The covers feel really great on cold February mornings, especially when it is time to get up and go. Warm and secure, there is a strong impulse to remain in bed for as long as possible and delay the thermal shock of the world beyond blankets and quilts.
Despite that instinct, most residents of the area must rise, and hopefully shine, no matter what the thermometer might read. Traffic considerations, job requirements, school bells and the like will not wait for a comfortable temperature.
Beyond the heated home interiors, the other panhandle residents do not live under the demands which bind humans to an inflexible schedule. Many start the day later, waiting for the sun to warm the north Florida environment to a comfortable level.
Reptiles and amphibians are rarely seen in the open during cold winter days, but they are still here. Unlike some bird and butterfly species, they have neither the ability nor inclination to migrate to warmer latitudes further south.
This tiny toad is sheltering under decaying pine bark against late winter’s worst in north Florida. When the weather warms, it will return to its active and noisy nightlife.
Classified as cold blooded, their body temperatures fluctuate with the ambient thermometer readings. As the mercury drops, their activity and metabolism literally slow to a sluggish crawl.
Instinctively knowing they are vulnerable to killing freezes, as well as hungry mammals and birds, these furless creatures seek a safe and insulated spot to sleep off the hostile conditions. Fortunately, the region offers almost infinite possibilities for a winter’s repose in snug and safe habitats.
In undeveloped areas there are a variety of burrowing animals willing to share their home with, or at least tolerate, a tenant for the season. While not four-star accommodations, the burrows benefit from the insulating property of soil and remain above freezing.
Gopher tortoises, area natives, have ample room in their homes for fellow creatures. It is not unusual for larger snakes, both venomous and nonvenomous, to seek shelter in the tunnels which may reach ten feet from the opening.
Armadillos, the other frequent burrowers in panhandle Florida which are considered exotic pests, have warrens that may contain snakes. Armadillos usually have multiple burrows and may not be in residence when the reptile slithers in.
With thick protective skin, the fangs of pit vipers cannot penetrate the hide of an armadillo. With neither preying on the other, the coexistence of convenience lasts until conditions entice one to depart.
Decaying logs also offer an ideal lodging. The gaps and spaces offer cozy quarters for snakes, toads and lizards as the bacterial activity of decay produces a little heat to fend off the cold.
Additionally, the rotting timber is attractive to a variety of overwintering insects. On those waking warmer days of the season, the bugs and their larvae become a convenient buffet. It is almost like breakfast in bed.
Thick layers of leaf litter also offer suitable environs for many smaller reptiles and amphibians. Much like the refuge of decomposing trees, the leaves and pine straw offer protection, relative warmth, and an opportunity to snack.
Flower beds and mulch piles in the home landscape will be attractive to these seasonal tenants. It is common to find an unexpected occupant when the leaves and pine straw are raked away.
While not the ideal house guest, these winter boarders do have some advantages. They are quiet, they do not pillage the refrigerator and they leave in the spring without being asked.
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