A curious listener asked, “How do wild animals and livestock survive the wide temperature swings of Kansas in February and March?” The answer is that they might use several strategies. One is acclimation. Most animals, whether native or introduced, have been around long enough to get used to Kansas temperature swings. They are able to tolerate the conditions because they have become accustomed to these swings. Another strategy is migration. This might mean moving off the hilltops into the valleys or moving from open pastures to more sheltered areas. A final strategy is to avoid the extremes. For wildlife that might mean staying in a den or nest until more pleasant conditions return. Fortunately, the extreme weather is usually of a short duration and the extreme cold or extreme heat is replaced by more moderate weather.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu