Winter Solstice
What’s the most magical day of the year? For many people, it’s December 21st, the longest night of the year and the winter solstice—the day with the least amount of sunlight in the entire calendar year. It’s also known as Yule or Midwinter, depending on where you are in the world. In Northern Hemisphere countries like Canada and the United States, it falls on December 21st every year, while Southern Hemisphere countries like Australia and Argentina celebrate it annually between September 22nd and October 23rd.
Winter Solstice in Animals
The winter solstice, which falls on December 21 each year, has been a time of celebration and gathering in many cultures for thousands of years. But although humans often join in to celebrate or honor holidays such as Christmas or Hanukkah, wildlife doesn’t observe these dates—nor do they respect national borders. Animals can be found worldwide and are influenced by many factors throughout their lifetime—including winters. Many animals hibernate during cold months; others move to more temperate areas during autumn, while some stay put and wait it out until spring arrives. For example, Some birds migrate from Mexico to Canada every fall and return every spring. Moose head into forests after summer ends (and sometimes when hunting season begins) because hunters cannot shoot them within 250 yards of open water. These animals have also adapted to handle colder temperatures, but that doesn’t mean we should leave them alone.
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