Winter is a magical season in the Canyonlands region. There is a hushed silence that envelopes the region because the weather and road conditions limit access to the wild. Snow and ice are common, as are cold temperatures that make camping challenging even for the hardiest campers.

Many of the wildlife species continue with their daily lives as the search for food resources to sustain themselves during the long winter hours. Some wildlife such as black bears, golden-mantled ground squirrels, or yellow-bellied marmots snooze away the winter in deep slumber. During hibernation, their metabolic functions such as breathing and heart rate, slow down to reduce the need to burn calories. These creatures live off fat reserves put on during the late summer or fall, and hopefully, these reserves carry them through the winter.

Marmots, who live in alpine environments and feed on vegetation will also hibernate together, sharing body warmth to stay alive. In addition, they plug the burrow entrances to minimize heat loss to the air. Golden-mantled ground squirrels hibernate alone.

In contrast to the solo slumber of the squirrels, many species of snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, may gather in dens called hibernaculum, to stay alive in winter. They don’t enter true hibernation but enter into an inactive state called brumation. This sluggish state allows for the mixing of species without fear of predation. Lizards, which are also cold-blooded creatures like snakes, will also brumate through the winter.

When snow lies deep on the ground, there is a whole world of activity that takes place beneath this insulating layer. Small mammals such as mice and shrews, will tunnel along this interface of snow and ground, to seek out vegetation or seeds. This subnivean zone environment provides important shelter and protection, as well, for rodents and small mammals.

Of course, predators have evolved to be able to hear these small rodents moving about below the snow surface. Owls, foxes, coyotes, weasels, and other predators will listen for movement, then pounce on their prey. Watching a fox or coyote work a field or meadow for prey is a thrilling experience.

Deer and elk wade through the snow to reach browse, mostly shrubs and small trees. Bitterbrush, cliffrose, rabbitbrush, and sagebrush are important winter forage plants for mule deer, whereas elk forage more on aspen, willow, mahogany, juniper, and pinyon seedlings and twigs. When the snow depth becomes too deep, these long-legged creatures will move down in elevation to areas that have less snow. This winter range is very important to sustaining these creatures, without adequate forage they could starve or become more susceptible to predators.

Bobcats and mountain lions are two predatory but elusive cats that roam the Canyon Country. Bobcats have small feet, so they try to navigate around the snow on rocky ridges, downed trees, or in shallow snow. Their tracks may be all that one sees of this mainly nocturnal animal.

On the other hand, mountain lions have large, palm-sized feet with thick fur which act like a snowshoe, enabling this big cat to get around on the snow. Mountain lions will follow the deer and elk herds onto their winter range where these predators will hunt. Males have extensive home ranges which may overlap with several female’s ranges. Seeing a mountain lion at any time of year is a rare occurrence.

In addition to the mammals, there is a great variety of bird life active in winter. Hawks and eagles hunt for small mammals out in open grasslands, while accipiters such as the sharp-shinned hawk and Cooper’s hawk, may prowl backyard feeders in search of songbirds. Many of these songbirds are seedeaters such as sparrows, finches, jays, nuthatches, and chickadees. Robins and waxwings may forage on juniper berries, while mountain and western bluebirds feast on these seeds as well as those of dogwood, mistletoe, and other seed-bearing plants. If there is a warm spell, these birds will seek insects and spiders to complement their diets.

So, enjoy the hushed tones of winter in the Canyon Country this January and keep an eye out for the other wild creatures that inhabit this magnificent landscape, as well.