As soon as the weather begins to cool, ungulates like caribou and elk begin to pair up and mate in anticipation of the coming winter. The timing works out well for their resulting progeny, which are born in the warmer weather of spring when blooming vegetation provides their mothers with abundant nutrition.
Some believe that a similar impulse may be at work in humans — single people look for warm bodies to cozy up with for the cold winter months. This predilection for some people to search for temporary relationships come fall or early winter is often referred to as “cuffing season.” But do humans really act similarly to some of their mammalian relatives? What does science say about cuffing season?
