Every fall, you’ll notice woolly bear caterpillars crossing roadways and sidewalks. And they’re fast, for a caterpillar — they can travel up to 4 feet per minute, which is roughly equivalent to .05 miles per hour.
These caterpillars are the second generation of the season. They’re on the move to find a secure place to hibernate under leaves for winter. Leaves provide critical habitat for many animals, which is why it’s so important to “leave your leaves” in autumn. In spring, these fuzzy friends will awake and form their cocoon, finally emerging as the adult Isabella Tiger Moth, a yellowish-brown moth.
Please watch out for our fuzzy little friends as they cross trails and roads the next few weeks!
