Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-12-05
Wild NJ imals in Winter.

The month has come when those of
earth's creatures which know not the use
of fire must make their preparations for
winter il they would survive it's hard
ships. They are confronted with prob
lens which. if they are not already
solved. must he attended Ia AT once. In
most cases their problems are those Of
food and shelter; sometimes one. some
times, both, or course, the question Of
protection also comes up, and although
this Is always before them, i'll some cases,
AT least, u requires q special answer in
winter. For this reason the f." If the
Canadian hare, the ermine ami some
other mammals, and the plumage of the
white-tailed ptarmigan, change from the
brown color of summer 10 pure white,
making them practically invisible in the
snow Then in order that they may
travel more easily over snow-covered
ground. the feet Of many animals are
subject to peculiar notifications at this
season.
As We all know. horny fringcs grow
upon the toes of grouse, the houfs of GER
tain deer become broader. and the feet
Of rabbits become wide, hairy pads But
these latter advantages. derived from
change OF color or growth peculiar TO the
season. are attained without any effort
on the part of the crea tures themselves.
In order TO obtain food and shelter for
the winter however. some animals are
obliged to make active preparation.
Perhaps the best-kuown example Of
such preparation is tidt If the beavers
winch first make pond by damming u
stream WIKI trees. brush stones ami
mud, and then. in the pond thus ,aade
erect stanch nuts whose roofs are well
above the water and whose doorways are
well below it. Here they spend the win
tIft mo ant e t,g
search of aquatic roots, or the bark of
trees and bushes growing near the water
or. when other food fails them. eating
the bark of sapHngS carried 10 the bot
tom of the pond and stored away near
their huls in the autumn. Unfortunate
~. few of us ever get a chance to see
either of these animals or their works
for not only have the beavers been al.
most exterminated. but those which still
survive often spend their winters in
holes IN the banks of streams. afraid To
make a dam or rear Il hut lest il he the
signal for n massacre.
We can, however. get some idea Of the
beavers natural preparation for winter
by watching the muskrats which have
somewhat similar habits. The mHSkrat
makes 40 dam. but chooses for the site
Of his winter home pond already in
existence. Here he builds hut or lodge
en- the same general plan as The beaver =
but much smaller. The material used
III its construction is usually that which
Is easiest 10 obtain sticks, leaves moss
grass. and the stems OF bulrushcs. being
among the materials | have seen used
by~this animal. As rar as / know. musk
rats lay np no food for the winter. hnt
depend entirely upon what they can pick
MP from day to day. Like the beavers
they are partial TO the roots Of aquatic
plants, and fragments of these are often
seen beneath the ice. where they have
hoated from the spot where some raj
has been at work. Muskrats also go
ont into the fieldS through holes in the
ice 70 eat any winter apples they may
find Under the trees. or to CLEAN corn or
other grain which, may have been left
by the farmers They occupy their well
built houses chiefly in the daytime
The Little Chief Hare or Plea Of the
west is another Of or pr0yident Will
creatures. This little fellow Is appar-
emily related Ia the rabbits on one side
aud to the rats ON the other. Pleas live
on tie slopes Of the mountains. where
~ hslcs and crcyiceS among the rocks
and bouldeTs they find safe retrentS
They are most industrious. and spend
much time in gathering mountain plants
which they pile into "haysfackS' for
their use ia the winter.
II would probably be difficult ~ men
ton more provdcni animal than the
common cbipmunk, which for months
now has been carrying into his long
winding. underground tunnel a store Of
nuts. grains and seeds ~ different kind
which would probably last him for two
winters If there should h. famine ncxt
year
The rcd and the gray squirrels too.
have been busy collecting nuts for soy
efal weeks past. and many are The plies
of sllellbaiks and buttcruuts hidden away
in hollow trees. old woodclluck burrows.
and nndcr PROSTATE logs IN the woods.
But these creatures are not nearly 80 DE-
pendent On their winter stores as tiie
eiiipmrnk i. for red and gray squirrels
are abroad more or less all winter. while
the little hackhee sticks 10 bis den from
fall until spring
Tic wo01chuck works on q different
PLAN lie stufs himself al spring sum