West Virginia Wildlife from Eyewitness News

Winter Wildlife

West Virginia critters in the winter

March 26, 2008
Reporter: Patrick McMurtry
Videographer: Brad Rice

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Spring has the perfect combination of brisk, frost filled mornings and warm days. That means you'll be seeing more animals around in the woods. The winter is over and it's time to get back in business.

Rob Silvester/DNR Biologist says:
"Animals basically have several different types of strategies that are unique with some animals. They either put on a layer of fat which most animals do-they increase their intake of food and increase their body fat. They usually will shed into a winter coat."

For some, that's not an option...Have you ever seen a fat bird? While some do spend the winters in west virginia, other's literally head south for the winter.

Rob Silvester/DNR Biologist says:
"Another thing they can do is actually leave the are, they migrate. Several species of birds migrate. Migration is one of those stories and one of the facts about wildlife which is very interesting and most misunderstood. Animals also tend to migrate as far as they need to to find their food source."

Some birds migrate as much as 15 thousand miles. Other animals take a more laid back approach.

Rob Silvester/DNR Biologist says:
"Another thing they can do is go into a winter sleep or hibernation. Most rodents will go into a true hibernation where they'll go into a den and not come out until spring. Bears, on the other hand, are just a sleeper-they will go into their den and sleep."

When the weather turns nice, the bears come out. Chances are they're out and around now. Winter's over and the animals are heading back into the mountain state woods. For west virginiai wildlife, i'm patrick mcmurtry, eyewitness news.

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W. Va. DNR

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