December 21st - Today is the first day of winter! While for many of us winter means hot chocolate, crackling fires, and cozy sweaters it can have a much bigger meaning for the wildlife in the Spring Mountains.

Wildlife can survive the harsher winter conditions in many different ways. Small critters like the endemic Palmer's Chipmunk may hibernate through parts of the winter. Some birds like the Western Tanager will spend its summers in the Spring Mountains then migrate south into Mexico for the cold winter season. Nevada's state bird, the Mountain Bluebird, won't migrate nearly as far in the winter but will rather travel down to slightly-warmer lower elevation areas.

Animals that do not migrate or hibernate will find other ways to adapt and survive, including growing a thicker winter coat and storing up some extra body fat.

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