Deer of Winter

by Elizabeth Winter

Title

Deer of Winter

Artist

Elizabeth Winter

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Deer have several adaptations that allow them to survive in winter. Remember, Pennsylvania is not the northern most range of the whitetail. Deer can be found as far north as southern Canada where temperatures are lower and snow is deeper for longer periods of time.

How Deer Survive Cold Winters
January 9, 2015 by pgcuser1

Deer Group in Winter

Deer have several adaptations that allow them to survive in winter. Remember, Pennsylvania is not the northern most range of the whitetail. Deer can be found as far north as southern Canada where temperatures are lower and snow is deeper for longer periods of time.

Biological Adaptations:

Fat Storage

Deer start to prepare for winter months before the temperatures begin to drop. They do this by storing fat around internal organs and under their skin which insulates and provides energy reserves for the lean months ahead.

Their coat plays a major role in keeping them warm. Coarse, hollow, dark guard hairs cover soft, woolly underfur. Guard hairs can absorb solar energy but it’s the underfur that provides the most insulative value. Half the length of guard hairs, underfur is 5 times as dense. For comparison, sheep underfur is only 4 times as dense. The underfur traps layers of air, with warmer layers closer to the skin. The insulative value of underfur is increased when the hair stands on end (goose bumps for people) trapping more air.

Uploaded

January 23rd, 2018

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