From hibernation and camouflage to freezing, wildlife have a way to survive MN winters.



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"January 2023"

When the going gets tough, the tough... adapt

While some wildlife migrate to warmer regions in winter, others hibernate, change their furs or freeze.

Many creatures — like chipmunks, hummingbirds, woodchucks, bees, snakes, bears, skunks and opossums — enter states of winter dormancy to conserve energy. This is typically called *hibernation*. Hibernation is a type of winter dormancy where body temperature, heart rate, metabolic rate, and/or breathing rate decline. But each species hibernates in its own special way.

Weasels, hares, and jackrabbits *change their coats to white* to blend in with their snowy surroundings. Fish *congregate in deeper, warmer waters*. Some amphibians *freeze* for the winter.

Some humans choose to stay inside. But we hope you, our loyal readers, stay active and discover the wonders of winter outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing (scroll down for insider tips from our park naturalists!).

*"Special gratitude and a shout-out to our friends in the Nongame Wildlife Program [ [link removed] ] (of Eagle [ [link removed] ] and Falcon [ [link removed] ] Cam fame) who collaborated with us on content for this Trailblazer issue. "*

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Frozen

Amphibians and reptiles are famously cold-blooded or "ectotherms," which means they depend on the environment to regulate body temperature.  
A gray treefrog on a partially submerged branch and grass blades. The frog is seen from the side, its back green, the other side white. [ [link removed] ]

On summer evenings, look for the gray treefrog by your window, feeding on bugs attracted to the light inside.

Spring peepers [ [link removed] ], some gray treefrogs [ [link removed] ] (pictured) and wood frogs [ [link removed] ] spend the winter in a partially frozen state under fallen leaves, rocks or logs. Their livers convert glycogen into glucose (wood frogs) or glycerol (spring peeper and gray treefrogs) to *produce an antifreeze to keep liquids from freezing inside their cells, while allowing ice crystal to form between layers of skin and muscle*. They stop breathing and their hearts stop beating.

"More about wood frogs [ [link removed] ] from the National Park Service."

Turtles adjust their body temperature to their surroundings and can drop it as low as 39 degrees Fahrenheit.
A snapping turtle seen from the top, is swimming with a small in its mouth. [ [link removed] ]

The snapping turtle is Minnesota's largest turtle.

Many Minnesota turtles survive the winter underwater or mud. Within hours of being underwater, *a turtle’s blood oxygen levels drop to near zero*, when they rely on cloacal respiration. The blood vessels around the cloaca (butt) are able to take up oxygen directly from the water. If oxygen is depleted, snapping and painted turtles can switch to anaerobic respiration, which is a form of breathing that does not require oxygen. This can cause lactic acid build-up, which turtles neutralize with carbonate buffers... and plenty of basking in the springtime sun to increase metabolic rate and get rid of acidic by-products.

"Source and more information: How do turtles survive the winter [ [link removed] ]? from Carleton College Cowling Arboretum website."

Northern migrants

Many songbirds have migrated south of Minnesota for the winter. But some songbirds migrate south *to* Minnesota!

Snowy owl close-up, seen from the torso up, with white plumage and orange eyes. [ [link removed] ]

**Snowy owls [ [link removed] ] **(pictured) nest in the Arctic tundra of northern Canada and Alaska during the summer. From early November to late March, some migrate south to Minnesota to hunt voles, mice, and other small animals. Look for them in northern Minnesota in large, open areas (like fields and airports), or perched on the ground, on buildings or on utility poles.

*Snow buntings [ [link removed] ]* have adapted to thrive in winter environments. Their dense white feathers, which cover them from bill to ankles, and a lower body temperature help them fend off hypothermia. They migrate from the Arctic to spend October through April wandering the northern Great Plains, looking for food by lake shores, grasslands and farm fields.


Golden eagle in flight seen against snowed field and blue skies. [ [link removed] ]

Click on the photo to read about golden eagles wintering in Minnesota on the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine.

*Golden eagles [ [link removed] ]* also migrate from Canada, some from as far north as the Arctic Circle, and spend November through March hunting turkeys and fox squirrels in central and southeast Minnesota. Golden eagles can be hard to distinguish from young bald eagles, but there are subtle differences [ [link removed] ].

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Don't let the next snowstorm catch you off-guard. Get your ski pass. [ [link removed] ]________________________________________________________________________

Bald eagles at Wild River State Park

Head to Wild River State Park [ [link removed] ] with a pair of binoculars and a warm coat, and follow naturalist Sean Hoppes' tips for a chance at spotting the emblematic national bird.
Bald eagle feeding young in the nest, seen through green tree foliage. [ [link removed] ]

Lead poisoning is a major threat facing Minnesota’s bald eagle population today. Learn more about bald eagle recovery efforts in Minnesota.

Only a few decades ago, bald eagles [ [link removed] ] were hard to find. Thanks to conservation efforts, they have reoccupied much of their former range across Minnesota. Wild River State Park [ [link removed] ] is a fantastic place to spot bald eagles. S*tart from the Visitor Center and w**alk or snowshoe the one-mile Amik’s Pond Loop for a good chance at a sighting.* Scan the forest for a large collection of sticks – that's a bald eagle's nest! The trail skirts the edge of the St. Croix River for a brief distance. Look across the river to Wisconsin for another eagle viewing opportunity.

By February, the nest will likely have eggs, and the parents will diligently warm the developing chicks with their body heat. 

*Enjoy a drive down the Great River Road [ [link removed] ]:*

Southeastern Minnesota [ [link removed] ] is another great destination for birders and bald eagles alike. The best eagle sighting opportunities are between December and March. The current of the Chippewa River flowing into the Mississippi maintains open water throughout the winter where eagles soar and dive for fish. 

