The CantmIre Post

The winter storm that recently hit North America had a noticeable impact on the mail delivery services of FedEx and UPS. However, it is not just these companies that were affected by the storm. Wildlife biologists have reported that foxes were also affected as they are highly sensitive to winter weather.

Foxes tend to prefer cold temperatures as they are able to survive in extreme conditions better than many other animals. Due to this preference, foxes have adapted well to live in various climates from the Arctic tundra to even some deserts. As such, when exposed to extreme cold weather conditions like those experienced during the recent winter storm, foxes become more vulnerable as their bodies struggle to adjust quickly enough and can lead to them becoming ill or worse due to cold exposure. Studies have shown that foxes are particularly prone to hypothermia when exposed to freezing temperatures for long periods of time.

For this reason, wildlife biologists and conservationists caution people that any drastic changes in temperature may put fox populations at risk of harm or death due to their inability to cope with sudden shifts in climate. The recent winter storm is a prime example of how a single event can cause serious disruption even for species used to living in extreme environments like the fox. Fortunately, most areas affected by the storm were able recover quickly enough so as not too cause significant damage but it serves as an important reminder that even small changes in weather can adversely affect wildlife populations if left unchecked.