Adaptation for New Deep Snow

    For the last two days we have had heavy snowfall. This morning when I looked out there were tracks across my front yard. A deer had waded through the deep snow. The snow was deep enough that the deer had just plodded through the deep snow. This reminded me about the problems deer have with deep snow . When snow is deep they tend to gather together and stay in a very small area. They can sometimes be trapped in the small area and starve.

Deer tracks across my yard

    Then there's the mice. Can you imagine mice trying to run across this soft snow? Mice will travel under the snow or find areas under trees which don't have much snow. Coyotes and owls are quite adept at picking up mice from under the snow. 

    So for all the creatures that share winter with us some will cope and others will suffer. Fortunately, at this time of year we are close to spring when we lose the snow. 

Gabby and Seth Yates Lynx Presentation

       The lynx is a somewhat mysterious and  misunderstood animal. The lynx is seldom seen as it's habitat is away from human habitation so rumors abound about what this animal . The present lynx popualtion is in no danger. The population has a peak cycle every ten years which coincides with peak snowshoe hare population cycle highs. When the snow shoe hare population crashes,lynx will travel widely in search of their favorite prey. They will also eat other species such as deer fawns although it's not proven that they actually pursue and attack the fawns.

       A super presentation by Gabby and Seth Yates cleared up many of the mysteries when they gave a presentation to the Red Deer River Naturalists on Feb. 25. They  introduced us to an animal with all kinds of interesting characteristics. Gabby Yates is doing research for her Ph.D. She has set up a study area centered at Nordegg Alberta. She wants to collar 20 lynx and study their movement and relate it to the population cycles of snowshoe hare, vegetation and climate. Lynx are tremendous travellers. Some travel up to 2500 km. Why? This information is being related to lynx which are trapped in B. C. and Alberta.

     They have found lynx to have some surprising characteristics. These cats are fairly mild mannered and laid back. They only move if they think you are a threat. When Gabby and Seth find lynx in a box trap the lynx are usually calmly waiting to be released. It's nothing to find previously caught and released animals to be back in the same traps waiting to be released again. They have learned that these box traps contain food . Many excellent photographs and videos  of lynx were included in the presentation.

     These two presenters were bombarbed with many questions which they patiently and fully answered as they have a broad knowledge of this animal. They work closely with Alberta trappers have a srong sense of stewardship and they want to ensure that lynxwill continue to thrive on their traplines. They find trappers and trapping to not be a threat for lynx. Trappers turn in a small piece if hide which the researchers do DNA testing on and as a result are able to identify each lynx and who mit's relatives are . If the lynx has moved in from somewhere else, the DNA gives them an idea where it may have come from. 

      Gabby and Seth also use some sophisticated satellite technology to follow their study animals. New light weight radio collars allow them to track the lynx anywhere in North America.

      I have spent many of my years outdoors in lynx habitiat , but I have never seen one. This presentation gave me a realistic experience with a very important animal in our eco system.
     www.ualberta.ca/~gyates/projectlynx

Coping with Winter

       Many times I have looked at birds or mammals on a very nasty winter day and wondered how they cope with adverse winter weather. I have found myself being extremely uncomfortable and yet some bird or mammal is bouncing along as if there is no problem.


      Well, birds and mammals do suffer, but there are many adaptations which keep them healthy and warm even in the most inclement weather . Natural Wise will take one small example to get you thinking about how a species copes with nasty winter conditions.


       I will use one species as an example. I've posted on the white tailed jack rabbit  previously on Natural Wise. First, rabbits change color for the winter which provides them with camoflage which allows them to expend less energy fleeing from predators. Mammals and birds consume a tremendous amount of food each day to provide energy which mantains body temperature. Of course, the new white coat of the jack rabbit is an adaptation for winter. There is very fine hair fiber which insolates the body. Longer hair provides protection from wind.


      Each species has some unique adaptations. Some have lower blood circulation to the feet so that less body heat is lost. Some hibernate. Others become very inactive for several hours or days.


      So the next time you see some little critter out on a very inclement day, start to think about what adaptations may be present. Click on http://blog.talkaboutwildlife.ca/ for more information.

Magic of Jack Rabbits Turning White

      From the time I was a little guy on the bald Saskatchewan prairie,one of the more important  times of year was when  the rabbits turned white. For a small kid it was always an amazing transformation.

      At times the white tailed jack rabbit was extremely numerous. Farm activities scared up many rabbits. Jack rabbits find the crops excellent cover which also provides ample fresh food. In the winter tracks and droppings were everywhere. However, my favorite time was the fall and watching the gradual change in color. When they were totally white it seemed that marked the onset of winter.

      With the abundance of white tailed jack rabbits in Red Deer one can again follow the gradual change in color. On my paper route yesterday a rabbit was resting comfortably under a shrub just meters away from the mail box. I have passed this old boy(girl) before and he(she) does not flush from the comfortable scrape even though I am less than a meter away. So yesterday I went home and got the camera to show you that he(she) is about 95% white.

     So one of my joys of the fall season is complete. It can be winter now.