New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff

What's happening this winter in New Hampshire right now. (video)

Wednesday 01/22/2020

While we all may be stuck inside on some of these frigid days and it seems like we ra ein the depths of winter in New Hampshire, some animals are already getting ready for spring and raising families.

Yes it's time to listen these cold nights for owls calling and coyotes yodeling. And by day it is our grey squirrels who are readying for spring with the annual squirrel chase and starts the breeding season for them. Owls will be setting up territories and getting a nest ready for eggs that will happen in February. Coyotes will be breeding and giving birth in April. In fact several of our mammals will be giving birth in April so breeding seasons will be underway for them too. Grey squirrels breed early and give birth 44 days later in early spring. The young will stay with them for three months, then the squirrels may produce another later in summer.

I can't help but think that many of our song birds that disappeared early last fall are feeling the urge to start heading north for the long trip from Central and South America. Most of them will time it to be here in April just when New Hampshire is experiencing an explosion of new life.