Deer and the Weather IV

O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions – Psalm 104:24

One very cold winter morning, this snow-covered young buck walked through our backyard. I think the temperature was close to single digits. The water in the black bucket at the animal’s feet was frozen solid.

Deer generate internal body heat by burning energy from the food they’ve eaten. This internal heating system allows the deer to keep a relatively constant body temperature regardless of the surrounding environment.

The body temperature of a healthy white-tailed deer such as the one pictured above, averages 101.4 degrees Fahrenheit. (The average body temperature of humans is 98.6 degrees F.).

One of the systems the Creator of the universe has put inside deer to allow them to maintain their body heat (once it has been generated by utilizing some of their food intake), is enabling them to grow thicker fur during cold winter months. The growth of this heavier fur coat is triggered mainly by decreased photoperiod (day length) in the fall, along with dropping air temperatures. The thickening of the fur helps hold the heat inside the deer’s body and keep it from escaping.

The outer layer of the deer’s fur consists of long, hollow hairs which trap their body heat. Underneath this layer are short, very dense hairs to add even more insulation for the animal. This design is so efficient that snow can actually accumulate on top of a deer without even melting, as shown in the above photo. In addition to this, the snow itself becomes a very efficient insulator for the animal (see Mountain Snows – I).

All of these things happen without the deer ever having to do anything to initiate the process. It is how they were created.

Intelligent design.

Intelligent Designer.

If you’ve never thought about how you could have a personal relationship with the One Who created you, along with the entire universe, please see Got God?

Hope you have a great day.