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White as snow

White as snow

Animal adaptations to winter

Some animals adapt for winter by changing the color of their fur or coat.
The winter coat turns white, making the animal inconspicuous in snowy landscapes, while at the same time becoming extra dense to protect against the bitter cold.
Na fotografiji so tri slike planinskega zajca. Na levi je obarvan z zimsko belo dlako in se skriva med vejami macesna. Na sredini je ravno med spreminjanjem barve dlake. Na desni pa je v poletnih rjavih barvah na visokogorskem travniku.

The MOUNTAIN HARE turns white in winter, but only the edge of the ear remains black throughout the year. It is one of the hardiest wild animals, surviving in temperatures as low as minus 40ºC. It lives in the heathland, but is very fearful, and any slightest noise is a threat to it from predators.

It is mostly active at night, so it is rarely seen. Its tracks are much more common in winter. In winter, its fur turns white for safety, but otherwise it is brown. In the photo above, it is in the process of changing colour.

Na fotografiji sta dve fotografiji ptice belke. Na levi je belka v poletnem času, saj je njen hrbtni del rjavo-sive barve. Na desni pa je Belka pozimi, ko je skoraj cela bele barve in na snegu. V desnem kotu je logo triglavske zakladnice.

The ROCK PTARMIGAN is a bird that lives on the ground and only flies short distances. In winter, it fully adapts to its environment, as both the male and female are white, with only the tail feathers being black. It lives above the tree line, so it can be found in higher-altitude meadows. In winter, it requires even more peace and quiet, so it will appreciate it if we choose marked paths.

Na fotografiji sta dve sliki male podlasice. Na levi je podlasica na travniku poleti, s kožuhom rjave barve in belim trebuhom, ki seže vse do glave. Na desni je podlasica pozimi, popolnoma bele barve, v gozdu.

The stoat, or ERMINE, is completely white in winter, except for the black tip of its tail. The lack of snow in the valleys makes it much more vulnerable than otherwise, as the protective colour is currently doing it more harm than good.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • The chamois also changes color, turning from a dirty yellow-brown in summer to dark gray in winter. Its winter coat is longer than the summer one, which makes it look slim in summer but robust and stocky in winter.
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