat to stay active during mild winter days.
Reptiles like snakes brumate—a hibernation-like state where they reduce activity but remain semi-alert to environmental changes.
Ant colonies gather food in advance and work together to ration resources throughout the winter months.
Cold-blooded animals like lizards seek sunny spots to absorb heat and regulate their body temperature during chilly days.
Herbivores, like moose, switch their diet to bark, twigs, and other less nutritious food sources when their usual food sources become unavailable.
Certain fish, like carp, store energy in their livers during autumn, helping them survive when food is scarce.
Sea otters use their dense fur to trap air and wick away water, keeping their skin dry and insulated even in icy seas.
Certain insects, like the monarch butterfly, enter diapause, a suspended developmental stage, to survive freezing temperatures and scarce resources. Triggered by environmental cues like shorter days, diapause helps monarchs endure winter until favorable conditions return.
Winter presents harsh challenges for animals, with freezing temperatures and scarce resources. To endure, they use astonishing survival strategies, from hibernation and migration to unique adaptations like torpor, fur insulation, and diapause. These incredible tactics showcase the animal kingdom's resilience, allowing creatures like bears, hummingbirds, and ants to thrive in extreme conditions.
Click on to discover how animals beat winter's chill!
The surprising strategies animals use to survive the winter
Do you know what wild animals do during the colder months?
LIFESTYLE Wildlife
Winter presents harsh challenges for animals, with freezing temperatures and scarce resources. To endure, they use astonishing survival strategies, from hibernation and migration to unique adaptations like torpor, fur insulation, and diapause. These incredible tactics showcase the animal kingdom's resilience, allowing creatures like bears, hummingbirds, and ants to thrive in extreme conditions.
Click on to discover how animals beat winter's chill!