While most people are not enjoying the cold weather, a few of the animals at Forestry Farm Park and Zoo are loving the icy temperatures!

Jeff Mitchell, who is the Manager of Forestry Farm Park and Zoo, says the Arctic wolves in particular are thriving in the cold as their bodies are adapted to fit the climate.

“They’re absolutely loving the weather; our three girls are definitely designed and ready for the Arctic weather. Their fur coats have really grown in this year, and they have the unique adaptation of fur on their paw pads. So, they really don’t get cold, it’s pretty amazing what those girls can do.”

Along with the Arctic wolves, a few cat species are also loving the snow, including the zoo’s snow leopard, who Mitchell says, uses its tail to keep itself warm.

“They have a really cool adaptation; their tail is almost as long as their body. They lay their tail over their face, and it almost acts as a scarf, so they’ll breathe in and out through their tail and it helps to warm up the air as it goes in and out of their lungs.”

Another cat that loves the winter is the Pallas cat, which is native to the Himalayas. Mitchell says their bodies are also built to endure the cold.

“She’s a smaller cat with very large paws in size compared to her body size to help her navigate the snow. She has very dense fur and she just absolutely loves the snow and the winter weather!”

So next time you’re sitting at home wishing for the cold to go away, remember that someone’s enjoying it!