Trumpeter swans at Fort Snelling State Park

The trumpeter swan is the largest waterfowl in North America and the largest swan in the world. Want to know how to identify it? Naturalist Kao Thao gave us the scoop.
Swan with cygnets on a lake. Trumpeter swans have all white plumage, long neck and dark bill. [ [link removed] ]

Did you know all wild swans are protected? PHOTO: Travis Novitsky

The number of trumpeter swans [ [link removed] ] wintering at Fort Snelling State Park [ [link removed] ] has increased through the years. As early as October, the large white waterfowl start showing up at Snelling Lake, individually or in small flocks. The spring and aeration system on the west end of the lake keep a small area from freezing over, allowing waterfowl access to water and food during winter. *Trumpeter swans can be distinguished from other waterfowl by their large body, long neck, white plumage and almost solid dark “duck” bill.* They lack the yellow marking under the eyes found on tundra swans.

Spot them from your car from the main road between Snelling Lake and the Minnesota River or walk the Snelling Lake trail along the holding ponds.

River otters on North Shore streams

Kurt Mead, naturalist at Tettegouche State Park [ [link removed] ], told us otters have winter superpowers. Who knew?

*River otters [ [link removed] ] have a special coat of fur to keep them warm in winter.* Their fur consists of two layers, one for warmth and the outer layer for waterproofing. This layer of insulation also allows otters to swim in frigid waters, which is important for maintaining their diet of aquatic critters like fish, crayfish, and clams.

River otters have another superpower in the winter: *They can slide on their bellies across the snow to save energy when the snowpack gets deep.* North Shore rivers often show signs of their "hop, hop, slide" behavior as they move from one open river pool to another. Lots of other mammals use these open corridors for easy passage in the winter so it's anyone's guess whose signs of activity you see in the snow on frozen rivers.

Whatever you do, don't follow the otters! River ice can be unpredictable and dangerous. Always be careful when venturing on frozen water.

"Learn about restoration efforts [ [link removed] ] to get river otters back to southwestern Minnesota from the MCV. "

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Red foxes at Lake Bemidji State Park

The white landscape is the perfect backdrop for viewing wildlife, especially those with orange-red coats. Naturalist Christa Drake shared how red foxes use their keen ears for hunting.
Red fox with snow on its snout, looking at the camera. [ [link removed] ]

The red fox can run as fast as 30 miles per hour, and can leap 15 feet in a single bound — farther than a kangaroo. It is one of the few predators that store food items for future use. PHOTO: Travis Novitsky

Each winter, red foxes [ [link removed] ] can be seen at Lake Bemidji State Park [ [link removed] ] near roads, by the bird feeders, in the campground and along the lakeshore hunting for squirrels, rabbits, shrews, mice and other rodents. *These canines are known to have excellent hearing and can locate prey up to one hundred feet away and even under the snow!* A red fox will listen closely for the faint squeaking of a mouse, pinpoint where the sound is coming from, jump into the air and pounce into the snow to catch their prey.

Porcupines at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

Did you know North American porcupines are active year-round? Naturalist Erin Fallon has tips for spotting the prickly rodents or, at least, signs of their activity.

Porcupine climbing up a bare tree. [ [link removed] ]

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park [ [link removed] ] is a great destination to observe porcupines [ [link removed] ] during winter. Mainly busy at night or twilight, they can also be seen during the day on the ground or high in trees. As you travel along the Touch the Earth Trail, *look for scat or tracks or trees with missing bark (which porcupines eat)*. Their tracks are long and oval-shaped with pebbled pads, and with or without inward pointed toe and claw marks. 

Porcupines staggered gate causes them to travel rather slow. *What they lack in speed, they make up for with their strong defense in the form of long, barb-tipped quills, for which they are named:* Their name derives from Latin for "quill pig." 



Trout in southeast Minnesota streams

The water in the spring-fed streams of the Driftless Area stays at a fairly consistent temperature of 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Sara Holger, naturalist at Whitewater State Park [ [link removed] ], recommends trout-watching or fishing!
The shores of Beaver Creek on a snowy day, the creek water still liquid and running through rocks. [ [link removed] ]

Nestled in the blufflands of southeastern Minnesota, Beaver Creek Valley State Park is known for its clear streams fed by the "Big Spring."

Streams in southeast Minnesota rarely ice over. If you *approach the running streams slowly and quietly and without casting a shadow on the water, you may see sluggish trout [ [link removed] ] gathered in deep pools. *The fish slow down during winter as their body temperatures drop and food becomes more difficult to find.

*Trout fishing is open year-round in Beaver Creek Valley [ [link removed] ], Forestville/Mystery Cave [ [link removed] ] and Whitewater [ [link removed] ] state parks*, with catch-and-release season in winter. Be careful along stream edges as snowy banks can hide thin ice and water below.




Eagle eyes
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A bald eagle on the DNR EagleCam sits on eggs in February 2015.

Minnesota Conservation Volunteer [ [link removed] ]

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the DNR’s wildly popular EagleCam, "MCV "spoke with the keeper of the cam, Lori Naumann. Full story [ [link removed] ].



"*"Minnesota Conservation Volunteer "is a print magazine dedicated to Minnesota’s wild places and creatures. For more stories, visit mnDNR.gov/MCV [ [link removed] ] or subscribe [ [link removed] ].*"



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Lighting up the trails

Highlights of upcoming events include candlelight [ [link removed] ] walks, skiing and snowshoeing, art events, an escape room, and guided walks with topics ranging from wildlife and history to writing. All events are free, but some require registration.

Bookmark mndnr.gov/PTcalendar [ [link removed] ] to check for new events. Find your favorite activity and mark your calendar for some time outdoors.




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