Learn a little more... with a link!
- Website Article: Science Made Simple, How Do Animals Spend the Winter? | Find out more about how animals survive the cold.
- Images: National Geographic Photo Ark, 10 Animals That Have Winter Down Cold | Picture these animals that love the cold.
- Website Article:The Spruce, 11 Winter Wonderland Animal Crafts | Make one of these fun winter-loving animals.
Read the script:
BURR. THE COLD WEATHER HAS BEEN IMPACTING ANIMALS TOO; LIKE THESE PANDA BEARS AT THE NATIONAL ZOO IN WASHINGTON D.C.
CHECK OUT MEI XIANG – SHE DOESN’T SEEM TO MIND TUMBLING THROUGH THE WHITE STUFF. VISITORS CAUGHT HER SOMERSAULTING IN THE SNOW. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ZOO, GIANT PANDAS ARE NATIVE TO THE COLD CLIMATE AND MUCH MORE ACTIVE IN THE WINTERTIME.
NOW – ‘YOU’ MIGHT THINK THE COLD IS GREAT FOR PENGUINS, RIGHT? BUT AT A ZOO IN CANADA, THE PENGUINS WERE ACTUALLY BROUGHT INSIDE -- BECAUSE IT WAS TOO CHILLY!
CALGARY ZOO WORKERS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS JUST TOO COLD OUTSIDE; FOR THE KING PENGUINS IN PARTICULAR. THE WIND CHILL THERE MADE IT FEEL LIKE MINUS 40 DEGREES. THE ZOO CURATOR SAID THE BIRDS ARE ABLE TO WITHSTAND EVEN COLDER TEMPERATURES, BUT SINCE THESE PENGUINS AREN’T WILD, THE ZOO DIDN’T WANT TO SUBJECT THEM TO THE CHILL.
LUCKILY THE WEATHER HAS WARMED UP, SO THE PENGUINS WERE ABLE TO RETURN OUTSIDE AND KEEP UP THEIR NORMAL PLAY --- LIKE POPPING BUBBLES!
SEA TURTLES IN THE ST JOSEPH BAY ON FLORIDA’S GULF COAST NEEDED A LITTLE EXTRA HELP WARMING UP. MORE THAN 80 TURTLES WERE RESCUED BY THE GULF MARINE INSTITUTE, AFTER THEY BECAME STUNNED BY THE COLD WEATHER.
THE INSTITUTE SAYS WHEN WATER IN SHALLOW BAYS DROPS BELOW 50 DEGREES, THE TURTLES CAN BECOME SHOCKED. THEIR HEART BEAT SLOWS DOWN AND THE TURTLES AREN’T ABLE TO SWIM AS WELL.
VETERINARIANS HAVE BEEN EXAMINING THE TURTLES, PLACING THEM IN WARMER WATER, AND RELEASING THEM BACK INTO THE WILD WHEN IT IS SAFE.
BUT IT’S NOT JUST TURTLES THAT CAN GET STUNNED BY THE COLD. IGUANAS ARE VUNERABLE TOO. REPORTER MAXINE BENTZEL HAS THAT STORY.
MAXINE: WHEN TEMPERATURES DIPPED OVERNIGHT - THE IGUANAS IN SOUTH FLORIDA COULDN'T HANG LITERALLY.
EMILY MAPLE/REPTILE KEEPER: "THEY'LL FALL OUT OF TREES. THEY'LL END UP IN AREAS WHERE YOUR CARS ARE, PARKING LOTS. YOU'LL SEE THEM IN A LOT OF AREAS WHERE THEY'RE COLD STUNNED."
EMILY MAPLE THE REPTILE KEEPER AT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY ZOO SAYS THE COLD BLOODED INVASIVE SPECIES FREEZE WHEN IT GETS BELOW 45 DEGREES.
EMILY MAPLE/REPTILE KEEPER: "IF IT'S JUST FOR A DAY OR TWO THEY WILL JUST GET TO WHERE THEY'RE COMPLETELY FROZEN IN TIME. THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO BREATHE. THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO DO BODILY FUNCTIONS JUST VERY SLOW."
SO WHEN YOU FIND THEM LIKE THIS - THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY DEAD.
EMILY MAPLE/REPTILE KEEPER: "ONCE IT GETS ABOVE 50 DEGREES THEY'LL START TO ACTIVATE AND MOVE AROUND."
WE SPOTTED SOME IGUANAS SUNNING THEMSELVES TODAY - AND EVEN STAYING WARM IN THE WATER.
BUT IF THE TEMPERATURES DIP BELOW 45 DEGREES FOR MORE THAN TWO DAYS THEY'LL LIKELY DIE - OFTEN FROM PNEUMONIA.
SO IF YOU DO FIND ONE AND WANT TO HELP...
EMILY MAPLE/REPTILE KEEPER: "PUT THEN OVER TO THE SIDE IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TO PUT THEM IN THE SUN OR PUT THEM OFF THE ROAD SO YOU'RE NOT RUNNING THEM OVER."
AND THEY MAY JUST THAW OUT.
RICK: IN THIS WEEK’S POLL WE WANT TO KNOW: HOW DO ‘YOU’ REACT TO THE COLD? YOU CAN CHOOSE: I PLAY IN THE SNOW LIKE A PANDA. I RUN INSIDE LIKE A PENGUIN. OR I FREEZE LIKE A SEA TURTLE.
YOU CAN VOTE ONLINE; AND WHILE YOU’RE THERE, WRITE TO US! WE WANT TO KNOW WHICH ANSWER YOU CHOSE AND WHY!