54 Nebraskaland • January-February 2026
MIXED BAG
Winter in Nebraska transforms the landscape into a world
of snow-covered fields, frozen lakes and crisp, clear air. But
beyond the visual changes, winter also affects the way sound
travels, influencing how animals communicate, hunt and
evade predators.
In the winter, air is denser due to lower temperatures,
which allows sound waves to travel farther and with greater
clarity. This is why on a still winter night, the call of a distant
coyote or the hoot of a great horned owl might seem eerily
close. Without the humidity and thermal turbulence of
summer, sound waves experience less distortion, creating an
almost amplified effect.
Silent Snow
Freshly fallen snow does more than just create a winter
wonderland — it also acts as a sound absorber. The complex,
airy structure of snowflakes scatters and dampens sound
waves, creating that peaceful, muffled hush after a big
snowfall. This can be great news for small animals like
rabbits and voles, making it harder for predators to pinpoint
their location. But as snow compacts or forms an icy crust,
it starts to reflect sound instead, suddenly amplifying every
crunch, rustle or tiny movement. A scurrying mouse beneath
the snowpack might be hidden from sight, but to a sharp-
eared owl, it sounds like a dinner bell ringing from below.
Ice Drums and Tail Slaps
Nebraska's beavers are known for their impressive
engineering skills, but they also have creative ways of
communicating in winter. When their ponds and streams
freeze over, beavers can no longer slap their tails on open
water to warn their family of danger. Instead, they adjust by
drumming their tails on the ice, sending vibrations through
the water below. These sound waves travel efficiently under
the frozen surface, alerting their colony without drawing
unwanted attention from predators above.
HOW COLD AIR BOOSTS SOUND
By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist
In the winter, beavers drum their tails on the ice, sending
vibrations through the water to communicate.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
A black-tailed jackrabbit huddles in deep snow, hoping to stay silent to evade predators in North Platte. ROCKY HOFFMAN, NEBRASKALAND
