Look at the bottom of this page for the definition of any red words you don't know.

When I heard that nature had disappeared, I was on the case quicker than you could say "Jack Frost." Sure, I hadn't seen many animals around, but then I don't really like to go out when it's so cold. As I grabbed my scarf I wondered if nature really vanishes in winter, or if we just need to look a bit harder…

I met the kids in the backyard of Miho's house. "Hi everyone! Brrr…it's cold! So what's this I hear about nature missing?"

Steve said, "It is missing! Just a few weeks ago there were leaves and flowers and animals all around, and now it seems like there's nothing but snow!"

"Half the birds in the yard are missing!" added Miho.

Dwayne cried out, "All the ladybugs and squirrels have vanished!"

Then Maria said, "And there are no frogs or turtles in the pond at the park!"

"Where is everything, Marlow?" Steve asked.

I replied, "Hmmm. I think I can help you get to the bottom of this mystery. Let's take a walk!"

When we got to the park, I asked the kids, "Why do you think the leaves have fallen off so many trees and plants?"

Miho said, "Is it because it's harder for some plants to get the water they need during the winter because it gets frozen in the ground?"

"Exactly!" I cried. "That's why deciduous trees and perennial plants drop their leaves in fall and sort of go to sleep. That way they don't need as much water and they can live off the food in their roots until spring comes."

Dwayne asked, "But why don't Christmas trees lose their needles?"

"Well they do, just not all at the same time. That's because they're evergreens. Their needle-shaped leaves have a waxy coating that helps them conserve water during the winter," I answered.

Steve asked, "So what do all the animals do in winter?"

I told them, "Well, they're a bit like trees. When food and water are hard to find, some of them go to sleep for a long time. Others adapt to the colder months without hibernating."

"What do you mean?" asked Maria.

"Many animals grow thicker coats and gather lots of food in the fall so they can snack on it later. Beavers cut up branches and store them underwater, while chipmunks and squirrels bury nuts and seeds to dig up when they need them," I explained.

Miho wondered, "What do the hibernating creatures do? Don't they get really hungry?"

I said, "Animals can tell when winter is just around the corner. Creatures like bears and woodchucks prepare by building up lots of fat on their bodies during fall. When they go to sleep in their dens or burrows, their heartbeat and metabolism slow down so they don't have to use much energy. Frogs and turtles do the same thing."

Steve was alarmed. "But they're not in the pond are they? It's frozen!"

So I calmly said, "Some frogs bury themselves under leaves or in holes, but others can survive at the bottom of an icy pond. Like turtles, they can breathe through their skin and stay underwater without eating for many weeks during winter."

Dwayne asked, "What do ladybugs and other little bugs do?"

I smiled as I said, "Lots of small creatures like me get nice and cozy in our nests, or under something like tree bark until the warmer weather arrives. When it gets really cold, even active animals like squirrels and mice go to sleep to conserve energy."

"Are all the birds sleeping too?" Maria asked.

"Nope! Some have flown south to warmer places, but lots of birds don't migrate. They keep warm by fluffing up their feathers. Unfortunately, they often have a hard time finding enough food and water."

Then Steve yelled, "I know! Let's go indoors and make a bird feeder and a water bath for them!"

I replied, "Great idea!"

Back at Miho's house, I asked the kids, "Can you think of some other ways we can connect with nature during the winter?"

Dwayne suggested, "We can paint animals on stones from the garden so we don't forget about them while they're sleeping."

Maria said, "When we take down our Christmas trees each year, we can put them in our backyards to make shelters for wildlife!"

Steve piped up, "How about growing some seeds to make an indoor garden until it gets warm again?"

And Miho added, "Yeah! And we can make some awesome paper bugs to live in it!"

I was satisfied. "Great! Well, now that you've found nature, I'm going home to my nice warm nest. See you in the spring!"

 

Related Links • Find out what happens when hibernating toads wake up! • Make your own indoor Paper Garden! • Check out these cool migration facts. • Discover more ways your favorite insects spend the winter.

GLOSSARY WORDS:
Deciduous
A plant or tree that loses its leaves in cold weather and grows new leaves in warmer weather.

Perennial
A plant that grows year after year without being replanted.

Evergreen
A plant or tree that has green leaves all year round. Evergreens do not shed their leaves in fall like deciduous plants do.

Hibernation
Winter sleeping where an animal's temperature, heart rate, and body slow down so much that it might appear to be dead.

Metabolism
The process by which plants and animals convert food into energy.


Text, Sarah Eykyn
Illustrations, Yasushi Fujimoto