This Valentine’s Day season, humans are not the only creatures reaching out to their mates — or would-be mates.

While our ungulate (hooved) neighbors, including moose, elk, bighorns and deer, generally mate in the fall during what’s called the rut season, now is the season of love for many of our wildlife neighbors. 

Closely connected 

Two species seeking mates this time of year are Canada lynx and snowshoe hares. Both have large hind feet, which help them navigate and locate mates in deep snow. Snowshoe hares comprise 70% of the diet of the state-endangered, federally threatened Canada lynx.

The good news for lynx is that snowshoe hares mate 2-3 times a year, with the first mating occurring in early spring. A litter of usually 2-4 young called “leverets” is born about 35 days after mating. Males and females have multiple mates throughout the year and females remate quite soon after leverets are born. 

Canada lynx breed in late winter. Kittens — usually four or so — are born about nine weeks later. Like other members of the cat family, Canada lynx are not monogamous and do not mate for life.

Love in the lodge

While a romantic ski lodge getaway may be your perfect Valentine’s Day getaway, beavers are also busy deep in their snow-covered lodges. Beavers mate in late winter and females give birth to one litter of 3-4 kits starting around April. Beavers are monogamous and mate for life but if one mate dies, the survivor will seek another match.

What’s that smell?

Striped skunks’ mating season begins around Valentine’s Day. Males grow more aggressive as they go prowling for receptive females, hissing, screaming, and circling persistently until the female finally relents. After mating, males use their claws, sharp teeth and a toxic spray to keep other would-be suitors away. Striped skunks are polygamous, and males may form harems during the breeding season.

Who hoo?

Other animals that mate in February include great horned owls and bald eagles. Male owls begin hooting in midwinter to attract a mate. Hoots are deep and resonant “hoo-hOo-hoo-hoo.” Male and females perform a courtship dance that includes head jerking and tail-bobbing, and the male will use his beak to groom the female’s head. Mating sound effects include high-pitched screeching and fast hooting.

Cloacal kiss

Bald eagle nests are big. Look for eagle (and osprey) nests in trees along the Blue River as you head north of Silverthorne on Colorado Highway 9. Bald eagles mate for life unless one of the pair dies. As with great horned owls, bald eagles mate by pressing cloaca together – also known as the “cloacal kiss.” The female leans forward, while the male lands on her back. She moves her tail feathers to one side and the male presses and twists his cloacal opening around her cloaca, passing the sperm from his cloaca to hers. Not surprisingly, multiple attempts often are needed to ensure successful mating. 

What the howl?

Our newest neighbors, gray wolves, seek mates this time of year. In 2023, Colorado Parks and Wildlife released 10 grey wolves in Grand and Summit Counties. Fifteen wolves were released last month in Eagle and Pitkin Counties. Within their packs, the alpha female and male are the only ones that breed. They typically mate for life. In their third year, pups either join the pack or leave to find their own territory. 

As you desperately search for the perfect way to communicate your affection this Valentine’s Day week, give a thought to our wildlife neighbors who may be wandering our snowy climes in search of a mate.

“Get Wild” publishes weekly in the Summit Daily News. Frances Hartogh is a volunteer wilderness ranger for ESWA, the Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance.