When is mating season

What is the most common birth date in the U. According to data from the U. In fact, September as a whole is a very busy month in U.

And, for those of you doing the math, that makes December a very busy month for, uh, other reasons. Is there something in particular that makes December special, though? But humans also approach pregnancy and child rearing differently than do other large primates. And all the resources at our disposal — from nannies to extreme sports to air conditioning — might help dictate how we reproduce, too.

In the rest of the animal kingdom, those that raise their young often time their births so that their babies appear when parents have enough resources to feed and foster them. For some, this means giving birth when the mother has the most energy she can possibly muster. Seals that feed their young exclusively off of stored blubber, says Emery Thompson, have their babies when mom has a lot of fat packed away.

Other animals plan child rearing for a time when the rest of their environment provides the resources they will need.

But when it comes to primates, these breeding rules start to shift. Infant mortality rates shoot up when a drought or other environmental factors deprive the species of the seasonal foods they planned on having for their offspring, says Emery Thompson.

And big primates like great apes and humans are, well, big. Raising these babies takes a lot more energy for a prolonged period — like breast-feeding for years at a time. Store brush piles in your yard and take the necessary steps to safeguard mating birds from backyard predators. When is Breeding Season for Wild Birds?

You know — when the snow is melting and rain is more frequent. For birds, there is an ever-increasing food supply and warmer temperatures, both of which makes raising young easier. Migrating birds follow the bloom cycle, and evidence of a fresh plant life drives birds northward. Has their plumage changed to include bright feathers and appearance? Have these wild birds become more territorial of space and food? These are sure signs that the breeding season is right around the corner.

SONG: Walk outside and listen. If you notice an increase in bird songs, then breeding season is practically here! Most wild birds will sing in order to attract mates and make themselves more attractive. Breeding season indicators Have you spotted a new nest or heard some chicks in your yard? Some wild birds breed later than others, while some have to migrate greater distances, and others may product multiple broods.

Think about it — the father north a bird has to travel, the later their breeding season. Learn the species known to breed in your area.

Raccoons mate in January or February, and after a pregnancy of 63 days give birth to three to six pups. White-tailed deer roam widely in search of mates from October through December during the rut. Gestation lasts days and twins are typical when fawns are born in May or June. And then there's the opossum, North America's only marsupial. They often mate two times a year, once in February and again in early summer. Just 13 days after mating as many as 13 honey bee-sized young are born.

Litter size is limited by the 13 teats females have in their pouch. The tiny newborns are naked and blind, but they have well developed forelimbs with sharp claws. They scramble up the female's belly and into her pouch, where they attach themselves to one of her nipples.

The tip of the nipple then swells and essentially locks each baby to the teat, where it remains for about 60 days. So though a 'possum pregnancy lasts just 13 days, it essentially continues in the external pouch for two more months. Though hardly a comprehensive review of mammalian reproductive biology, this brief summary illustrates the diversity of strategies that larger mammals use to get a head start on the mating season.

Send questions and comments to Dr. Sorry , an error occurred. Get Started. Log In Register. You are logged in. Switch accounts. Offers go here. Choose wisely! We won't share it with anyone else. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Create Account. Have an account? Log In. Thank you. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Check your email for details.

Invalid password or account does not exist.