Maybe turn up the thermostat or put another log on the fire. Pretty amazing strategies we've developed to stay warm. Well, lots of them do what lots of us do - they head south. I mean, they just clear out of here, as soon as the weather gets cold. Other animals stick close to home, trying to make it through the winter the best they can.
Problem is, the cold and snow cover eliminate much of the food supply for months.
Searching for scarce food during the few hours of daylight this time of year can burn off more calories than the animal can take in. So hibernation is one special strategy some animals use for winter survival. It involves lowering the body's temperature and slowing the heart rate to conserve energy during times of high stress and scarcity. Monday Many mammals are on the move this time of year - the increasing cold and fewer hours of daylight mean that it's time make plans for winter. Hibernation is a fact of life for many animals during this season, because the cold and snow cover eliminates much of the food supply for months at a time.