Arctic squirrels have evolved to adapt to the harsh winter in this region. With rising temperatures, females of this species have gradually shifted the time when they come out of hibernation.
The males have not changed their waking date, which threatens to complicate the dates of these little animals. Researchers analyzed the air and soil temperature at two sites, as well as the abdominal and skin temperatures of 199 squirrels over the same period (collected by sensors). They found a significant increase in ambient temperature, as expected in a region that is experiencing climate change.