How do non-hibernating animals survive the winter?

Animals that do not hibernate adopt different strategies to adapt to cold winter conditions. Here are a few common ways that non-hibernating animals spend the winter:

1. Migration: Some birds and some mammals choose to migrate to warmer areas before the onset of cold winter. They fly or travel thousands or even tens of thousands of kilometers to find suitable food and climate conditions. When winter ends, they return to their original habitat.

2. Store food: Many small mammals and birds accumulate enough food in summer and autumn for winter consumption. They bury their food underground, hide it in tree holes, or store it elsewhere. In this way, they can continue to obtain nutrients during seasons when food is scarce.

3. Find hiding places: Some animals will look for safe refuges before winter comes, such as rock caves, tree holes, underground caves or thick vegetation. These places provide protection from cold temperatures, wind and snow.

4. Looking for a warm place: Some animals will choose to find a warm place in winter to spend the cold days. They may rely on body hair, subcutaneous fat, or thick feathers to maintain body temperature. For example, animals that are out in the open may seek shelter from the wind or chill, or huddle in woods or rock piles to stay warm.

5. Reliance on artificial supplies: In some cases, human intervention and artificial supplies can also help non-hibernating animals survive the cold season. For example, people can place food on bird feeding tables for birds to forage in the winter. Likewise, people can provide food or safe shelter to certain mammals.

It should be noted that different species of animals adopt different strategies to adapt to winter, depending on their physiological characteristics, habitat and living habits.

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