Natural phenomenon in winter: why ducks don't freeze to ice
Created: 12/16/2022, 2:00 p.m
By: Anne Hund
Ducks have their own strategy for dealing with sub-zero temperatures.
Wildlife experts explain the phenomenon and warn against scaring the waterfowl.
Why don't ducks stick their feet to the ice on frozen lakes?
The German Wildlife Foundation speaks of an "ingenious trick of nature".
According to the statement, wildlife biologist Prof. Klaus Hackländer and board member of the foundation explains: “If ducks had warm feet, they would thaw the ice and then freeze in the melt water.
But that is only rarely the case, for example in long-lasting frost and when an animal is sick or injured.” Instead, the arterial blood from the heart, which is about 40 degrees warm, flows past the much colder venous blood from the legs and cools down so much that the webbed feet cool down to zero degrees.
Ducks slide easily over the ice.
(Archive image) © Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa
Ducks have even more "survival tricks" in winter, as the foundation describes on its website: Their coverts lie on top of each other like roof tiles, trapping air and forming an insulating layer.
"The duck also greases its feathers with an oily and water-repellent secretion from its preen gland," says Hackländer.
The birds carefully distribute the fat with their beaks in their plumage so that the water simply rolls off.
An insulating layer of fat under the skin also protects the waterfowl from the cold.
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Despite these strategies, according to the experts, ducks have to conserve their strength and save energy in winter.
Therefore, you should avoid scaring them as much as possible and also prevent your dog from scaring them, as the communication says.
In addition, ducks are dependent on food and safe sleeping places, especially in winter.
As a rule, the animals find enough food all year round - feeding them bread is not a good idea: "Too much bread not only attracts other ducks, but also pigeons and rats.
There is also a great danger that too many nutrients will accumulate in stagnant or slow-flowing waters, which means that so-called eutrophication will set in,” explains Hackländer.
Due to the high levels of nutrients in the water, algae begin to grow more strongly in spring and deprive other aquatic plants of the light they need for life.
If the algae die later, so much oxygen may be consumed that the body of water can collapse.
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Pets also need more energy than usual when it's cold and can start to freeze.
Experts give tips on what pet owners should pay particular attention to when it comes to dogs, cats or rabbits in winter.
