WILDLIFE REPORT FROM N.H. FISH AND GAME - JANUARY 31, 2006 

New Hampshire's wildlife are taking advantage of the mild winter -- as 
long as it lasts! 

IN THIS ISSUE:

   * There's a Lotta Winta Left In New Hampsha!
   * Backyard Winter Bird Survey, February 11 and 12
   * Turkeys Enjoying Mild Weather
   * New Hampshire's Seven Sleepers


THERE'S A LOTTA WINTA LEFT IN NEW HAMPSHA!

Don't be fooled by the January thaw that lingered longer than usual 
this year. While it seemed like winter's grip has loosened, it will only 
take another good winter storm to bring us back to reality. Sure, 
wildlife took advantage of the reduced snow and ice; as we all did. Bear 
biologist Andy Timmins had several reports of bears mid-January bellying up 
to bird feeders all around the state. It was a midnight snack for the 
bears! Ducks and geese were quick to dabble in the open water or graze 
like sheep in the green fields exposed by the thaw. Woodchucks, though, 
remained in their slumber, unaware of the green grass on their roofs. 
That's because below ground in a woodchuck's burrow, where they snuggle 
below the frost line, conditions change very little from week to week.

The lack of snow is a disadvantage for some wildlife. What about all 
those snowshoe hares that are white this winter? Plus, what about all the 
mice, voles and other little scampering critters that count on a thick 
layer of snow to tunnel in to hide them from the preying eyes, and 
talons, of a barred owl or red-tailed hawk?

While a January thaw can be a nice break from winter, a winter that 
lingers into spring that can dramatically affect the survival of this 
state's wildlife. If you want to know how winter has affected the state's 
wildlife, ask me in May. -- Eric Orff, Wildlife Biologist


BACKYARD WINTER BIRD SURVEY, FEBRUARY 11 AND 12

New Hampshire Audubon (NHA) needs assistance from citizens all over New 
Hampshire to determine the status of bird species in the state. 
Participants in the annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey on Saturday, February 
11, and Sunday, February 12, will help N.H. Audubon get a clearer 
picture of what's really happening with our winter birds this year.

Anyone can participate in the Backyard Winter Bird Survey simply by 
counting the birds in their own backyard on the survey weekend and sending 
the results on a special reporting form to N.H. Audubon. Last year, 
more than 1,200 observers submitted data from every county in the state 
and tallied more than 56,000 birds of 73 species. 

To receive a copy of the reporting form and complete instructions on 
how to participate, send a self-addressed, stamped, long envelope to: 
NHA, Winter Bird Survey, 3 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH 03301-8200. Forms 
are also available at New Hampshire Audubon centers in Auburn, Concord, 
Laconia, Manchester and Moultonborough; or you can find them on the 
N.H. Audubon website, along with more information about the survey, at 
http://www.nhaudubon.org. -- Julie Klett, Communications Director, New 
Hampshire Audubon


TURKEYS ENJOYING MILD WEATHER

Fish and Game's Turkey Project Leader Ted Walski reports that New 
Hampshire's wild turkeys are taking advantage of the warmer weather and lack 
of deep snow. A mid-winter check of eight dairy farms in the western 
part of the state (important winter feeding sites for wild turkeys) 
yielded a count of more than 550 birds in just a few days, in spite of the 
fact that many of the birds were wandering in search of green grass and 
other greens in bare ground sites on southern and western slopes. By 
the middle of February, lengthening days with strong sunlight will warm 
areas of southern exposure, melting snow and uncovering acorns and other 
food left from last fall. The New Hampshire turkey population going 
into spring 2006 looks like it will be in good condition, Walski says. 


NEW HAMPSHIRE'S SEVEN SLEEPERS

With the January thaw and light snow bringing more wildlife activity 
than we sometimes see this time of year, we thought it might be handy to 
refresh readers on the seven types of mammals that dodge the depths of 
New Hampshire's winter by snoozing it away. 

Bats, woodchucks, chipmunks and jumping mice go into a deep sleep, or 
hibernation. For these animals, life nearly ceases; they are at death's 
door. Yet, somehow, an alarm clock built into their bodies awakens them 
at just the right time. Imagine if you could hit the snooze button for 
four more months! These animals have a weight loss program that works, 
too -- the winter sleepers lose between 25 and 50 percent of their 
weight while sleeping. Rounding out the seven sleepers, bears, raccoons and 
striped skunks sleep during the cold months, but not as deeply as the 
true hibernators. Sometimes they snooze only during the coldest, 
snowiest parts of the winter. 

