Winter Outerwear

If you're like me and don't head south for the winter months winter warmth is found in a walk in the woods with the dog, whipping-up terrific food in the kitchen and sitting fireside by the wood burner with a book or to watch British detective series or a good movie.

The critters that make their home in our woods have their own survival strategies to get thru winter.  Including the addition of new winter outerwear.  They do so by means of molting (shedding) their summer coat and swapping it out for winter pelage that is thicker, denser, water repellent coat of fur that provides superior insulation and camouflage.  

When you live half-way between the equator and the North Pole the fall molt is especially important to animals adapted to cold climates. That new winter coat serves two purposes - warmth and concealment. 

This time of year the ubiquitous deer appear fuzzy or chubby in their cold weather wardrobe.  Whitetail deer sport a uniquely adapted winter coat that efficiently absorbs scarce winter sunlight.  Solar heat is trapped by coarse outer guard hairs - each of which is hollow.  For added insulation the layer beneath is dense and soft - retaining heat close to the skin.  Deer also produce an oily substance that works thru the entire coat to enhance waterproofing.  These insulating qualities are so efficient that falling snow will collect on the animal without melting.  Furthermore, the dull brownish-grey winter coat this time of year is superb camouflage.   

The long-tailed weasel changes into all white winter coat.  Brown in the summer months with an identifying field mark in the form of a black-tipped tail year-round.  This species is larger than the short-tailed weasel and the least weasel (lacks a black-tipped tail).  

It is smaller than a mink who does not sport a white coat in the winter.

Indeed, like the mink, the fisher also does not sport white winter camouflage. One of the largest members of the weasel family the fisher's coat is characterized by a soft suppleness and so prized as a fur bearer that is was oft referred-to as the American Sable.

Raising a toast to warm, winter outerwear.