Despite a rainy and very hot summer, residents of every Fire Island community have enjoyed the best weather and continue to call the island a paradise. And there are those who put aside the inconveniences of what nature has in store for them and look forward to enjoying the beach even in winter. But only a few permanent residents will remain on Fire Island. There will be no grocery store, no computer equipment, no doctor and few ways to leave the island. It is a quieter and more peaceful time on the island. In winter, the beaches and dunes are covered in soft, white snow and the shapes of driftwood and storm fences can be seen through the snowdrifts. The few people left are the ones who will experience the solitude and natural beauty of winter on the beach. Only the sound of the waves and the cries of the seagulls will be heard by those who have the courage to stay the winter. But they are not alone. The seaside is teeming with wildlife out of season. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Harbor seals, harp seals, and hooded seals can sometimes lounge on the winter shore, interrupted only by a deer occasional Virginian who slowly makes tracks in the snow while exploring the beach. Mammals such as whales and dolphins sometimes swim close to shore. In the icy crevasses of the salt pans of the Great South Bay, wild ducks will find their winter refuge. Before winter sets in, September and October will be the season when thousands of birds and monarch butterflies will temporarily take up residence on the fence. beach while they rest and eat to refuel for their journey south. Additionally, more than a third of North America's bird species stop to enjoy the abundant food found in riverbanks and forested areas. The island's rich mosaic of marsh, forest and dune habitats are favored resting areas for fall migratory birds. 330 species have been recorded on Fire Island alone. The small, masked, short-tailed shrew is common throughout the island. In winter, small shrews are active in the airspace between the ground and the snow cover. Their nests are built in an underground chamber or under a piece of driftwood or log and will be lined with fur. Another rodent you may notice in the quiet of the day is a white-footed mouse hopping across snowdrifts. They are active all winter and are dedicated to building snow tunnels. They are equally skilled acrobats, ascending the thinner stems and branches of bushes using a semi-prehensile tail for added support. Another winter visitor to Fire Island is the cottontail rabbit. They remain brown all winter unlike their cousins ​​the snowshoe hares whose coat turns white with the arrival of snow. Eastern cottontail rabbits are rarely seen out in the open during the winter months. They seem to realize their increased vulnerability due to the stark contrast of their brown bodies against the snow. If you have a keen eye, you might be able to pick one out. The red fox with its thick copper coat will venture out of its dens at the foot of the dunes to look for food. They will feed on dead fish and small rodents like meadow voles. Their tracks crisscross flat beaches that end in miniature cliffs sculpted by the wind. They mate in winter and then care for their young until late in the summer. After mating, the female will build a den in.