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January has arrived, bringing with it snow and ever lengthening days! While much of nature is taking a rest, many animals are still active throughout the winter months. It is often difficult to spot these animals but signs of their activity are all around. Take a walk on a clear snowy day and look for these animal clues:
Tracks
Animals leave tracks year-round but with a cover of snow on the ground these tracks stand out. Try identifying the tracks by the shape and the walking pattern. There are four common pattern movements: walking/trotting (dog, cat and deer families), galloping (mice, squirrels and rabbits), bounding (weasel, mink, otter) or waddling (raccoons, porcupines, bears). Guess what the animal was doing when they made the tracks. See how long you can follow the trail. Then try making your own tracks in the snow.
Food
Food can be difficult to find in the winter. Many omnivorous animals that prefer meat in other seasons, such as foxes, will rely on a diet of fruits and berries in the winter. Search for plants such as wild barberry, juniper, and russian olive, all of which have winter berries. Look for evidence of a munching animal, such as remants of fruit or a picked over bush. Try collecting your own berries and leaving them for a hungry animal to munch on.
Homes
Many New England mammals, such as chipmunks, skunks or raccoons, survive the winter by going through periods of dormancy. During these periods their body processes slow down to conserve energy. The animal will become active periodically to find food and water and then become dormant again. Having a safe and protected home is especially important for these sleepy animals. Search high and low for places where a dormant animal might be sleeping. Holes in trees or logs, or burrows in the ground are good starting places. Investigate closely to look for animal fur, tracks or food debris near the entrance.
After all this searching, you might be ready to take a hibernation nap too. Happy exploring!
Tracks
Animals leave tracks year-round but with a cover of snow on the ground these tracks stand out. Try identifying the tracks by the shape and the walking pattern. There are four common pattern movements: walking/trotting (dog, cat and deer families), galloping (mice, squirrels and rabbits), bounding (weasel, mink, otter) or waddling (raccoons, porcupines, bears). Guess what the animal was doing when they made the tracks. See how long you can follow the trail. Then try making your own tracks in the snow.
Food
Food can be difficult to find in the winter. Many omnivorous animals that prefer meat in other seasons, such as foxes, will rely on a diet of fruits and berries in the winter. Search for plants such as wild barberry, juniper, and russian olive, all of which have winter berries. Look for evidence of a munching animal, such as remants of fruit or a picked over bush. Try collecting your own berries and leaving them for a hungry animal to munch on.
Homes
Many New England mammals, such as chipmunks, skunks or raccoons, survive the winter by going through periods of dormancy. During these periods their body processes slow down to conserve energy. The animal will become active periodically to find food and water and then become dormant again. Having a safe and protected home is especially important for these sleepy animals. Search high and low for places where a dormant animal might be sleeping. Holes in trees or logs, or burrows in the ground are good starting places. Investigate closely to look for animal fur, tracks or food debris near the entrance.
After all this searching, you might be ready to take a hibernation nap too. Happy exploring!
Resting in January
Nature@Home
