Why are there NO Woolly Bear caterpillars, Pyrrharctia isabella, this fall 2015?

Woolly Bears - Northern NY

I've seen a good number - about usual - here in Northern New York. Our weather has been pretty warm for November, and I'm still almost daily redirecting a bear or two that is heading into the garage where they would surely die this winter.

… Eudora Watson, 27 November, 2015 - 6:28am

Thank you for Woolly Bear responses

I got very concerned when there were none seen here in western NY state. They are so prevalent normally, especially noticed crossing roads.
The only fact I can attribute to the lack of them this year is that we had 9 feet of snow in 2 days last winter (no exageration!). It suffocated 6 of my honey bee hives as I physically could not shovel them all out within a week. Then we had severe flooding from melt off, and ice.
On a good note, while building a new strawberry bed last week I found 1, yes one, live woolly bear.
Thank you all.

… Sande Phillippi, 5 November, 2015 - 7:15am

southern Wisconsin

I've also seen Wooly Bear cats here in southern Wisconsin. Also have seen more than the usual number of Leopard Moth cats (Hypercompe scribonia).

… Ilona L., 30 October, 2015 - 1:56pm

Have seen plenty in Ithaca, NY

Several dead on roads, quite a few more wandering in fields or sitting in brush.

… metrioptera, 30 October, 2015 - 8:02am

Have seen plenty in the Chicago area.

While walking just a hundred yards of so of the 26 mile bike path through the Forest Preserves on Monday students found an unfortunate number dead on the trail. Hope we can interpret that to mean an even larger number made it across!

… john and jane balaban, 29 October, 2015 - 8:04pm

Have seen some in the North Seattle, WA area.

Have seen some in the North Seattle, WA area. Not like last year(2014) - we saw lots last year including some very large ones, but this year we still had to avoid a few crossing paths. For whatever reason, they love to cross cement paths, even though there is plenty of vegetation on both sides of the path.

They were so common in 2014 - I even used a large one to test my new camera:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jCPvjcpEoY

… Quorthon13, 5 November, 2015 - 3:06am