Folklore would have us believe that some animals’ innate abilities are a crystal ball of signals for us as well – take the Woolly Bear caterpillar for instance. Unlike most, this fuzzy little one will spend the winter as a caterpillar after using autumn to search for shelter, have a few final meals and then hunker down to hibernate for several cold months. To do that, these remarkable creatures come fully equipped with a unique
seasonal superpower. Woolly Bears nearly freeze solid during hibernation.
Their bodies produce a chemical called a cryoprotectant that acts like anti-freeze to protect their organs and body tissues from being damaged by the cold. Some will endure the entire winter completely frozen, only to come awake during the spring, spin a fuzzy cocoon and transform into the Isabella tiger moth.
That natural defense is why the woolly worm has become the centre of folklore and a special weather prognosticator. Covered in thick, fluffy-looking hair, (the hair is actually quite stiff) the woolly bear sports bands of black and reddish-brown. Age-old mythology suggests that the size of the brown band on these critters may serve to predict the severity of the coming winter – the wider the brown band, the milder that winter will be, while more black indicates a more severe winter. What’s more, others have made the connection that the 13 segments of the creature’s body correspond to the 13 weeks of winter.
Science of course, tells us that the caterpillar’s colour is more closely related to the growing season – the better the season, the more it eats and the bigger it grows. The caterpillars will shed their molt at least six times before reaching adult size.
Oh, one more thing if you spot a Woolly Bear in the winter, please resist touching them. The heat from your hand could actually cause a thaw and awaken them, which might ultimately kill them. — Anwar Knight
Did you know that chickadees live in Ontario year-round?
Throughout the year, they store food in cracks of tree bark to prepare for the long winter ahead.
If you decide to feed the birds, keep in mind that bird feeders should be located within a metre (3 feet) of a window or more than 10 metres (33 feet) from a window. Within a metre, birds cannot build up enough speed to hurt themselves too seriously if they hit the window, while more than 10 metres away provides them with an opportunity to veer away from the window when they realize it is not a thoroughfare to another part of your garden.
NATURE IS ALL AROUND US, EVEN IN WINTER.
The more you look around you, the more you see so before the snow covers the ground, try this activity with your family:
Bring an egg carton or two on a hike with you and fill each hole with a different specimen that matches the nature map you have added on top. Customize to match what’s in season in your area.
