The words "autumn migration" bring to mind flocks of waterfowl, pods of whales and herds of large herbivores such as elk, reindeer or wildebeest. But, on a much smaller scale, our local wild creatures are also wandering about, preparing for winter.
Anyone who travels the backcountry in October will see a large number of box turtles, crossing the treacherous roadways as they search for food and wintering sites. Over the next few weeks, they will feast on berries, mushrooms, succulent plants, insects and earthworms as they prepare for a winter beneath the soil. In like manner, small mammals such as raccoons and opossums, having dispersed from their family groups, wander through the countryside, putting on fat and searching for winter dens.
Hikers who venture out on rainy autumn days may also encounter large, yellow and black salamanders along the trails. Unlike their reclusive cousins, these eastern tiger salamanders leave their summer digs to search for a pond in which to winter. Feeding on slugs, insects and earthworms along the way, they will spend the colder months buried in muck at the bottom of the pond.
