Coping with winter

Winter is a harsh time of year for most species, so everyone has their own strategy for staying alive during these long months.
While the ground is an excellent shelter for small invertebrates, it can also be a shelter for larger animals such as snakes, which hide under large stones, or tortoises that burrow themselves into the ground... Marmots do the same, sealing up their burrows before going into hibernation. Other animals who remain active for only a few hours during the day can use the snow to insulate themselves from the cold, for example black grouse. Just be careful not to trample on their shelters!