Now is not the time to crawl into a cave, go underground, or shun dealing with winter weather.

Take a clue from the Virginia opossum, an animal who really does not belong this far north, but they are here and handle it in the best way they can.

A carrion feeder, certainly during winter, comes out and searches roadways for others who have given their lives to snowplows, vehicle tires and at snowmobile crossings.

Many characteristics of this marsupial’s life do not fit Wisconsin winters. Gestation is less than two weeks, so the underdeveloped, newborn embryos seek a pouch, attach to a food faucet for a couple months, and then are “born again.”

The opossum’s tail and ears are hairless and get nipped during really cold days, forcing the animal to find some shelter for a few days. This animal knows no hibernating, not even torpor.

It’s uplifting to see this animal venturing out, suggesting it is willing to chance becoming roadkill, frost bitten or bald eagle bait.

If opossums can be out, why can’t we? At least for limited time.

Other critters “of spring” are appearing, too, albeit infrequently. Birds in particular fly about. Some of the early migrants are here (a few never left us). Listen for sandhill cranes and red-winged blackbirds. Look for a chipmunk at dawn. Listen for a gobble. See paired coyotes; of course, deer and turkeys, too.

Long, snowy, cold winters test an animal’s will to survive and white-tailed deer have become brave when out looking for forest and landscape evergreens. Any unprotected arborvitae is there for the taking and so are lichens and mosses on tree bark.

We can deter this feeding on special trees, even now, by covering the shrub or tree base with sheets. Deer are tentative to approach and may have to go to white pines, deciduous shrubs and even more bristly pines and spruces, so sheet these special trees.

At least doing this will get us outside.

While not a preventive answer right now, but where space is present, plant some of these natural foods with the notion they will sometimes be taken by deer. Birds will use them as cover, too.

When snow melts down, head back to trout streams before the water cools from runoff and late winter rains.

Last month’s rains muddied Yellowstone State Park lake and turned off most of the crappies, some that measured 11 inches.

Ice fishing is likely to get chancier where spring-feed water and wind remove ice. Just seeing open water can be uplifting, particularly if covered by ducks or geese. Beaver action is more detectable, too.

Plants are detecting longer and sunnier days. Sapcicles are now common on maples varieties.  Tapping may wait, except for some early sugarbushers.

Other animals are attracted to these droplets of sucrose, too, including deer, birds and squirrels. Just seeing them feed, even through a window, can bring a smile and suggest mimicking our like for sucrose.

A few tree buds and catkins are expanding. While birds are attracted, it may be some type of insect the birds are seeking, not pollen.

Take a small bite out of winter whenever possible. Experience the evidence that many plants and animals are dealing with during unseasonable happenings. We can use these outings as antidotes rather than poisons and pessimism.

— Jerry Davis is an Argyle native and a freelance writer who lives in Barneveld. He can be reached at sivadjam@mhtc.net or at 608-924-1112.