Away go the bicycles and swimsuits. Out come the sleds, skates, and boots. When the days get short and the weather gets cold, you and your family change what you do and how you do it.
Animals in the wild change what they do and how they do it, too. When winter comes, food and water are in short supply. Frigid temperatures make it harder for animals to keep their bodies warm. Snow and ice change how and where they can move.
Some animals, like monarch butterflies and many birds, migrate to warmer places. But many animals stick around, changing what they do and how they do it to cope with the unique challenges of winter. Some stash food. Some change their bodies or behavior. And others just snooze the season away.
Let's take a look at how some of Minnesota's common creatures continue to thrive when days get short, temperatures plummet, and snow blankets their world.
