1. Growing a thicker coat: Their fur becomes denser and longer during the fall, providing excellent insulation. They often shed their summer coat in the fall to make way for this thicker winter coat.
2. Fluffing up: Deer can "fluff" their fur, trapping more air and creating a thicker layer of insulation.
3. Shivering: Just like us, deer shiver when cold. This involuntary muscle movement generates heat.
4. Huddling together: During very cold nights, deer may huddle together in small groups for warmth. This is more common among fawns and young deer.
5. Reducing activity: They become less active in winter to conserve energy. They spend more time resting and foraging for food, rather than running around.
6. Adapting their diet: Deer switch to eating higher-calorie foods like twigs, buds, and bark during winter to fuel their bodies and maintain their core temperature.
7. Using shelter: They will seek out sheltered areas like dense forests or thickets to break the wind and provide some protection from the elements.
8. Having a layer of fat: Like other animals, deer store fat during the fall which provides insulation and energy reserves.
9. Natural antifreeze: Deer have a special protein in their blood that helps prevent their blood from freezing in very cold temperatures.
Even with these adaptations, deer are vulnerable in severe winter conditions, particularly if food is scarce or heavy snow makes foraging difficult.