Story and photos by Karen Povey, WNPF Board of Directors
When snowfall brings a hush to high elevations in our national parks, most animals retreat to warmer climates or hunker beneath the snow to spend winter in a state of torpor. But a few hardy creatures are out and about all winter long. So, strap on those snowshoes and look for wildlife during your next visit to the mountains!
Most birds migrate away to avoid the cold and lack of food, but the parks’ resilient resident birds seem little affected by the seasonal deep freeze. As the very inventors of down jackets, our feathered friends stay warm wrapped in this most excellent insulation.
Wonder why their tiny toes don’t freeze from all that standing around on the snow? Birds’ feet have very little tissue inside – they’re mostly bone, scales, and tendons – so there’s not much to freeze. Birds’ feet stay warm thanks to a countercurrent heat exchange system. Warm arterial blood runs through a netlike array intertwined with the veins carrying cold blood from the feet, allowing just enough heat transfer to keep them from freezing when balanced on frosty perches.
Birds you’re most likely to see on a winter park visit are the adaptable corvids – ravens, Canada jays, and Steller’s jays. These birds all cache food and have amazing spatial memory to track where they’ve stashed meals to see them through the winter.
Bold and boisterous Canada jays (formerly known as gray jays and sometimes “camp robbers”) are well known to the hikers and snowshoers whom they badger for handouts. Although it’s tempting to offer these beggars your lunch scraps, remember it’s against park regulations to feed wildlife. Don’t worry, these hardy birds cope just fine without extra treats. Be sure to enjoy the antics of these entertaining and highly social birds while you protect your snacks from their ambushes!
Steller’s jays are beautiful cobalt and black birds with a jaunty crest. They are much more timid than Canada jays so look closely for flashes of blue among the evergreens and listen for their harsh, screechy cries. Ravens can often be seen soaring in pairs over the highest slopes, keeping in touch with one another using hoarse, croaking calls. Look for their spade-shaped tails and large size to distinguish them from their crow cousins.
Washington’s national parks’ most famous mammals, such as bears and marmots, spend winters asleep, snug in their dens. But other mammals remain active year-round. The most obvious mammal in the parks is the Douglas squirrel. These energetic rodents stockpile huge quantities of cones and seeds to serve as their winter larder. Look for a large debris pile of stripped fir cones at the base of a tree signaling a squirrel nest in the limbs above.
Deer and elk move to lower elevations in the winter but can still be seen in and around snowy regions of the parks. They sport thick coats of hollow hair that trap warm air next to their bodies, keeping them toasty and dry, even during storms. Deer are at their most beautiful in these snowy settings, so be sure to pause and appreciate an encounter.
Many predators also remain active when the snow comes to the high country. Cascade fox, Canada lynx, wolverine, cougar, weasel, and coyote can all be glimpsed by those fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. More often, these elusive animals only make their presence known through tracks left behind in the snow.
If you’re up for a winter walk, this is the best season for detecting signs of all those creatures that usually remain unseen. Tracks of rabbits, foxes, deer, and rodents reveal the richness of the life that persists even during the deepest freeze. Challenge yourself to identify the creatures leaving their mark by taking a photo of the track, along with an object to provide scale. Once home, use a guide to animal tracks to learn who you crossed paths with and imagine what was keeping them busy in the snow.
A great way to discover tracks and learn more about winter wildlife in the parks is to join a ranger-guided snowshoe hike at Mount Rainier or Olympic National Parks. Having an expert share tips on enjoying the season provides a memorable introduction to winter recreation.
Want to learn more about how wildlife copes with cold in Washington’s national parks? Check out this story. And whether you’re snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, or simply strolling a park path, be observant of the signs of winter wildlife to make your next national park visit that much richer!
About the Author: Karen Povey, Former Conservation Engagement Manager for Metro Parks Tacoma, is a zoologist, educator, writer, and conservationist. Find more of Karen’s work at www.wonderwildcreative.com. Washington’s National Park Fund is the official philanthropic partner to Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, raising funds for priority projects that study and protect wildlife in all three parks. Learn about the projects we fund, and how you can help.
Cover photo: A Canada Jay sitting on the handle of a trekking pole with Mount Rainier in the background, captured by Karen Povey