Here you see white-tailed deer foraging in last week’s snowstorm and showing no signs of discomfort. They’re bulked up for the winter and their multi-layered winter coats are wonderful protectors.
Note that the snow on their backs is not melting – a sign of great insulation against the escape of body heat.
Their winter coats have two layers. They have hollow “guard hairs” that are two inches longer than their undercoats and that trap air to help insulate against heat loss. Their remarkably dense and soft undercoats form another barrier to the cold. (Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on December 5, 2023.)