Just when you think you can't take anymore of the cold, here are a few signs that spring is on the way.
Something Wild: Signs of Spring in Winter
Air date: February 25, 2005
Welcome to this week’s edition of Something Wild. I’m Rosemary Conroy for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
Winter is more than halfway over, if you measure from the winter solstice in December to the vernal equinox in March. But as any Granite Stater can tell you, this season can often seem like it can go on forever.
That’s why it is so important to get outside and get a dose of that every lengthening sunshine on your face. Believe it or not, the winter woods are full of life and perhaps, can help you make it through this all-too-frozen time.
So layer up, strap on your snowshoes or cross-country skis, and take to the trails.
The first thing you’ll notice is all the animal tracks criss-crossing the snow. The wildlife that doesn’t head south for the winter or sleep through it remains active all season long. A field guide can help you identify the creatures that call your local woodlands home.
Many of them, in fact, are thinking spring-like thoughts already. Foxes, coyotes, and skunks, to name a few, will soon be moving about looking for mates. Look for single sets of tracks to pair up in the next few weeks.
Many interesting signs of animal life can be found around wetlands. Our largest member of the weasel family, the otter, loves the snow. They often flop down on their bellies to slide down the snow. Look for their distinctively marked runs between swamps.
While you are there, check to see if the local beavers are home. They spend the winter snuggled down with their families in their lodges. You can often see an opening in the snow covering these giant twig houses where their collective breath has escaped.
Besides visual signs, listen for the first spring songs of chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. For me, that’s the most hopeful sign that spring is certainly — if slowly — on its way.
Something Wild is a joint production of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, NH Audubon and NHPR.
For Something Wild, I’m Rosemary Conroy.
