Winter coats
Has the cold weather forced you to dig out your winter coat? A few animal species do something similar. These species don’t just change their coat to stay warm – changing colour is also an important survival mechanism. It helps them blend in with the landscape and stay hidden from predators.
Take a look at some of the species in Scotland that change their coats for winter. How many can you spot on your winter walks?
Mountain hare
Did you know the mountain hare is Scotland’s only true Arctic mammal? It lives in altitudes above 300 to 400m. In the summer, their grey-brown coat keeps them hidden amongst the rocks and heather. In winter, white fur blends in with the snowscapes common at higher elevations. This keeps them hidden from predators like birds of prey.
They’re also common in heather moorland. When the weather cools down, they take shelter in woodland and coniferous plantations – finding extra cover from birds and storms.
Ptarmigan
If you’ve ever been walking in the Highlands, particularly in the Cairngorms, then you may have come across ptarmigan. Known as tàrmachan (meaning murmuring) in Gaelic, they tend to stick to higher ground so they can live and raise their young in peace.
They have a mix of brown and grey feathers in the summer with a distinctive white breast. In the winter, their coat changes to white all over to help them blend in with the snow. They also develop thick feathers on their feet which act as a type of snowshoe. They often stand together and fly low over heather and rocks.
Pine marten
Pine martens used to be widespread across the UK. Substantial hunting activity has reduced their numbers and they are now mostly found north of the Central Belt in Scotland. They sport a characteristic yellow bib on their chest. Each individual has a distinct pattern making it easier to identify them. Their brown coat grows thicker and lighter in the winter months, keeping the animal warm and helping them blend in with the changing environment.
We’ve undertaken some work over the past few years to help stabilise pine marten numbers in Scotland. We also help translocate animals to form new populations in England. They are a natural predator for grey squirrels and can help improve red squirrel numbers.
Stoats
These look similar to pine martens but are smaller and have a white belly. They’re excellent climbers and have a tendency to take on larger animals like rabbits. They normally have a brown coat and black-tipped tail – however, in colder areas, this can change.
In northern Scotland, they turn completely white from late November to blend in with the snow. This state is known as being in ermine. They keep their distinctive tail year-round, so this is a great way to identify them. In southern Scotland, only around 30% change their colour, and in England, very few change at all.
Reindeer
Though rare in Scotland, there is a managed, free-roaming herd of reindeer living in the Cairngorms that was introduced in the 1950s. Also known as caribou or fiadh-Lochlannach in Gaelic, their long flat backs and moose-like faces set them apart from red and roe deer. Both males and females of all ages grow antlers every year.
In the winter, reindeer change their coats to something lighter in colour and with a dense layer of guard hairs to survive the cold and wind. The Cairngorms is the only sub-arctic climate in the UK, so this change is essential to cope with the harsh weather conditions.