TRURO, N.S. — Recently, while walking through the woods on one of the many snow-less days we have experienced in January thus far, I saw a ruffed grouse ...
A snowshoe hare can be difficult to see on a blanket on snow. ContributedTRURO, N.S. — Recently, while walking through the woods on one of the many snow-less days we have experienced in January thus far, I saw a ruffed grouse fly up from where it had been sitting on the ground in a brush pile. Upon a closer look, I could see something white that appeared to be bouncing around. Quietly, I moved closer and could see a white weasel bounding through the low shrubs.
An interesting thing about the sighting is that it was so easy to see it in its bright white fur among the snowless, dark-coloured background. It was a sitting duck, only it was a running weasel. The experience raised the question about the pros and cons of the natural adaptation that causes certain animals to change into winter white to blend into their usual habitat.
Obviously, different animals use different camouflage tactics. For example, fur-bearing wildlife use different tactics than those with scales and feathers. The colour change on an animal such as a weasel, takes weeks to change to white from its normal brown upper body and head colouration. In contrast, animals with scales can shed and change colours quickly.
Likely the most well-known animal in Nova Scotia that makes good use of camouflage by way of changing fur colour is the snowshoe hare. The length of daylight triggers the change of fur. In the spring, hares shed their winter white coats for their warm season brown colours. Similarly, when the later fall day length decreases to a certain amount, the brown fur is replaced with white. It takes eight to 10 weeks for this process to occur.
المملكة العربية السعودية أحدث الأخبار, المملكة العربية السعودية عناوين
Similar News:يمكنك أيضًا قراءة قصص إخبارية مشابهة لهذه التي قمنا بجمعها من مصادر إخبارية أخرى.
A Walk in the Woods: Making big progress with land protection – many options for landowners | SaltWireTRURO, N.S. — The Nova Scotia Nature Trust is an organization that makes it possible for woodland owners to have their properties become protected forever.
اقرأ أكثر »
COMMENTARY: N.L. nurses feeling broken, forced to walk away from jobs they love | SaltWire'The last thing patients or our registered nurses need is a stalemate between the provinces and federal government over desperately needed healthcare funding,' writes Yvette Coffey and Linda Silas.
اقرأ أكثر »
SaltWire Today: Your online Halifax newscast | SaltWireYour online Halifax newscast for January 27, 2023.
اقرأ أكثر »
‘Long overdue’: Hantsport, N.S., firefighters celebrate opening of new station | SaltWireHANTSPORT, N.S. — Within minutes of settling into their new station, Hantsport firefighters were already on the road, answering their first call. For ...
اقرأ أكثر »
Rehabilitation of Centreville, N.S., Concrete House will ensure structural integrity | SaltWireCENTREVILLE, N.S. — Centreville’s Charles Macdonald Concrete House will be structurally sound for another century because of work to rehabilitate the ...
اقرأ أكثر »
Behaviour slips at P.E.I. elementary school being used to 'publicly shame' students, say parents | SaltWireThe parents are not happy. A group of parents of students attending Stratford Elementary School is upset with a behaviour-improvement system at the school they say is causing more harm than good. | SaltWire
اقرأ أكثر »