How do animals stay warm during the harsh months of winter?
Domestic animals such as cats and dogs fight off the cold weather naturally with their fur and body fat.
But that is not always enough, especially for outdoor pets, said Dr. Keisha Adkins, a veterinarian at Falls Road Animal Hospital.
“If animals are kept outside, they need shelter, a heated water source and a bed that?s elevated so it can?t get wet,” she said. “Once cats and dogs get wet, they can?t handle the cold temperatures.”
Domesticated reptiles do not handle the cold weather the same as cats and dogs, Adkins said. “Snakes and turtles need controlled environments that have the right heat and humidity levels.”
Taking care of a pet box turtle through the winter is a job that requires much attention and care. Think about what they do at the Maryland Zoo.
“We provide heated areas for our animals,” said Karl Kranz, general curator at the zoo. “For animals adapted to cold temperatures, we simply feed them more to help them get through the winter.”
To stay warm in the wild, some animals hibernate or grow extra heavy fur coats, Kranz said. “They will eat very heavily during late fall, and the extra fat they gain will carry them through the winter,” when food is more scarce.
Birds that don?t fly south for the winter fluff up their feathers to keep warm. “Most animals either find ways to survive or they basically sleep through it,” he said.
Some wild animals have a state of inactivity called hibernation to get them through colder months.
Animals that hibernate include bats, bears and some birds.
