Life in the Snow Page #3

they can also see in ultraviolet.

And that's vital.

Because some very important things

show up in ultraviolet.

Tracks in the snow show up clearly,

helping reindeer find a path.

They can see the telltale scent

marks of predators in the snow.

And most important of all, a staple

part of their winter diet, lichen,

stands out like a beacon.

So, when deep snow covers

the other plants they eat,

they can hone in

on this extra food source.

No wonder reindeer are so closely

associated with this time of year.

With these specialist skills, they

can get through the deepest winter.

When temperatures plummet,

we start burning more calories,

just to keep warm.

So, finding extra food

can make all the difference.

In fact, it's vital.

But when your larder is frozen

solid, you have to be resourceful.

The robin.

The gardener's colourful companion

relies on soft earth

to pick out worms and grubs.

But a deep frost means the ground

is frozen solid.

If only there

were someone to dig it up.

Deep underground, in total darkness,

where the frost can't reach,

moles are digging their tunnels.

And pushing up fresh,

soft piles of earth.

For the robin redbreast,

this is an opportunity.

It's a real lifeline.

And one that could continue

for the whole winter.

When food is hard to find,

joining forces can help.

And one resourceful animal has

worked out just how to do this.

Wolverines are the largest member

of the weasel family.

In winter, most of their diet

is made up of the animals

that haven't made it through

these testing times.

But, with the world covered by snow,

it could take hours

to find this meal.

This is where the wolverine's

resourcefulness comes in.

It has an airborne spotter.

Ravens.

One of the most intelligent birds

in the world.

Although it's found a moose,

a raven isn't strong enough

to dig it out of the snow.

So it calls out, attracting

the wolverine's attention.

It will even lead

its ally towards the food.

Wolverines are renowned

for their strength.

But the meat is frozen solid.

Fortunately,

there's an answer for that.

The wolverine is one of the

only animals on the planet

whose teeth and jaws

are specifically adapted

for eating frozen food.

They can cut through meat and bone

as hard as concrete.

This is what the raven's

been waiting for.

Newly revealed leftovers

are their reward for finding food.

And there's one final

clever strategy

in case times get really tough.

The wolverine will

bury part of the meal,

storing it away

in the freezer for later.

Two different species

working together like this

is rare in the natural world.

But, when you live in one of

the toughest places on Earth,

it can make sense to work as a team.

Musk ox are Arctic giants.

They live in family groups of

around 20 in the northern tundra,

where they face some of the

planet's most extreme weather.

When it comes to being prepared

for the coldest part of winter,

these musk ox certainly look ready.

That long, thick, shaggy coat

is so efficient,

a musk ox only uses a small amount

of energy to keep warm.

They can even slow down

their metabolism

so that in the winter time

they require less food.

Because finding that food

can be a challenge.

In winter, the snow is covered

with a thick layer of ice,

making it hard

to get to the plants beneath.

So musk ox use their large

front hooves like snow shovels.

And the neighbours are quick

to spot an opportunity.

Ptarmigan, hardy Arctic birds

that also feed on plants,

but can't break through the ice

on their own.

Arctic hares

join the winter feast too.

Soon, the musk ox

have quite an entourage.

But finding food

is just one of their problems.

Protecting their calves

is perhaps the most important.

They're born just before the spring.

Everything is new to this calf.

But the snow

is a particular challenge.

It'll need to get to grips

with it soon.

There are predators here.

Arctic wolves.

They are big, strong,

and live in packs.

The calves are vulnerable.

They must try to keep up.

The musk ox form a defensive ring,

with the calves in the middle.

A wolf would be foolish to mess with

this impenetrable wall of musk ox.

When it comes

to living in the Arctic,

these animals are hard to beat.

LONE WOLF HOWLS:

PACK HOWLS:

Relying on hunting to get a meal

is always a challenge.

So how do predators like wolves get

through the toughest time of year?

Here in northern Norway, these

wolves are habituated to people.

It's a rare opportunity

to get closer than would ever be

possible with a fully wild pack.

Hello.

Look at the size of the paws.

You are a beaut.

Just stroking this wolf,

you could lose your hand

in its coat.

And when I part the hair you can see

that underneath there's these fine,

very soft hairs that gives

insulation.

And these longer outer hairs

repel the snow and water.

His coat is perfect

for these conditions.

Look how narrow the wolf is,

you look at the wolf face on,

it's got this big head.

But its shoulders are quite narrow,

and that's a physical adaptation

that helps him move around

through deep snow.

So, no matter what physical

characteristics you have,

clever hunting strategy

is essential.

And in these bitterly cold

conditions,

it helps to have friends.

Wolves live in tight-knit

family groups.

There's a strict hierarchy.

Alpha males and females

are in charge.

Every pack member knows their place.

The strong relationships between

the wolves are critical

for getting through hard times.

It's February

in Yellowstone National Park.

At this stage of winter,

the elk are weak.

But elk are several times

the size of a wolf.

They need to work together.

One wolf charges,

making the elk run.

They can identify the weakest animal

by the way it acts and moves.

One wolf cuts the elk away

from the herd.

While two more

come in from the sides.

A tactical manoeuvre that means

the whole family will feed.

HOWLING:

A wolf's ability to hunt as a team,

as a pack,

that's really what helps

guarantee its survival.

In Yellowstone,

the wolves have found a way

to get through the harsh winter.

But, for other animals

that live here,

there's another way to survive.

These bison are caught in the grip

of the worst winter

for a generation.

The snow is too deep

to break through.

And they need to eat.

But Yellowstone holds a secret.

This winter wonderland

has a burning heart.

Formed on a giant volcano,

Yellowstone is peppered

with thousands of hot springs

and spectacular spouting geysers.

The bison

can take advantage of this,

but they need to move.

They're taking a big risk.

This journey could use

all their remaining strength.

Some won't make it.

But even as night falls,

the bison push on.

The herd have reached an oasis.

The hot springs warm the air,

and melt the snow.

And there's grass here.

But this paradise

is too good to be true.

Volcanic springs can contain

toxic chemicals like arsenic.

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