Learning From Nature

We humans are such spoiled creatures. And our pets too. Especially our pets. Well, mine anyway. Here we sit in the comfort of our homes and offices and places of business, the heat is on and we’re wearing layers of warm clothes. We’ve got hot cocoa and fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies to snack on and our dogs and cats are curled up near the fireplace. Most of us don’t spend more than a half an hour each day outside in the winter if we can help it. Without our furnaces and electricity and other amenities, many of us would freeze to death within days of the first snowstorm of the year. So how do animals do it?

I was on my way to Idaho a couple weeks ago when I saw a herd of cattle near the freeway. It was below freezing outside, and the cows acted as if they were all fine. I knew that the temperatures would drop when night fell, and I wondered how those animals would survive without any sort of cover like a barn. As I thought about it and did some research I found that cattle typically huddle together in small groups, even as they’re feeding. As long as they have enough food and water readily available, they can generate enough body heat to keep them warm. In groups, the body heat is more efficient and cows can withstand temperatures that would normally kill humans after prolonged exposure. Those cows gotta watch out for Jack Frost nipping at their nipples, though. Frostbite on udders is supposedly very common. Ouch!

Cattle are hardly the epitome of extreme temperature survivors, so let’s consider animals that are experts at living in the coldest environments: penguins and polar bears. Similar to cattle, penguins bunch up to withstand the cold, and they also have insulating feathers that help considerably against the Antarctic winds. The coolest thing about penguins is they can control blood flow to their wings and flippers. Wouldn’t that be nice to have that type of control over your body? Polar bears use the same tactic penguins do. Besides having copious amounts of blubber, they also have thick fur that traps air and keeps them insulated. Air apparently doesn’t conduct heat, and the polar bears use their thick fur as a buffer zone to keep their skin nice and warm. Humans exploit this concept with goose down parkas. The poofier the coat, the warmer the person.

Polar bears are also smart enough to sit out the coldest parts of the year by hibernating. Several animals use hibernation to survive the cold. Most hibernating animals are mammals, and they stock up on necessary fats and nutrients in the fall to last through the winter. I’ve determined that Thanksgiving is simply a modified version of stocking up for the winter. We gorge ourselves silly in preparation for the frosty months ahead. I would argue that Thanksgiving is an obsolete tradition since we don’t need the extra fat and blubber like other animals, but I’m afraid of getting smacked in the head with peas and mashed potatoes.

Many animals that aren’t furry and aren’t specialized for winter conditions do something that most of us would like to do: go south. Where it’s warm. Birds typically migrate to warmer climes in preparation for winter, but they’re not the only ones. Some insects and even some mammals are known to travel great distances to outrun the freezing temperatures.

So what have animals taught us? Grow thick hair or buy a coat; huddle up if you can; eat, eat, eat; sleep through the toughest cold spells; and buy a winter home in Tucson. Oh, and cover your nipples well. Remember these things and you too can survive extreme temperatures like a wild animal.