Snow, snow, snow
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- December
- 18
Should you be struggling with your snow shovel or snow-covered roads tomorrow (or enjoying your sled), consider how animals make it through the cold, wet winter. Their choices, as pointed out in the latest Outdoor Discovery newsletter by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, are hibernation, adaptation or migration. 
“Hibernating animals like woodchucks and bats eat more food than usual during the fall so that during the winter, they can rely on their body fat to keep them nourished. Their breathing and heart rate usually slow down as well, and their body temperature drops. Other animals such as bears and raccoons will sleep very heavily during the winter, but may awaken if disturbed.”
The photo by TJN photographer Frank Becerra shows a robin on snow in 2007.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 2:34 pm by Mike Risinit.
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Journal News staff writer Greg Clary writes Earth Watch, reporting on environmental issues in the lower Hudson region. Clary has been a reporter, editor and columnist at the Journal News since 1988 and has covered police and courts, transportation, municipal government, development and the environment in the Lower Hudson Valley, among other topics. 
Laura Incalcaterra covers the environment, open space and zoning and planning issues for The Journal News. A Boston College graduate, Laura grew up in Rockland, attended East Ramapo schools and has worked for The Journal News since 1993. Laura has written features and covered North Rockland, crime, government and a host of other issues.
Mike Risinit covers Patterson and Kent in Putnam County, as well as environmental topics touching on the Hudson River and the Great Swamp. Risinit has been a reporter at The Journal News since 1998.
