How cottage-country critters conceal themselves from hungry predators—and from us

Cottage-country critters use all kinds of camouflage strategies to conceal themselves from hungry predators—and from us

BY JACKIE DAVIS

FIGHT OR FLIGHT. That’s survival in the animal world. But what if you can’t fight? And what if you can’t flight? You have to hide. The ability to camouflage is an adaptation, and, just like other adaptations, it emerged through evolution. Individual animals with a genetic mutation for camouflage would survive to pass the genes down to their offspring; eventually, the trait would become part of the whole species’ genetic makeup. From bugs to birds to baby deer, here are a few camouflage strategies that you can spot—or not!—in cottage country. how to blend in The simplest way to hide is to disappear into your surroundings. (That’s why Batman dresses in all black.) Frogs, turtles, and snakes use this strategy. The spiny softshell turtle is a dull brown, so it can easily…

You're reading a preview of

Cottage Life (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 2023

DiscountMags is a licensed distributor (not a publisher) of the above content and Publication through Zinio LLC. Accordingly, we have no editorial control over the Publications. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers or other information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including those made in Publications offered on our website, are those of the respective author(s) or publisher(s) and not of DiscountMags. DiscountMags does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or usefulness of all or any portion of any publication or any services or offers made by third parties, nor will we be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on information contained in any Publication, or your use of services offered, or your acceptance of any offers made through the Service or the Publications. For content removal requests, please contact Zinio.