Winter
in many parts of the world is extremely severe and the temperature is
even below freezing levels. People live in warm houses and wear heavy
coats outside. But what happens to the animals?
MIGRATE
Animals do many different, amazing things to get through the winter.
Some of them "migrate." This means they travel to other places where the
weather is warmer or they can find food.
Many birds migrate in the fall. Because the trip can be dangerous,
some travel in large flocks. For example, geese fly in noisy, "V"-shaped
groups. Other kinds of birds fly alone.
How do they know when it is time to leave for the winter? Scientists
are still studying this. Many see migration as part of a yearly cycle of
changes a bird goes through. The cycle is controlled by changes in the
amount of daylight and the weather.
Birds can fly very long distances. For example, the Arctic tern nests
close to the North Pole in the summer. In autumn, it flys south all the
way to Antarctica. Each spring it returns north again.
Most birds migrate shorter distances. But how do they find their way
to the same place each year? Birds seem to navigate like sailors once
did, using the sun, moon and stars for direction. They also seem to have
a compass in their brain for using the Earth's magnetic field.
Other animals migrate, too. There are a few mammals, like some bats,
caribou and elk, and whales that travel in search of food each winter.
Many fish migrate. They may swim south, or move into deeper, warmer
water.
Insects also migrate. Some butterflies and moths fly very long
distances. For example, Monarch butterflies spend the summer in Canada
and the Northern U.S. They migrate as far south as Mexico for the
winter. Most migrating insects go much shorter distances. Many, like
termites and Japanese beetles, move downward into the soil. Earthworms
also move down, some as far as six feet below the surface.
ADAPT
Some animals remain and stay active in the winter. They must adapt to
the changing weather. Many make changes in their behavior or bodies. To
keep warm, animals may grow new, thicker fur in the fall. On weasels
and snowshoe rabbits, the new fur is white to help them hide in the
snow.
Food is hard to find in the winter. Some animals, like squirrels,
mice and beavers, gather extra food in the fall and store it to eat
later. Some, like rabbits and deer, spend winter looking for moss,
twigs, bark and leaves to eat. Other animals eat different kinds of food
as the seasons change. The red fox eats fruit and insects in the
spring, summer and fall. In the winter, it can not find these things, so
instead it eats small rodents.
Animals may find winter shelter in holes in trees or logs, under
rocks or leaves, or underground. Some mice even build tunnels through
the snow. To try to stay warm, animals like squirrels and mice may
huddle close together.
Certain spiders and insects may stay active if they live in
frost-free areas and can find food to eat. There are a few insects, like
the winter stone fly, crane fly, and snow fleas, that are normally
active in winter. Also, some fish stay active in cold water during the
winter.
Source: quraaniclessons.com
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