Winter’s Grip

How Winter Shapes Wildlife and Plant Life in the Mahoosuc Region

Nature teaches us that winter is not the paralyzing force it sometimes seems.

By James Reddoch  

With the paralyzing temperatures and deep snow of the last few weeks, some days it feels like my world has ground to a halt. During these times, I often fantasize about staying in, plopping in front of the fire with a good book, and remaining there until spring. And why not? Isn’t the rest of the natural world sleeping away during the worst parts of winter?

It’s tempting to think this way. And yes, there are a host of creatures—from insects to salamanders to black bears—that rely on hibernation or hibernation-like states to make it through these tough days. But recently I’ve been struck by an avalanche of examples (no pun intended) showing that winter is not the paralyzing force it sometimes seems.

Winter is a dynamic force for insects. Naturalist Charley Eiseman, in his recent webinar Insects & Spiders in Winter, demonstrated the myriad ways insects have adapted to ensure their young survive—and even thrive—during winter’s grip. (If you missed this Habitat For All webinar, you can watch it using the link and passcode in the Sources and Resources section below.)

Insulating snows are also used by mice, voles, and moles to shelter and remain active throughout winter in tunnels and dens. Check out Winter’s Hidden World: Life Below the Snow, an article by Larry Ely that explores this unseen world. Ely’s article in this issue of Small Things also highlights the ways trees, like balsam fir, are important for birds, moose, and deer during winter.

If I keep my eyes and ears open, I might learn how our wild neighbors survive—and even thrive—during winter’s grip.

Even plants rely on the winter season. According to Barbara Murphy, Habitat For All Director, a layer of snow protects the roots of herbaceous perennials and bulbs, holding them in a frozen state waiting for signals that trigger spring growth. In fact, many plant seeds require cold/warm cycles to soften their hard exterior and remove growth inhibitors, preparing them to germinate quickly when spring arrives.

And don’t even get me started on birds. Great horned owls and barred owls begin incubating eggs in the midst of winter, timing it so chicks hatch when the snow recedes and prey is more active and abundant. (If you missed this Habitat For All webinar, Owls: Silent Hunters of the Night, you can watch it using the link and passcode in the Sources and Resources section below.) Ravens often begin building nests in February. Recently, I’ve been hearing cardinals and chickadees practicing songs associated with the breeding season. And thousands of miles to the south, spring migrants have already begun preparing to head north.

Winter’s grip is not as paralyzing as it sometimes feels. In fact, it is a vital force shaping the biology and behavior of the flora and fauna of the Mahoosuc Region. Realizing this leaves me with no excuse. I guess I’ll boot up and get out there. The feeders need filling, the snow needs shoveling, and who knows…If I keep my eyes and ears open, I might learn something from our wild neighbors about how to survive, even thrive, during winter’s grip.

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Sources & Resources: 

Insects & Spiders in Winter Webinar. To view this recording use passcode: %cc@#q0D 

Owls: Silent Hunters of the Night. To view this recording use passcode: =k8CT+jd

Winter’s Hidden World: Life Below the Snow, Larry Ely

A Loveliness of Ladybugs, Linda Ray 

Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, Bernd Heinrich