Whilst food levels are high the skunks can overeat. In summer there is lots of food around for the skunks to fill up on. The reason skunks eat so much isn’t because they are greedy, but it’s a part of their winter survival strategy. They are opportunistic eaters and will eat anything including meat, vegetation, and even trash. Skunk seem to eat everything and anything they can get their hands on. The under-layer provides a second layer to protect the skunk from anything that the guard hairs didn’t.Ī double layer allows the skunk to keep any cold temperatures getting in, but also stops body heat from getting out. It’s a soft and fluffy underlayer that provides a warm blanket-like insulation for the skin. As winter brings frost, winds, and snow which can easily make a skunk quickly lose body heat. This allows skunks to become as weather-resistant as possible. One layer of fur is the upper hair that you see on the outside. Then as the winter months approach the skunk grows a dual fur layer. Their fur is normally shed in the summer months to keep them cool. One of the first physical changes a skunk will make in winter is to grow a new coat. Let’s look at what skunks do to see out the winter each year. The adaptations are vital to ensure skunks stay warm, safe and find food easily. Skunks will make a variety of preparations before and during the winter season. How Do Skunks Survive In Winterĭuring the winter months most wildlife has to make adaptations to survive the harsh winter conditions. This uses up vital energy resources and makes them vulnerable to starving predators. Otherwise, they’d be foraging during bad weather conditions. Resting during this period allows skunks to save energy. This is usually when the winter weather is at its worst and there is a very low food supply. Skunks will go into a state of torpor to save energy when conditions are particularly bad. Just not to the extent that a hibernating animal would. During this time the skunks will reduce their heart rate, breathing, and metabolism. Torpor allows skunks to have short periods of inactivity. Skunks may not be able to hibernate but they can go into a state of torpor. Winter conditions pose risks to the skunks’ survival and so they need to make special adaptations. During winter the skunks will need to stay active to find food, good shelter and eliminate their waste. Skunks do not have the ability to go into true hibernation mode. Once triggered the animals start to go into a state of dormancy for weeks or months at a time. Hibernating animals have blood chemicals and hormones that are triggered by the falling temperatures and reducing sunlight. Being able to do these things allows animals to save as much energy as possible when conditions are not good for them. These animals also don’t pass waste during this time. The process of hibernation allows animals to reduce their heart rate, breathing, metabolism, and temperature to minimal levels. This is when food supplies are scarce and winter conditions harsh. The purpose of hibernation is to help animals to survive through the winter months. Hibernation is a period of dormancy that some animals can go through in the winter. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about the changes that skunks make to their life in the winter months. If you want to know more about how skunks adapt in winter then keep reading. In winter skunks will adjust their fur, diet, habitat, and physical activities. As skunks remain active in winter they need to make adaptations to survive. Skunks don’t have the biological ability to lay dormant for long periods of time. Wild skunks do not hibernate in the winter months. So you may be wondering ‘do skunks hibernate in winter?’ Yet in the winter months, you start to notice they aren’t around as much. You can smell that faint stench of skunk everywhere in the spring, summer, and fall months.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |