By Zachary Kanode, Visitor Center Attendant
Winter is fast approaching, as can be gleaned from the few light snowfalls that have already greeted us this fall. Through these small glimpses of the approaching winter season, I have begun to think about how snow can not only impact, but also benefit the surrounding environment. Join me as we learn and appreciate some of the good that nature’s natural blanket provides.
As I just alluded, snow can oftentimes be thought of as nature’s blanket. It earns this name by the way that it seems to simply lay atop the ground, almost as if it were knit together. This attribute of snow highlights one of its greater benefits to the soil profile. As snow falls and
covers the forest floor, it acts as an insulator for the soil underneath, thereby safekeeping heat that is essential for the regular cycling of nutrients within the soil. This, in turn, protects the roots of trees and other plants from injury that can occur when soil freezes.
This blanket-like covering provides small mammals such as mice and voles with excellent protection from predators. Exceptionally thick snowfalls can provide these little critters with unique opportunities to burrow and navigate safely through paw-made tunnels to forage for food farther from home.
Did you know that playing in the snow can be good for your health? This is another great benefit that snow provides and is one that we have likely all experienced first-hand. Just like our own bodies, nature is brimming with all kinds of bacteria that can strengthen and support our physical health. Not unlike getting in the dirt, playing in the snow can introduce these bacteria to our bodies and help to strengthen our immune systems.
Can you think of any other great benefits that snow provides? Come out and see how these are unfolding at a park near you!
