USFWS Southeast Region

How Do Animals Survive Winter? ❄️

🐸 Freeze to Live: Wood frogs literally turn into blocks! They produce a natural antifreeze that protects their cells until thaw.

🐦 Fluff & Shiver: Birds puff up their feathers to trap warm air—think of it as nature’s down jacket. With thousands of feathers, that insulation really adds up!

🐢 Underwater Breathers: Snapping turtles slow down and stay submerged under frozen lakes, breathing through their skin and even their… cloaca (butt). They can last over 100 days without coming up for air!

🤗 Group Hug: Bats huddle together in a survival tactic called kleptothermy—sharing body heat to beat the chill.

Nature’s winter hacks are wild, right?

Photo 1: wood frog by Peter Pearsall/USFWS
Photo 2: blue jay by Chad Gustafson/USFWS
Photo 3: Suwannee alligator snapping turtle by Greg Brashear/USFWS
Photo 4: Indiana bats by Andrew King/USFWS

🦅 Help Protect America’s National Symbol!

On Dec. 5, 2025, a bald eagle—our nation’s iconic bird—was illegally shot and killed in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.

This is a federal crime under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and we need YOUR help to bring the person responsible to justice.

Penalties:
⚖️ Up to 1 year in prison and significant fines (higher for repeat violations).

Reward:
💰 Up to $2,500 for information leading to a conviction as authorized by federal law.

How to Report Tips
📞 Louisiana Operation Game Thief: 1-800-442-2511
📱 Text: LADWF + tip to 847411 or use the free “LADWF Tips” app
📞 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Daphne, AL): (251) 441-5181
✅ Requests for anonymity will be honored to the fullest extent of the law.

Together, we can protect these majestic birds. Share this post and help spread the word—because every tip matters.

📷: Todd Harless/USFWS

Learn about the critical work behind wildlife law enforcement.

When days are short and nights are long, the cardinal is bright, vocal, and present. It feels like nature’s way of hanging a red light in the winter woods.

Reasons why cardinals are one of the most magical gifts of the season:

🔴 They look like a living ornament
Against snow or bare winter trees, a bright red cardinal looks impossibly vivid.

🎶 They sing all winter
Unlike many birds, cardinals keep singing in December and January. Their clear whistles cut through cold air when most forests are quiet.

💑 They symbolize love and remembrance
Cardinals mate for long periods and often stay close year-round. Many cultures associate winter cardinals with hope, comfort, or messages from loved ones.

🌲 They don’t migrate
Cardinals stay put through winter, which makes them feel like guardians of the season rather than visitors passing through.

📷: Erin Huggins/USFWS