Nature Norm explores how wildlife survives extreme winter conditions

Steinbach Online, written by Darci Wilkinson Tuesday, December 17, 2024
https://www.steinbachonline.com/articles/nature-norm-explores-how-wildlife-survives-extreme-winter-conditions-

More Adventures with Nature Norm is coming up this weekend, learning about prairie species winter adaptations.

Norm Gregoire from Shared Legacy says during a cold snap with heavy snow, like last week, we must remember that most of us have warm homes to return to and can easily prepare meals.

“But every other species out there is going to have to find some way to survive these extreme temperatures. We’re talking about temperatures we get out here in the negative 40s with the wind chill and snowstorms and everything.”

He says the idea of the adaptations our species has developed to survive in these climates and conditions is incredibly fascinating.

A common way people think about species surviving the winter is through migration, similar to how snowbirds head south to escape the cold.

“It’s easier for them to spend the calories flying out to search for warmer weather, so that’s a really easy one.”

On last month’s adventure, Norm talked about bears and the idea of winter torpor or hibernation.

“There are all sorts of species that do these sorts of winter dormancy periods, it’s not just bears, it’s not just small mammals,” says Norm. “We don’t think of it, but what about species-at-risk like snapping turtles or northern leopard frogs? Do they survive the winter? A snapping turtle sure doesn’t migrate hundreds of miles south. That would take them a long time.”

He shares that they enter into something called a brumation, which is a reptile or amphibian version of hibernation.

Norm continues, “What about the species that we see commonly throughout the winter? All these different hearty birds that we have, well, they have nice downy feathers.”

The more common large animal we see is a whitetail deer and Norm says they are surviving the cold by making sure they have a nice layer of fat, an insulating layer.

The event is taking place this Saturday, December 21 from 10 am to 12 pm at The Weston Family Tall Grass Interpretive Centre, and Norm says they will have some time exploring outside but then head inside for the rest of the presentation.

“With these weather conditions, as hardy as we are here in the southeast, to spend a full two hours outside might be a bit of an ask.”

Norm adds that he actually loves the colder weather and adventuring through the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve and any wooded area during winter.

“It is much quieter, and you just hear a lot more as well. It’s a totally different experience out there and I think it’s easier for people to come and get out in warmer weather, but for me personally, it’s just so beautiful in the winter, it’s so pristine looking, with all that beautiful fresh snow.”