Ecology

Enjoying the outdoors all winter long

Amanda Markle
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve

(1/2022) So far this year our mid-Atlantic winter has been on the mild side, but chances are, at some point over the next few months, we will hit a stretch of true winter weather. Cold, wet, and—if you aren’t properly prepared—miserable. When it comes to braving the cold, it’s best to look to the experts- the animal experts that is. Animals have spent millions of years developing effective strategies to face frigid temperatures and luckily, we can take inspiration from their hard-earned survival techniques without having to do all the evolutionary work ourselves. With a little planning and a lot of layers, the outdoors can be enjoyed comfortably all year long.

Clothing choices are key when it comes to keeping out the cold. Outerwear can get expensive, especially from some of the trendier brands, but the most important thing when considering a winter coat is that puffiness will serve you well. Consider the animals you see active during the colder months, with extra thick winter coats of fur, or feathers fluffed up; all that bulk traps a layer of air close to their bodies, which is exactly what you want to do. Puffy coats filled with down or Primaloft can hold in a lot of air. Your body heat will get trapped and held within, helping to keep you warm.

Length is important when it comes to choosing a winter coat as well. Longer coats keep in more heat; look for something that extends down at least past your hips. Be extra aware of parts of your body that touch the ground. You lose heat much faster through conduction (direct contact) than you do from heat simply radiating off your body. Penguins will lean back and balance on their feather-insulated tails to keep their feet off the frozen ground. Humans lacking a feathered tail can add extra insoles to their shoes to put another layer between their feet and the ground. If you stop to rest, make sure you sit on a blanket or use your backpack to keep your body off the cold ground.

Any moisture next to your body will chill you quickly, so it’s important to keep dry any way you can. Many birds have specialized oil glands they use to preen their feathers, making them essentially waterproof, but you’ll need to add an extra layer or two to keep dry. A water- and wind-proof outer shell is great to keep out snow and rain, and your innermost layer should wick moisture away from your body- avoid cotton and go for synthetic fabrics, wool, or silk instead. Bring along extra gloves and a hat so you can switch them out if they get damp, and consider using antiperspirant anywhere you know you sweat heavily. Plan your layers and activities in a way that will keep your heart rate up but minimize sweating. Remove layers as soon as you start to sweat, put them back on whenever you rest.

Carefully choosing what you put on your body isn’t the only consideration to make when spending extended periods in frigid temperatures; what you put into your body is important too. Some animals, like bears, squirrels, and beavers, spend all autumn fattening up, relying on a thick layer of fat to keep them warm and store energy, but humans are typically better off with a bit more moderation. Small snacks are better than big meals when trying to stay warm. Digesting a large meal can pull blood—and warmth—away from your extremities and to your digestive system as your body focuses its energy there. Carry along small, high-energy snacks like trail mix; if you can eat it without taking your gloves off, even better.

Frogs need to pay close attention to their blood glucose levels during freezing temperatures as well but in a far more extreme way. Some frogs allow parts of their bodies to freeze over the winter. That freezing signals its liver to convert glycerol into glucose. The glucose circulates to the frog’s major organs and prevents ice crystals from forming there, protecting these vital body parts even when other parts are frozen solid. Humans aren’t able to pull off such a trick, but a thermos of hot chocolate or sweetened hot tea can give you a burst of energy and help warm you from the inside out. Keep hydrated, but relieve yourself frequently. A full bladder will draw a lot of heat away from other parts of your body.

Socializing outdoors in the winter months can be a great way to stay connected with family and friends, especially in times when germs spread in indoor spaces is of high concern. Even solitary animals like skunks like to hunker down together in their dens when the temperature drops (though only the females—males prefer to stay solo even if it does mean no one to cuddle and keep warm with). Bonfires, winter sports, or just casual walks can all be great ways to bring people together, but remember that different individuals will have different needs when outside in cooler weather. Anyone unable to keep moving consistently while outdoors will need to consider extra layers of clothing or other methods of keeping warm.

Most animals give birth in the spring so their young have as much time as possible to toughen up before winter hits, but even the smallest humans can enjoy winter with a little forethought from a protective adult. People spending time outside with children, who are more likely to get wet playing in the snow and spend more time sitting on the ground, should consider bringing along a complete change of clothes for them- or at least something dry and warm to wear on the car ride home. Children should bundle up, but not so much that they sweat excessively.

When dressing a young child to spend time outdoors in the cold, a good rule to go by is to give them one more layer of clothing than you yourself would wear. Keep puffy coats and snow pants off children riding in car seats- all that puff is perfect for trapping heat but will prevent you from pulling car seat straps tight enough to keep them safe. Use a blanket in the car or have children put on their coats backward after strapping them in. Women may need to make extra considerations when spending time outdoors as well; studies have shown that while women typically have warmer core temperatures than men, their skin temperature can run 3-10% colder than that of men, causing them to experience cold more readily than men do.

When it comes to winter weather, there’s no need for humans to hibernate. Nature offers unique sights, sounds, and experiences this time of year that would be a shame to miss. Whether you want to take a quiet hike on a snowy day, cross country ski along your favorite trail, or even just birdwatch at your backyard feeder, don’t let the cold keep you inside. With proper planning and a few tips and tricks borrowed from the animal kingdom, you can stay warm and comfortable outside all season long.

Amanda Markle is the Environmental Education Manager of the Strawberry Hill Foundation. Strawberry Hill inspires stewardship of our natural world by
connecting the community with educational opportunities.
 Learn more by visiting StrawberryHill.org.