Animals in Winter | What do animals do in Winter | How Animals Prepare for Winter | Winter & Animals

Summary

The script explains how different animals survive the winter. Some animals hibernate by sleeping through the cold months. Others migrate to warmer areas with more food. Still others adapt by growing thicker fur and changing color, like the snowshoe hare whose fur turns white. The script gives examples of hibernating animals like bears and hedgehogs, migrating animals like monarch butterflies and geese, and adapting animals like the arctic fox and polar bear. It aims to teach children about the strategies animals use to endure the challenging winter season.

Takeaways

• 😀 Animals have 3 main strategies to survive winter: hibernate, migrate to warmer areas, or adapt physically
• 🥶 Hibernation is like a deep sleep where animals curl up in a safe place all winter
• 🚗 Migration means travelling to places with warmer weather and more available food
• 🧥 Adaptation means animals change their bodies and behaviors to handle the cold
• 🐻 Bears, hedgehogs, and groundhogs are some animals that hibernate in winter
• 🦢 Geese and monarch butterflies migrate long distances to avoid the cold
• ❄️ Snowshoe hares and arctic foxes change fur color to camouflage in snowy environments
• 🥜 Squirrels and chipmunks gather nuts and seeds in fall to eat during winter
• 🐧 Penguins and polar bears are adapted to find food even when not much is available
• 🌡 Animals carefully prepare for winter long before it arrives by storing food and growing thick fur

Q & A

What are the three main choices animals have to survive the winter?

The three main choices animals have to survive winter are: 1) Hibernate 2) Migrate 3) Adapt - meaning they remain active by changing their bodies and behaviors.

How do animals like squirrels and chipmunks prepare for winter?

Squirrels and chipmunks gather nuts in the fall and bury them in the ground to dig up later as a winter snack.

Why do some animals like ladybugs eat more in the fall?

Ladybugs eat more and fatten up on other small insects in the fall to prepare for the limited food sources in winter.

What causes animals that hibernate to wake up in spring?

Hibernating animals wake up when the weather warms up, usually in spring.

Why do birds migrate south for the winter?

Birds migrate south where they can find food and warmer temperatures to survive the winter months.

How does arctic fox adapt to survive the cold winters?

The arctic fox's fur changes from brown in summer to white in winter to camouflage with the snow. It also has fur on its food pads to keep warm.

Why do monarch butterflies migrate?

Monarch butterflies migrate to find warmer temperatures and food sources during the winter months.

How does hibernation help bears survive winter?

Hibernating allows bears to sleep through the entire winter without having to find food, lowering their energy needs.

Why do animals like elk travel in herds to migrate?

Animals like elk travel in herds or families which helps protect the young and find food while migrating.

How does changing to white fur help animals survive winter?

Changing to white fur helps animals blend into the snowy landscapes, hiding them from predators.