70 Fun-Tastic Facts About Animals That Adapt In Winter

As soon as the winter months arrive, we start to see numerous changes around us. 

When the temperatures drop, the days grow shorter and animals migrate to warmer places. In fact, these animals change their ways of living to cope with the winter months. 

Animals, as we all know, cannot dress warmly when the seasons change or the temperature drops.This is the reason why animals hibernate, animals change their adaptations, some move to a warmer place and so much more. All these things are just to make those animals survive in those cold winter months. As not all species can survive in the winter season, they are only left with three options: hibernate, migrate, and adapt. So, now if you are inquisitive enough to know more about these cold-weather animals and how they adapt to the environment, then this article will inform you about it all. 

If you found this article interesting, then you might also like to read about evolution and inheritance and 103 cold puns that are cool as ice.

Animals That Adapt In Winter

Animals that survive the winter require more oxygen and energy when compared to other animals. A few of the animals that easily adjust their body temperature as per the situation of the cold weather are squirrels, arctic foxes, white-tailed deer, polar bears, bats, snowshoe hare, reindeer, and many more cold-blooded animals. All these animals eat and survive by adapting to the environment when winter arrives. 

In addition to the above-mentioned animals, more species adapt to the winter weather very easily. These include crane flies, salmon, beaver, red foxes, dogs, cats, and penguins. All these winter animals stay active throughout the season. Some of them have warmer fur, some of them have thicker coats, and some animals eat food that helps them stay warm. 

How do animals adapt in winter?

When the winter months arrive, animals of different species that survive in the winter start their adaptation process to survive. Different animals adopt different ways to survive the winter season. Most animals adapt to the cold climate by changing their appearance. Some grow soft fur, some may change color, some collect food, and more. Different animals adapt in different ways. 

For example, a snowshoe hare changes its fur color into a white fur coat that is actually warmer than its brown coat. Some animals, like beavers, actually collect extra food so that they can fulfill their food requirements throughout the winter. Other species, like the red fox, find different types of food to eat when the season changes. In short, all the animals have their own ways of adapting to the cold climate. Like birds that fly south because they cannot survive the cold climate, large animals hibernate in their dens or safe houses to stay warm. Just like humans, animals also like warmth, and thus they adapt to it. 

What are winter adaptations? 

Winters are the harshest weather conditions for every organism, be it humans or animals. Plants and animals also sense winter and respond to the weather by adapting to it. That's what we call 'winter adaptation'. There are three ways animals adapt to the winter weather. Those three are hibernation, migration, and adaptation. 

Animals that adapt to different weather conditions stay active during the winter because they know how to survive the cold and snow. Animals know how to respond to their winter season requirements and can plan for their food, energy, warmer water, and other needs. Animals that hibernate during the cold season include black bears, brown bats, and mice. All of these animals go for a deep nap in winter and only come out when the climate gets milder and less wintery. Squirrels, mice, and lizards can be called the true hibernators of the winter season. Another way different plants and insects perform their winter adaptations is by dying. All the insects' eggs hatch, and the adult one actually dies.

Different small birds and animals migrate to warm-climate locations during cold climates. You may not know, but there are some insects like monarch butterflies and dragonflies that also migrate to better climate locations to avoid the icy climate season as it directly affects their heart rate and can lead to their death. 

Physical Changes That Animals Go Through While Adapting

Now we are familiar with the concept that adaptation is a special characteristic of snow animals in winter to survive in a specific habitat. That adaptation could be anything; it could be a body part, a body function, a body covering, or a behavior. However, most of the changes will be physical changes that animals go through when adapting to a specific environment. Those physical adaptations also include the physiological characteristics of the animals that help them survive in an environment. 

While adapting, the body parts of animals go through one of the most significant physical changes in winter. Different types of birds have different types of beaks to survive in specific environments. Like in cold habitats, animals in winter adapt to these physical changes to keep themselves warm and survive the extreme cold. One big example of this could be penguins, which live in the coldest regions. They have special feathers that are tightly packed, which keeps the cold water out and the body heat trapped inside. Another example of an animal that could grow a thicker coat could be the white-tailed deer. They grow a thicker coat with their long hair that gives them insulation against the cold climate. An ermine, a weasel-like animal, actually changes its color to white so that it can blend in with the snow and easily go on food hunts. Some birds fluff up their feathers so that they can have better insulation when the weather gets extremely cold. All these animals are known as hibernating animals.

After reading this article, you might now have realized why those bears hibernate during the cold season, why you see migratory animals going to different places and other animals in winter doing different activities.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for animals that adapt in winter, then why not take a look at evolution and inheritance, or 103 cold puns that are cool as ice.