By Paula Musto
Daylight is short. The air is chilly and we wake up to icy windows and maybe even a sprinkling of snow. But this is a great time to bundle up and venture outdoors to enjoy wildlife.
You don’t have to go far. The Western North Carolina Nature Center is an ideal place to view animals during the winter months when there are fewer crowds, and many creatures are more active than during the summer months. As an added bonus, the winter landscape, devoid of heavy foliage, makes wildlife stand out more clearly. “It’s a magical time of year,” says Chris Gentile, director of the Nature Center, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. “Especially in January, after the holidays, it’s a quieter time and a great opportunity to see native wildlife in a winter habitat.”
Bryan, an American Pygmy goat. Photo courtesy of the WNC Nature Center
Typically, Asheville does not have many snowy days, but, according to Gentile, when there is an accumulation on the ground, the Nature Center transforms into a winter wonderland, a special treat for young and old alike. “It’s an absolutely wonderful sight to watch our animals play around on snow-covered grounds,” he says.
Winter-active mammals rely on fur and fat to keep them warm. Beginning in late fall, the Nature Center’s wolves, cougars, bobcats and coyotes instinctively grow added layers of thick, insulating coats. Some grow two types of fur: a downy undercoat and a coarser overcoat, double coverings that fend off the chill even on the coldest days. The Nature Center’s farm animals, including hairy sheep, goats and Willy, the Sicilian donkey, similarly bulk up. And the cold never bothers Obi-Wan, the resident river otter, whose layers of dense, waterproof fur protect him on icy days.
Visitors might catch a glimpse of Uno and Ursa, two black bears who fatten up to more than 500 pounds this time of year thanks to the vast quantity of food they consume each fall before entering a wintertime state of dormancy. Unlike the bears in arctic climates, Uno and Ursa do not truly hibernate but rather spend the winter in torpor, a deep sleep from which they awake from time to time. On a sunny winter’s day, when the thermometer inches up, Uno and Ursa are known to venture outdoors for a bit of fresh air before retreating back into their cozy quarters.
This month, visitors will have the opportunity to meet newcomer Bonli, a red female panda, who recently joined Phoenix, the Nature Center’s solo male red panda. These wooly-tailed critters lived in our region millions of years ago, evidenced by fossils discovered in the nearby Tennessee mountains. Today, they are an endangered species found only in Central Asia. Despite sharing a common name with the better-known giant pandas, red pandas are a separate species more closely related to raccoons and skunks than bears. With luxurious, furry coats, they stay warm even on the coldest days and, like all pandas, they love to frolic and play in the snow.
Some of the Nature Center’s animals live exclusively indoors, largely unaffected by cold weather. These include several species of reptiles and amphibians, including the largest salamander in North America: the hellbender. Elvis, the shy, black-and-white striped skunk has his own indoor quarters. Others, including flocks of chickens, can escape into sheds along with the other barn animals.
The Nature Center is celebrating an important post-Hurricane Helene milestone this month when a temporary bridge onto the property opens to replace a circuitous, alternate route put in place following the 2024 storm. The Nature Center’s grounds and buildings escaped Helene with minimal damage and the animals were unharmed, but a collapsed bridge over the Swannanoa River cut off the main entrance. The new, temporary structure will provide access directly into the parking lot and is expected to stay in place several years until a permanent replacement can be constructed.
The Nature Center is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. A trip there provides a fun reason to get out and enjoy the Appalachian winter. So, grab your hat and mittens. The animals will be happy to see you.
Paula Musto is a writer and volunteer for Appalachian Wildlife Refuge which cares for injured and orphaned wildlife. Consider donating to support wildlife conservation efforts and help protect WNC’s native species at AppalachianWild.org.
