In Minnesota, we love to chat about the weather. This edition of From the Trails is all about temperatures and frost. Learn something new to spice up your small-talk!
Fall temps can be unpredictable. We already experienced lows in the 30's and highs in the 80's this October—and our first frost at Dodge on October 16. What happens to plants and animals when frost forms?
Newly-formed frost on cattail plants on the Farm Pond at Dodge Nature Center’s Main Property.
Frost is frozen dew, freezing the water cells in plants and killing them. Frost doesn't kill all plants and some have adaptations to live through it.
Milkweed, a common prairie plant, goes into a state of dormancy to preserve nutrients to sprout strong in the spring. It’s above-ground leaving body dies off, but the root system underfoot remains alive through winter.
White-tailed deer experiencing the first frost at Dodge Nature Center’s Main Property on October 16, 2024. Photo credit: Jim Kammerer
Animals use frost as one indicator for migration and hibernation, helping them know that winter is coming—but some animals stay put.
White-tailed deer, a local resident at Dodge, are well adapted to survive Minnesota’s frosty winters. Their winter coat of hollow hair traps body heat and their metabolism slows down, allowing them to survive on less food.
Minneapolis (and other places around the Twin Cities) have not had their first frost yet. Frost usually happens first outside of big cities—they trap heat with human activity. If you love closer to the city, keep an eye out for your first frost.
Frost-covered forest at Dodge Nature Center’s Main Property.
One activity you can do each year with frost and other seasonal changes is exploring phenology. Phenology is the documentation of the natural change of seasons in relation to climate, plant, and animal life.
Better yet, you can become a citizen scientist! Scientists may use your phenology observations—like first frost dates—documented in apps like iNaturalist or eBird in their research.
Watch this video from naturalist Teresa Root on how to become a citizen scientist and learn about projects you can join.
Contributing author: Naturalist Becca Maxwell
From the Trails is originally shared in our monthly news & activities emails. Join our email list here.