What About the Deer (and Other Critters)? — Cold Weather Edition

Historic cold weather has come to the Houston area. As NASA Johnson Space Center team members face their own challenges brought on by plummeting temperatures, many have asked, “What about the deer?” How does Johnson wildlife cope with unusually cold winter weather? To answer that question, I spent some time today taking photos around Johnson of our local wildlife dealing with frigid temperatures.

The deer are fine. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have a natural range that expands far north into Canada, so they are well-equipped for cold temperatures. They have thick, oily fur that both retains heat and keeps them dry — even in the most inclement weather. Like deer, Johnson’s coyotes (Canis latrans) have seasonally thick fur coats to keep them warm. When faced with winter storms, both these mammal species will alter their behavior to conserve energy and seek shelter from chilling winds and rain.

A small group of deer raise their fur to better insulate their bodies near Building 2. A coyote sporting his winter coat in the forest near Building 358. 

The reptiles at Johnson must adjust to the cold weather differently than mammals. Because these ectotherms have, at best, limited abilities to produce their own body heat, they must conserve energy by slowing down their metabolism. Turtles will nearly completely shut down their physiological activity, to a point that their barely move and barely breathe. They ride out the cold weather in the muddy bottoms of Johnson’s waterways.

Our alligators similarly undergo brumation. They stop eating as the temperature drops and may stay completely still for days. When temperatures are low enough to freeze their aquatic homes, they will position their noses just above the waterline so they can continue to breathe if a layer of ice forms on the water’s surface.

A red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta) lays motionless on the muddy bottom of the ditch near Building 333, conserving as much energy as possible until the weather warms. A peek through the cattails at Building 44 shows an alligator in the retention pond that remains parked with its nostrils above the water surface in preparation for surface ice.

Johnson’s birds have a variety of strategies to deal with cold weather. Many migratory birds spend the winter in the neotropics, far from the dangers of freezing temperatures. For the birds that remain on-site, they have a variety of adaptations to stay active throughout the winter. For small birds with fast metabolisms, puffing up their downy feathers helps hold in the body heat they produce. Wading birds that plod through cold and icy water can allow the temperature of their feet to drop while maintaining their core body temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 

A mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) puffs its insulating feathers to brace against the cold wind near the Energy Systems Test Area. A white ibis (Eudocimus albus) wades through the frigid water of the canal and uses its long bill to capture a crawfish burrowed deep underground hiding from the cold. The ibis can conserve heat by allowing its extremities to get cold while keeping its internal organs warm.

Whether they hunker down for the duration or stay active and warm, the native wildlife are a resilient group. These animals will survive through this cold snap and continue to thrive. As the weather warms and employees begin to return to site, keep an eye out for these local animals that call Johnson their home.