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The Outdoors
Leaves are changing around the state and especially in Hartman. This means that many animals are getting ready to survive the winter. Some of those species include reptiles and amphibians--how do they survive without a furry coat?! Because reptiles and amphibians are ectothermic poikilotherms, meaning they gain heat through their environment, their internal body temperature adjusts to external temperatures. So, when winter comes around for these animals, they aren't able to get as warm as they need to be to function properly. For many species, their metabolism slows. Aquatic turtles will move to below the frost line in water so they don't freeze. Many frogs, salamanders, and snakes will either bury themselves underground, or find somewhere underground where they can hibernate throughout the winter. Photo: Garter snake found at Hartman.
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