Winter Survival
by Elizabeth Winter
Title
Winter Survival
Artist
Elizabeth Winter
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
In winter, deer move to suitable cover. They move around less and decrease their metabolism and body temperature. This biological “fine-tuning” enables deer to conserve energy and survive our northern winters. Landowners in areas with deer winter range can have a direct influence on deer survival. The effects can be positive or negative. There are pros and cons about providing food for deer during the winter.
In late summer and fall deer build up fat that will become winter fuel. Acorns and beech nuts -- often referred to as “mast” -- are valuable sources of this fat. Fat reserves can supply almost one third of a deer’s winter energy needs. Deer also produce hormones that regulate body activity. You might think deer would “crank up the heat” to stay warm, but the opposite is true. During winter the deer you see may appear normal, but internally they are operating in slow motion. Body temperature is lowered, particularly in the legs and ears. As the quality and quantity of the food declines, body functions such as digestion are also slowed.
Deer also develop highly insulated winter coats. Dense inner fur and long, hollow outer hairs create a coat 10 times thicker than the summer coat. Newly-attired, they head for traditional winter ranges known as “deer yards.”
Ideal wintering areas provide the shelter of conifers close to food supplies. Deer are able to conserve energy by “yarding up”. Conifers such as hemlock, cedar, pine and spruce catch snow on their branches and thus reduce the depth of snow beneath. Deer pack accumulated snow into a network of trails and runways. Trails allow deer to move easily between food and cover, saving valuable energy reserves. Conifers also reduce winds and moderate the temperature. On cold nights temperatures beneath heavy conifer cover can be ten degrees warmer than in open areas. Deer spend many hours lying under the protective boughs of these evergreens.
In winter, deer subsist on buds and twigs of deciduous trees and shrubs such as yellow birch, hazel, dogwood, mountain, striped, red and sugar maple. Cedar and hemlock foliage also provide food.
As winter progresses, the survival of deer depends on three primary factors: the amount of stored fat, the availability of natural foods, and the severity of the winter. Added stress or mortality can be caused by predators such as wolves or free-running dogs.
Uploaded
January 3rd, 2015
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Viewed 849 Times - Last Visitor from Toronto, ON - Canada on 03/26/2024 at 11:25 PM
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Comments (41)
Kimberlee Baxter
Elizabeth, this capture, as well as your informative description, are so sweet and touchingI Love the gentle expression of these deer...so trusting! I love how you have captured them with beautiful snow cover! This has a touch of magic! Love it! Fave! L/F/FB/P!
Donna Kennedy
Revisiting this wonderful image Elizabeth, Congratulations on your Special Feature in the Group Winter Wonderland!
Sandi OReilly
Loved this when I first saw it, Elizabeth!! Congrats on Special Featured Artist in Winter Wonderland, re-visit, L/G+
Deb Halloran
Elizabeth, Congratulations on your Special Feature on the Winter Wonderland Homepage. Nicely done.
Photographic Art and Design by Dora Sofia Caputo
Amazing capture of deer and a wonderful winter scene! Love your description! Congrats, Elizabeth! This great image is being featured in the Special Featured Artists of the Week Section of the Winter Wonderland Homepage! F/L.
Elizabeth Winter replied:
Thanks Dora for the special feature and your continued support and promotion!