Woodchucks are masters of winter sleep. By late September, when air 
temperatures drop into the 40s, woodchucks go into hibernation. The 
woodchuck's weight will drop by about half over the winter. Its heart rate 
plummets from 105 beats per minute to just 4, and body temperature drops 
from 104 degrees F to about 38. 

Bats are also true hibernators. By late August or September, five 
species of New Hampshire bats are headed for their winter dens. These are 
usually caves or mines, not necessarily in this state, but possibly as 
far as 200 miles away. The last days of summer were spent adding about 25 
percent to their body weight in order to have enough fat to last the 
seven months in hibernation. Bats' heartbeats slow from 210 per minute to 
just 8. Their body temperature may drop from nearly 100 degrees F to 
32. Shivering prevents bats' body temperature from dropping below 
freezing. 

Jumping mice, both woodland and meadow, occur across the state and, 
like bats and woodchucks, are true hibernators. They curl into a little 
ball and sleep for two or three weeks at a stretch, briefly awaken, then 
resume their torpor. Their body temperature hovers just above freezing. 

Chipmunks are winter wanderers between weeks-long periods of sleep. 
These little creatures take the time in late fall to store a cache of 
winter food which they eat during waking periods over the winter. 
Typically, chipmunks have excavated one or two chambers in their underground 
burrows and have filled them with hundreds of nuts. They, too, are true 
hibernators, as their body temperature drops from 96 to 106 degrees F to 
as low as 42-45 degrees F. Their heart rate slips from 60 per minute to 
20. A mild winter day with little snow and an abundance of acorns will 
draw chipmunks out of the den for a winter scamper. 

Bears may double their weight in late fall in preparation for denning. 
Autumns with a lack of nuts and other foods can send some bears into 
their dens as early as September. During falls with an abundance of nuts, 
especially beechnuts or acorns, bears often will stay active into 
December. Bears usually build a den on top of the ground or under a 
blow-down or brush pile. Their winter sleep is not as deep as that of the true 
hibernators, as bears remain alert and can run away or defend 
themselves if disturbed. Their body temperature drops only about 10 degrees, 
from 100 degrees F to 90. Respiration drops more significantly, from about 
40 to 8-10 breaths a minute. Unlike chipmunks, bears do not eat or 
drink or even relieve themselves during the 5-6 months of denning. Yet 
adult female bears give birth to two or three cubs in January about every 
other year. They are able to nurse the cubs and care for them during the 
coldest of months by relying on body fat stored from the
previous fall. 

Raccoons and striped skunks are the last of the winter sleepers. Unlike 
the true hibernators, these animals may sleep only during the coldest 
temperatures and the deepest snows, but remain active periodically. 
There is no dramatic reduction in their body temperatures, heart rate or 
respiration. Life goes on, just at a slower pace. Just like us humans! To 
conserve energy, both raccoons and skunks congregate in communal dens. 
Often, it will be the mother and her young from the summer who will den 
together, but sometimes as many as 12 to 20 raccoons may den together. 

Skunks enjoy the company of other skunks, as well; there can be 20 or 
more in a den, but usually no more than 10. Skunks, especially females, 
prefer to make their winter dens under or in buildings. Did you notice 
a telltale odor of skunk during the skunk-breeding season in January? 
Male skunks may travel over two miles a night in search of that den full 
of vivacious babes. Squabbling males or reluctant females may cause a 
stir that will include some spraying. Keep that clothespin handy! The 
denned skunks tend to have two or three brief active periods each day, 
each lasting less than 10 minutes. Skunks have a slight depression in 
body temperature and lose between 40 and 58 percent of their body weight. 

New Hampshire's seven sleepers are snuggled into their dens for a long 
winter's nap. Wouldn't it be nice to sleep through that next big 
snowstorm, or, better yet, that ice storm when the power is out? Plus, great 
news - "you snooze, you lose." If you've put on a few extra pounds this 
winter, remember, the solution is only a nap away. -- Eric Orff, 
Wildlife Biologist (Adapted from Wildlife Report, December 2003.) 

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- 
Copyright 2005 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, 
Concord, NH 03301.  Comments or questions concerning this list should 
be directed to lpoinier@wildlife.state.nh.us.