Wildlife Out In The Cold

 When the cold blast of winter sweeps across the land we have the option of heading indoors and cranking up the heat or bundling up in warm layers of clothing.

Wildlife on the other hand have no such options.  While some species migrate to warmer climes, wildlife such as the deer and turkeys must cope by using their naturally insulated coats and by searching out thermal cover during the night or on cloudy days and warm southern exposures on sunny days.  This young buck with frost on his head and neck demonstrates the incredible insulating ability of his dense winter coat.

 A small fawn of the year stands chewing her cud with frost clinging to her fluffy forehead. 

I photographed this gobbler during a snow flurry.  The turkey's feathers retains its body heat so well that the snow lying on his back does not melt.

 

While wildlife does not have the options to deal with winter that are available to we humans their options are sufficient to ensure the survival of species.