The Wild Animals You Might See In Massachusetts During The Winter
It may surprise you to learn about some of the animals you can expect to see during the colder months!
During the freezing winter months in Massachusetts, it's no surprise that the amount of wilderness that can be seen is greatly decreased. Many people believe that during winter, most animals hibernate and that is why you do not see them. However, it may surprise you to learn that only a small few actually enter "true" hibernation. Some others use similar methods to outlast the cold months, and still others can be seen out and about throughout Winter.
Animals That Hibernate During Winter
Of the many different species that live in MA, only seven of them enter some degree of hibernation. Of those seven, only three are "true hibernators". This means that when they go into dormancy in the winter, they have reduced metabolism, a slower heart rate, and lowered body temperatures. The three true hibernators of MA, that you should never see during winter, are woodchucks, jumping mice, and bats.
The other four animals that hibernate to some degree are chipmunks, black bears, raccoons, and striped skunks. They are not true hibernators because they can go in and out of dormancy.
Some of the mammals that do not hibernate and can be seen out and about during the winter include, but are not limited to, squirrels, rabbits, deer, coyotes, fishers, and foxes. The predators will continue to hunt and scavenge for food, while some animals such as deer undergo a change to their digestive system to eat bark, buds, and twigs.
Regardless of being true hibernators or not, to prepare for their winter dormancy, mammals in Massachusetts must do the following:
Grow thicker fur to keep warm
Consume more calories to cushion them during lean hunting times
Store food if they are not hibernating
Find shelter to keep them dry, and warm, and to protect them from the elements
What Do Birds Do?
As with hibernation, many people are familiar with the concept of migration, when various species of birds arrive in the spring and leave in the fall. These birds choose to head South rather than deal with the harsh conditions of winter. Some of them will head to warmer states such as the Carolinas and Florida, while some, like the Osprey, will head further into Central and South America.
There are some birds that live in Massachusetts all year round and have adjusted to the harsh decrease in temperatures. The following are the eight MA bird species that are considered non-migratory:
Mute Swan
House Sparrow
Wild Turkey
Quail
European Starling
Ruffed Grouse
Ring-neck Pheasant
Rock Dove
Furthermore, there are other birds, like the Snowy Owl, that actually migrate to Massachusetts from even colder places up north. And then there are those, such as the Canada Goose, that can migrate but have adapted and choose to stay the winter in MA instead.
What About Reptiles and Amphibians?
The types of animals that you are most unlikely to come across during winter are reptiles and amphibians. This is because they are cold-blooded, and can only sometimes move during the winter on warmer, sunny days. The rest of the time, they enter something similar to hibernation called "brumation".
During brumation, frogs, turtles, and other reptiles and amphibians will burrow in pond mud and lower their metabolic rate. While in this dormant state, they may still "freeze", but they have the ability to safely thaw themselves out once spring arrives.