Some, like Canada geese, don’t mind the rain, while others do and have developed ways to protect themselves during storms.
You may remember our January 2016 blog, “Where Will Animals Go During a Snowstorm?”, where you learned how wildlife survives heavy winter snow.
I was curious about how the animals cope with summer thunderstorms, so I asked Kristen Sinclair, an ecologist with the Park Service, about their habits and preferences for rainy weather.
Here are some common members of the Fairfax County wildlife community and their tolerance for rain.
Deer: Deer go about their business in a light rain.
Some deer hunters say light rain is the best time to hunt.
In heavy rain, deer will seek shelter.
Squirrels: Squirrels have leaf nests in tree branches or, like woodpeckers, in hollow trees.
Hollow tree nests provide better protection from the rain.
Some young squirrels can actually drown in open nests during a spring storm.
Adult squirrels use their tails as umbrellas and will go out in the rain.
Birds: This woodpecker has built a nest in a tree, so it is safe from storms.
Most birds have oil glands that they use for grooming, so their oil-coated feathers are essentially waterproof.
The water rolls off them, well, just like a duck’s back.
Their feathers are not waterproof, so they usually won’t hunt in the rain.
Beavers: Beavers have oil glands in their skin that help maintain their body temperature, which is very helpful since they spend so much time in and near water.
The oil makes their fur waterproof, just like feathers make birds.
Fur and feathers are designed to repel water, and beaver fur does just that, so animals don’t mind the rain.
However, they make their homes on the water, so large floods can destroy their homes.
Raccoons, foxes, mice, rabbits and other small mammals: mammals that live underground will hide in their burrows.
They build dens to avoid flooding, which allows wildlife to shelter at home during a severe storm.
Bats, like this silver-haired bat, actually have fur and are mammals.
If they get wet, their body temperature can drop quickly, and the water affects their ability to fly.
Bats will hide under certain trees where the bark provides space and protection.
Insects: Those that fly cannot fly in the rain, especially butterflies and moths.
The best time for butterflies, like this Great Spangled Fritillary, is hot and sunny.
Insects hide under the leaves of trees to stay dry, using the leaves the way people use umbrellas.
Fish: Since they live exclusively in water, they are not affected by rain, although they can move due to the change from sunny to cloudy.
Fish sometimes become active and feed before a storm, perhaps due to changes in atmospheric pressure, but any young walleye or bass that mistake raindrops on the surface for food is a quick learner.
Salamanders and frogs: Amphibians love the rain!
Remember that amphibians spend time in and out of water.
Salamanders, like this spotted one, migrate and breed in the rain, using small ponds created in the forest by storms.
Snakes: Some snakes are adapted to water, such as water snakes and water moccasins, but those that don’t usually spend time in water would probably avoid it as much as possible.
Water would not necessarily help their measure, and in desert climates some species are known to take refuge in man-made structures, including human houses, during rain.
In case of a strong storm, like a hurricane, everything is hidden.