Forest in Winter by Carol Lerner Each morning the sun rises a
little later and dips lower in the sky. The shorter days of fall
send a signal to every living thing in the forest. Winter is
coming! The summer birds have already flown south. Other forest
animals are growing thick new coats of fur. They search among
the dead leaves on the ground, looking for fallen acorns and
nuts, or ripe seeds and berries. Skunks, bears, and raccoons eat
as much as they can and put on layers of fat under their skins.
Squirrels bury nuts and acorns to store for winter. Chipmunks
and mice carry food to their winter nests. When winter comes,
woodchucks move into underground dens and begin a deep sleep
called hibernation. Soon the woodchuck's heart slows and its
body temperature drops almost to the freezing point. For months
it will not eat or drink. Bears and skunks take long naps too,
but their heart rates and temperatures stay close to normal.
Their winter fat helps feed them and keep them warm. A freeze
could kill cold-blooded