© 2023 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations

Connecticut’s unseasonably warm winter is shaking up routines for some wildlife

Winter Storm Bobby
Tyler Russell
/
Connecticut Public
Birds perched on a tree in Vernon, Conn., in January 2022.

The unseasonably warm winter is changing wildlife habits and befouling normal migrations in Connecticut.

With little snowfall in the state so far this year, animals don’t have to shuffle through snow to hunt for buried food. But that lack of snow also means small animals can’t use the snow to hide from predators.

Jenny Dickson, director of the state’s wildlife division, said warm winters could also have long-term impacts on hibernating species.

“If they wake up and it’s already been warm for a while, and they missed those prey items that might have been available when they first normally would wake up, what does that do?” Dickson said. “How does that change their ability to find food once they do wake up?”

Dickson said the warm weather has less of an impact on bears, whose hibernation is tied more to “denning” behavior than to weather patterns.

But for birds, some northern species have left the state to seek colder areas, Dickson said. Birds like waterfowl and bald eagles have been seen in Connecticut longer than expected because bodies of water aren’t frozen and continue to provide a source of food.

“Some of the things that we’re seeing play out already is that a lot of species that have more of a southern range are now able to move into Connecticut and survive a lot longer,” Dickson said. “They don’t have to shift back down.”

Connecticut, and every other New England state, experienced its warmest January on record last month, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Michayla Savitt is a reporter at CT Public, with an interest in covering climate change and the environment. She was a newsroom intern for the station in summer 2022, but began her time there as a production intern for WNPR's local talk shows. Michayla is an alumna of the health & science reporting program at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. Before that, she was a reporter/anchor for various radio outlets in New York state.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content