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Hi Nancy,

Woolly bear caterpillars are quite fascinating. As the weather begins to cool in the fall, they will find a place to hibernate for the winter. They produce a substance called glycerol, which is essentially like an antifreeze in their bodies. As the weather continues to turn colder, woolly bears will slowly freeze, but the glycerol prevents their inner cells from freezing, allowing them to survive in the most extreme winter conditions.

At this point, putting the caterpillar outside is not advised. You should continue to care for it until spring and when the temperatures warm then put it outside. With any hope it will return to its normal life cycle and soon build a cocoon.

As for the size of the bands, according to legend, if there is more black on the caterpillar and the rust brown middle section is narrow, the more severe the winter will be. Based on your description, it sounds like it might be quite the winter.

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