Dear Nova,

Nothing says “spring” like frolicking baby animals.

I asked my friend Michela Ciccarelli why so many babies arrive then. She’s a veterinarian at Washington State University. She specializes in animal reproduction.

It turns out lots of mammals are seasonal breeders. That’s a strategy to make sure their babies come at the best time.

“It’s an evolutionary adjustment,” Ciccarelli said. “Spring is the time of year where it’s getting warmer. There’s enough forage to make sure lambs, kids, foals and calves survive.”

If those baby animals were born in the winter, their moms might find less food—and they need that food to … » More …

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