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Creatures in the Cold: A Photo Essay

Finch in search of food in the snow and gravel. From the photographer: “I was out walking at Laurel Run Park, near Rogersville, Tennessee, and as I finished my second-mile lap, I sat on a bench in hopes of seeing some birds. After a couple of minutes, this finch swooped down. As the snow started to fall, and the little finch bounced around, I slowly raised my camera and captured this shot.”

Our contributing photographers have been out shooting and shivering.

Photo Above: Finch in search of food in the snow and gravel. From the photographer: “I was out walking at Laurel Run Park, near Rogersville, Tennessee, and as I finished my second-mile lap, I sat on a bench in hopes of seeing some birds. After a couple of minutes, this finch swooped down. As the snow started to fall, and the little finch bounced around, I slowly raised my camera and captured this shot.” © Joshua Moore

Black bear in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the photographer: “It was a cold December morning when a friend and I discovered this black bear resting near a high bank above a small stream. The bear had spent the night at the edge of a field guarding the remains of a deceased whitetail deer. A clear, star-filled night allowed the cold to settle in, leaving the bear covered with frost. The formation of the frost on the bear’s coat shows how well the hollow hairs of a bear’s outer fur prevent the loss of body heat.”
Black bear in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the photographer: “It was a cold December morning when a friend and I discovered this black bear resting near a high bank above a small stream. The bear had spent the night at the edge of a field guarding the remains of a deceased whitetail deer. A clear, star-filled night allowed the cold to settle in, leaving the bear covered with frost. The formation of the frost on the bear’s coat shows how well the hollow hairs of a bear’s outer fur prevent the loss of body heat.” © Bill Lea
Gray wolf at Bays Mountain Park, Kingsport, Tennessee. From the photographer: “On a generally once-or-twice-a-year snowy day, I head to Bays Mountain Park to take pictures of the snow and animals enjoying it. You can’t get much better than a black gray wolf against white snow, peering at you from behind a tree.”
Gray wolf at Bays Mountain Park, Kingsport, Tennessee. From the photographer: “On a generally once-or-twice-a-year snowy day, I head to Bays Mountain Park to take pictures of the snow and animals enjoying it. You can’t get much better than a black gray wolf against white snow, peering at you from behind a tree.” © Jay Huron
Bobcat at Bays Mountain Park, Kingsport, Tennessee. From the photographer: “Kirby came out for a short while to inspect this white stuff on the ground and was apparently startled to see anyone else out in this weather.”
Bobcat at Bays Mountain Park, Kingsport, Tennessee. From the photographer: “Kirby came out for a short while to inspect this white stuff on the ground and was apparently startled to see anyone else out in this weather.” © Jay Huron
A pair of red foxes patrol their territory on a frigid morning in Waynesboro, Virginia.
A pair of red foxes patrol their territory on a frigid morning in Waynesboro, Virginia.
© Pete Emerson
Bald eagle in southwest Virginia. From the photographer: “Braving the near single-digit temperatures after a heavy snow, we ventured out in hopes of spotting bald eagles. We were excited to find this beautiful bird sitting in a snow-laced tree along the partially frozen Clinch River. I had to let my camera acclimate to the freezing temperatures before I could capture this moment.”
Bald eagle in southwest Virginia. From the photographer: “Braving the near single-digit temperatures after a heavy snow, we ventured out in hopes of spotting bald eagles. We were excited to find this beautiful bird sitting in a snow-laced tree along the partially frozen Clinch River. I had to let my camera acclimate to the freezing temperatures before I could capture this moment.” ©Ryan Rice
Deer in the cold, Bland County, Virginia. From the photographer: “Coming back from chores on our farm, I was going up our driveway and spotted these deer in the woods alongside our drive.”
Deer in the cold, Bland County, Virginia. From the photographer: “Coming back from chores on our farm, I was going up our driveway and spotted these deer in the woods alongside our drive.” © Laurinda Bowling

The story above first appeared in our January / February 2025 issue.

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