Kids learn how animals get ready for winter

Not all animals hibernate for the winter.  In fact, quite a few of them remain active all winter long, says Lake Meyer naturalist Larry Reis.  Reis spoke Thursday to a crowd of 15 attentive kids at the Decorah Public Library.

He brought along furs from red and grey fox, muskrat, raccoon, weasel, mink, beaver, otter, bobcat, rabbit, skunk, badger and squirrels.  Reis says the badger might be the fiercest of those animals, but most of the larger animals feed on small animals.  They also eat tree bark, roots and other plants that are still accessible during winter.

Reis says most of the adaptions for winter involve the animals' coats.  It is typical for an animal's fur coat to either get thicker or change colors as winter approaches.