As the temperature begins to drop and the leaves float to the ground, nature is preparing for winter in many ways. Some animals are migrating south, others are beginning to hibernate, and some are putting on extra fat for warmth. Humans are also preparing for the cold times ahead.

One way some animals deal with winter is to leave. There are about 150 species of birds in North America that breed here and winter in Central and South America and the West Indies. The four main north-south migration routes, or "flyaways" in North America are the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific routes. Some of these migrants fly at night, particularly the smaller ones. It is a breathtaking sight to see the dark figures of a flock of birds migrating at night against the moonlight.

For an animal to survive in winter, it must be able to find food, keep its torso above freezing, and maintain that warmth. Some animals shiver to produce heat. The chickadee may shiver continuously throughout the winter. Feathers are good insulators because they help the birds trap warm air around their skin.

Other animals prepare for winter by getting out of the cold. Not all animals are true hibernators, but the groundhog, also known as the ‘whistle-pig’, or the ‘woodchuck’, is an exception. The groundhogs eat enough all summer long to have fat reserves for the winter. They do not store food in their burrow so they have to eat enough to sustain them throughout the winter. Deep in their burrows, which is a system of tunnels and chambers, the groundhogs are rolled into a tight ball with their head between their hind limbs. They will stay like this for about six months. A groundhog’s body temp erature is normally around 99 degrees Fahrenheit, but when it’s hibernating, its temperature drops to around 43 - 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Its breathing and heartrate slow as well.

Raccoons do not hibernate, but may have periods of inactivity during the winter. They may stay denned up during a deep snow and their fat reserves will sustain them for a short time. If it is a warm sunny day, they may climb high into a tree, rest, and take in the warm sunshine. Raccoons do not usually use the same dens every night; they may den near the ground or in a tree. They may use a den that was previously occupied by a skunk or an opossum.

Insects have several ways of defeating the cold. Some insects have mastered ‘supercooling’ the water in their cells and blood. They remain absolutely motionless and the liquid in their body slows slowly and carefully. Therefore, it does not start the crystallization process that promotes freezing. However, it you were to touch or move a supercooled insect, it might instantly freeze solid. Other insects synthesize and concentrate an antifreeze called glycerol, which lowers the freezing point of water. Another method some insects have developed as a defense against the cold is to produce heat in the abdomen. Honeybees act together to generate heat. In the core of the colony, the bees are producing heat and rotating with the bees on the edge of the core. It is fascinating how insects have adapted to surviving winter conditions.

To plants, winter is a time of drought. The leaf is the center of food production. With the lower temperatures of falling winter, the food manufacturing process stops or becomes less efficient. In temperate climates, the deciduous plants drop their leaves in the fall, and the point of attachment, called the ‘leaf scar,’ is sealed with a corky layer to protect it. Above that leaf scar are next year’s leaves and flowers. The evergreens, however, keep their needles throughout the winter because they can conserve water in their needles which have a waxy coating to seal in the moisture and shed the weight of the snow. The pine trees have existed since before the dinosaurs and provide important food for the wildlife. Many birds and small mammals feed on the white pine’s nutritious seeds. Larger mammals feed on the foliage and the bark. These evergreen trees keep their color in our winters.

Humans also prepare for winter. We pull out our warm coats and sweaters, put our storm windows up, cut firewood, and winterize our vehicles with new tires and antifreeze. Humans utilize many aspects of nature in our winter rituals. We love Christmas time, with our white pine or spruce Christmas trees and holly and mistletoes decorations. How many of us have a garland of real or wooden red berries on our fireplace mantel or Christmas tree, or have a cardinal or bear ornament inner house? We bring into our home these aspects of nature because they represent peace and beauty.

All of nature, including us, has adapted in some way to surviving and preparing for the seasonal changes. Winter is a time for meditation and change, not gloom. So put your warm sweater on, light a fire in the fireplace, heat up some tasty hot chocolate, grab a good book, and enjoy what winter has to offer.