Surviving the Winter: A Porcupine & Ruffed Grouse Perspective

Across North America, winter imposes harsh conditions on wildlife. The severity of these conditions varies across the country and species display amazing adaptations to survive this unique set of environmental challenges. UW–Madison PhD student Pairsa Belamaric has investigated animal responses and adaptations to winter conditions–from the seasonal scouting behavior of porcupines in rainy Northern California to Ruffed Grouse surviving the winter weather here in snowy Wisconsin.