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When the Climate is Too Cold for Animals to Remain Active

Warm-blooded animals in winter

Warm-blooded animals do one of three things in winter:(The links in the table below each open a new window).

They remain active, feeding on what they can find and insulating themselves with fur, feathers or fat.
They migrate to warmer regions where they can find food and continue active lives.
They can store food and hibernate.

What these animals do in winter depends upon their size, their diet and their mobility.

Fox, Sheffield, UK © Shirley Burchill

Arctic tern, Antarctica © Shirley Burchill

Chipmunk, Bristol Zoo © Shirley Burchill

© Paul Billiet and Shirley Burchill 2009