How to enjoy winter: 5 lessons from wildlife

From bears to squirrels to frogs, some animals take rest and relaxation to a whole new level during winter.

To conserve energy, many animals enter a state called torpor, lowering their body temperature and slowing their breathing, heart rate, and metabolism. Perhaps the most famous example is brown bears (Ursus arctos), known for their four-to-six-month winter slumber. Bears typically den up in caves or hollows, periodically waking to readjust their position, preventing pressure sores and optimizing heat retention.

Though bears are often referred to as hibernators, they're actually not considered "true hibernators" because of these periodic wakeups. True hibernators are mammals that undergo a prolonged state of torpor, during which they remain in near-death-like states throughout the entire winter. These include only a few species, like some bats, hedgehogs, ground squirrels, and marmots. Cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians enter a similar state called brumation, where their metabolic rate plummets in response to dropping temperatures.

Perhaps the most extreme winter survival strategy belongs to wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus), which endure the harsh winters of northern Alaska and Canada by freezing solid. As temperatures drop on the forest floor, wood frogs’ livers flood their bloodstreams with glucose, acting as a natural antifreeze that prevents ice crystals from forming inside their cells. These frogs spend winter as leaf-covered popsicles—no heartbeat, no breathing, no detectable signs of life. Come spring, they simply thaw out and hop away, resuming life as normal.

While wood frogs may take "low power mode" a bit too literally, there's wisdom in the strategy: sometimes the best way forward is to freeze certain aspects of life temporarily and wait for better conditions to emerge.

Animals living in frigid climates have developed ingenious strategies for surviving freezing temperatures. The most obvious adaptation is fur. While many animals sport coats celebrated for their striped or spotted beauty, a few possess exceptionally effective insulation.

Take mighty musk oxen (Ovibos moschatus), which thrive in sub-freezing Arctic tundra temperatures. These hardy creatures boast remarkable two-layered coats that maximize heat retention. The inner layer, called qiviut, is a soft, dense underwool protected by an outer layer of stiff, shaggy guard hair. Indigenous peoples of the Arctic have long prized musk ox qiviut as a superior material for warm clothing.

While many animals have adopted unique strategies to survive resource-depleted winters, others opt to skip the cold season altogether and head south.

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) from North America migrate nearly 3,000 miles to escape the winter chill. Every September and October, monarchs embark on an extraordinary journey from the United States and Canada to Mexico. Those from the east travel to Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains, while their western counterparts head to California's Pacific coast. This arduous migration can take up to two months, with these delicate butterflies covering 50 to 100 miles per day.

North American sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis), easily recognizable by their striking red crests, long legs, and expansive grey wings tipped with black, also migrate south for the winter. Like monarchs, these graceful birds prefer basking in the warm weather of Mexico, California, Texas, and other southern states rather than enduring harsh northern winters. Come spring and summer, they reverse course and return to their breeding grounds in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.

But not all winter travelers take to the skies. Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) swim south from the coastal waters of New England and Canada to the warmer seas off Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. These sheltered waters serve as essential calving grounds where pregnant females give birth before making the return journey North to feed and breed.

When winter gets tough, these seasonal travelers have the right idea—sometimes the best solution is simply to find warmer shores.

So as snow begins to fall, take inspiration from the creatures who've mastered the art of winter. Whether you're hibernating like a bear, playing like a penguin, or migrating like a monarch, remember that winter isn't just a season to survive but an invitation to discover which strategy helps you thrive.

Research and text by Callie Cho