Fur & feathers

How do mammals and birds stay warm in the winter, dry in water, and protected from wind and sun? They’ve got fur or feathers!

Just like how we wear sweaters, coats, scarves, and hats in the winter, mammals and birds have layers of fur or feathers to keep warm and dry. The first layer close to the skin is soft and fluffy—this keeps the heat in, like a sweater. The outer layer is smoother and stiff—it’s like a raincoat, or a jacket that blocks the wind.

Let’s take a look at a few animals to see how their fur or feathers helps them stay comfortable where they live!

Can you guess what this animal is?

It’s a beaver! Where do you think it lives? 

Beavers live in rivers, streams, ponds and marshes. They build dens in the water made mostly of tree branches and mud. Their dens have entrances both above the water and also underwater. Since they spend so much time in the water, their fur has to be both warm and waterproof. 

Beavers have an outer layer of waterproof fur called guard hairs that they coat with oil from their skin. This fur is long and coarse.

Their inner layer of fur is called underfur and is very soft and dense—it holds in the heat from their body to keep them warm.

Can you guess what this animal is?

It’s a raccoon! Where do you think it lives?

Raccoons are very adaptable and can live in all sorts of places: forests, marshes, riverbanks, lake shores, and, of course, cities! While they’ll sleep in trees or burrows during the day, they spend the nights foraging and hunting for food. They are great swimmers!

Raccoons have an outer layer of stiff, coarse guard hairs which helps protect them from wind and keeps them dry when swimming or if they get caught in the rain.

Their inner layer of fluffy underfur keeps them warm. It is less dense than the underfur of a beaver, but longer.

Can you guess what this animal is?

It’s a rabbit! Where do you think it lives?

Rabbits are also adaptable to many habitats. They can live in meadows, forests, grasslands, prairies, deserts, and cities. Even though rabbits aren’t spending as much time in the water as a beaver or raccoon, they still need protection from water and wind.

Rabbits’ guard hairs protect them from wind and rain. Their guard hairs are shorter and thinner than beavers’ and not as coarse as raccoons.

Their underfur is very long and fluffy which lets it trap a lot of heat in the air pockets between the fur (like a big parka or a sweater).

Can you guess what this animal is?

It’s a mallard duck! Where do you think it lives?

These ducks can live in lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, wetlands, and swamps. Since they spend most of their time in the water, they need an outer layer of waterproof feathers called contour feathers to help stay dry. 

Contour feathers (the flight and body feathers) are stuff and slick just like a raincoat. The contour feathers also block wind when the ducks are flying.

Ducks have a thick inner layer of fluffy feathers called down that are good insulation for flying up high where it’s cold, or for sitting on chilly water all day.

Move around your home checking out the different fabrics and materials. What materials around your house would make a good rain coat? What materials would help block the wind? Which materials would make good underfur or down to help stay warm?