Lucas Adcock
Staff Writer
Winter in Pocahontas County brings noticeable changes in patterns of the wildlife that are spread throughout the mountains here. The first – and arguably the most noticeable change – is the increase in activity of white-tailed deer near the roads. We’ve all seen it. And yet, of all the times to run into a deer, it’s typically with a vehicle that you’ve just purchased. And if by some miracle you’ve lived here for many years and have managed to not hit one of these ambivalent creatures, then it would probably behoove you to go out and play the lottery.
As the snow falls and covers the beautiful landscapes around our home, food-scarcity for white-tailed deer becomes an issue. The solution? Feed near road edges where everyone needs to drive and push outwards toward hay fields and residential areas. So, as dawn and dusk come and go, always be on the lookout for those just looking to get a scrap of something not covered in snow. Now, while winter coats on these animals do get thicker, their need for fat-reserves matters more than temperature conservation. This is because energy – not the cold – is the primary survival challenge for these animals.
Unlike our smaller mammal friends – squirrels, chipmunks, mice and various others that can hang out in their burrows and trees – deer grow a specific winter coat made of hollow guard hairs that trap air. This creates an excellent insulation, allowing a well-conditioned deer to tolerate temperatures well below freezing without increasing its metabolism. The cold itself, although possible, doesn’t kill deer directly – energy loss does. (Maybe if they spent more time feeding instead of jumping in front of vehicles, they wouldn’t have to worry about energy loss.)
So, deer aside, what about our other wildlife? The kind we hear chittering and shuffling around when we’re not looking. Rabbits, squirrels, mice, voles… These animals don’t hibernate, instead they increase their daytime activity due to limited food and daylight in the winter months, some of them (like mice and voles) even tunneling through the snow making for warmer and quicker travel around their habitats. And what of the peskier ones? The ones that ravage through your trash or wobble about their business, hopefully not in a mood to spray you with a foul-smelling odor. Raccoons, skunks, and bears… Oh my! These unique animals enter a “semi-dormancy” which could explain why on the rare occasion, you’ll see one of these “hibernating” animals around January-February. This semi-dormancy is caused by temporary warm spells sprinkled throughout the winter months. And remember, your trash is never safe. Raccoons and skunks, though they do reduce activity, remain mobile throughout the winter, especially during mild winters. Black bears are unique amongst the fauna of West Virginia, entering a state called torpor during the winter months. This state falls within the semi-dormancy mentioned before, allowing them to lower their heart rate and metabolism while remaining capable of waking during warm spells or disturbances.
If you really want to do your due-diligence this winter, put out a bird feeder. Feeding stations significantly affect winter survival for these little avians. But before you go feeling bad about not having a bird feeder out, however, remember that the birds you see in winter are specialists, not leftovers from the ones who got away. If you’re noticing new birds this winter, odds are – they’re not new. Resident birds become more noticeable in the winter months due to the migratory birds leaving. These resident birds are the “specialists” mentioned before. But either way, it’s nice to help them out. Who knows, maybe your bird feeder is allowing them to take a break for the day and go inside their cozy nest to enjoy a hot drink, and put on “Extreme Makeover: Nest Edition.”
But more on reality, all of these species of creatures that live alongside us in these beautiful mountains thrive from what they’re built to do. That being said, it can also help the fauna to provide less winter stressors by limiting activity with things like snowmobiles, or excessive shooting, and even hiking. More stress put on wildlife during the winter months causes them to burn more fat reserves fleeing the area to avoid people. Does this mean you shouldn’t hunt? No. Does it mean you shouldn’t have fun and enjoy yourself? Absolutely not. But it isn’t a bad thing to be a well-minded human and acknowledge the fact that, though we live in relatively blissful isolation, we do share our home with nature.
Overall, winter in Pocahontas County is not a dormant season but a transitional one. Wildlife adapts, landscapes reveal their structure, and residents gain a different perspective on the land on which they live. Staying informed about seasonal changes helps our community remain connected – through both the environment and one another – through the winter months.
lucasadcock@pocahontastimes.com
Lucas Adcock also writes under the pen name of L. A. Porter.
