Weather or Not

With winter settling in, it's inevitable that the first snowfall of the season wouldn't be far behind.  At many zoos, the change in the seasons and weather is reflected in the behavior of the animals.  At almost any time of year, there are some animals which absolutely love what nature is throwing at them... and some that will absolutely hate it.  If it's so hot that you could fry eggs on the pavement, a lot of the animals will be slumped in the shade, but it might be the best time to see any reptiles in outdoor exhibits as they alternate between basking, feeding, and retreating back to the shade.  Conversely, when it's cold, there can be no better time to see polar bears, Amur tigers, or snow leopards leaving us all feeling bitter that evolution never saw fit to give us our own insulating coats.

All of this means that there really isn't a time of year when you can't go to the zoo and see someone out and about - though there are certainly times of year when you'll find more animals either hiding from the heat or tucked away for the winter.  Aquariums, for the most part, are equal-opportunity attractions no matter the weather or temperature.

Sometimes, it can be surprising which animals are out and about in which weather.  These sloth bears from the National Zoo are of a species hailing from the Indian subcontinent - but they sure seem to be enjoying their romp in the snow.