As natural landscapes change from a mix of brown, red, orange, and yellow to snow white as far as the eye can see, many animals do the same for hunting and safety purposes. Here, we're putting the spotlight on a few impressive and stylish winter coats.
Hares and Jackrabbits
The many hares and jackrabbits of the tundra are the leporid family masters of rapid outfit changes. You might see them scampering around Northern Canada, Northern Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic Islands, among other areas in the polar circle. Their fall esthetic is a minimalist white fur coat with a touch of brown at the tip of the ears; a solid style that lasts until spring. This stylish coat camouflages hares and jackrabbits from predators such as arctic foxes and snowy owls. Arctic hares cannot store much fat, so they must constantly scavenge for plant shoots under the snow. The long hairs on their paws act as fancy footwear that protects them from the frigid snow as they scavenge for food.
Arctic Foxes
Arctic foxes are the cute and mellow cousins of red foxes. You'll need to travel all the way to the polar circle to visit this periodically furry member of the canid family. In Alaska, arctic foxes range from the arctic and Bering seacoasts to the Aleutian Islands. They begin to grow their thick white winter coats in September and strut on the cat--or fox--walk uninterrupted until May, when their coats begin to shed. In addition to keeping the little creatures warm during the harsh polar winters, their coat blends in with the endless expanses of snow, allowing these stalk-hunters to continue their regular hunting practices despite the change in scenery.
Weasels
Last but not least, the least weasel is by far the fussiest member of the mustelid family, and insists to change coats for the winter. They live in maze-like burrows found throughout the Northern United States and Canada. A Least weasel's furry winter coat appears soon after the crack of autumn, and sheds at the dawn of spring, to revert to it's brown fur and beige stomach. Perhaps to propel itself to the height of the fashion game, a weasel leaves a spot of brown on the tip of its long tail to divert predators. A weasel's coat keeps it warm and, although it does help the swift predators hunt, it's camouflage coat protects it from hunters such as foxes, hawks, coyotes, and falcons. With adapted winter-wear, nothing stops theses cute, curious critters.
The Climate Change Conundrum
For these and countless other arctic animals, staying up to date with fashion trends can be a life or death matter. Unfortunately, because of human-induced climate change, the fashion seasons are changing faster than the animals' wardrobes. As the climate warms, snowy periods are shorter and shorter. While the polar backdrop retains its fall colors, animals' white coats still appear in September. The white critters stand out, making them less successful hunters and more susceptible to predators. As natural selection begins to favor individuals that do not grow white coats, those who do grow winter coats suffer increased predation and a reduced diet. Arctic hares and jackrabbits, arctic foxes, and weasels--among many others--may become nothing but a tale of the past.
Want to learn more? Curiosity Stream documentary recommendation: "Tundra" (https://curiositystream.com/video/4535)
Sources:
"Arctic Hare." National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/arctic-hare
"Arctic Hare." Oceanwide Expeditions. https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/wildlife/arctic-hare
"Arctic Fox." National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/arctic-fox
"Do Arctic Foxes Change Color." Polar Guidebook. https://polarguidebook.com/do-arctic-foxes-change-color/
"Arctic Fox." Denali Education Center. https://www.denali.org/denalis-natural-history/arctic-fox/
"Least Weasel." University of Minnesota Duluth. https://mnmammals.d.umn.edu/least-weasel
"Climate change has left some weasels with mismatched camouflage." The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/climate-change-has-left-some-weasels-with-mismatched-camouflage-97138
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