In winter, peace and quiet and patience allow animals to save the energy they need until the snow melts.
Well mountain huted, hidden in its burrow under a nice layer of snow as insulation, the marmot puts its body in “energy saving” mode to slowly consume its fat reserves until the return of the good weather. But how do animals that do not hibernate do it? And what behavior should be adopted to avoid complicating their task, which is already difficult?
Indeed, in the absence of hibernation, most animals have had to adapt to very low temperatures, lack of food and difficulty in moving. So, in order not to make them even more vulnerable, let's do the same.
living conditions and survival tips for a wild animal in winter
Discover the sometimes surprising strategies that different species have adopted to cope with winter conditions.
The common goal of all animals is to consume as little energy as possible so as not to exhaust the reserves accumulated in the summer, before the return of fine weather. Each time they are disturbed, they spend precious energy to flee and then to seek a new refuge. Indeed, while the conditions are extreme and food sources are rare, each movement is counted. So how do they save energy?
The chamois, refugee from the forests
In late autumn, the rut exhausts the males. Forced to draw on their energy reserves, they do not always have time to fully replenish them before the arrival of the snow. As for the female, the goat, she is in full gestation during the cold season, which can make her more vulnerable.
During the winter period, chamois sometimes descend quite low in altitude, to find areas with little snow to find something to eat. In snowy areas, they look for the foot of trees to find a little dry grass (4 times less nutritious than fresh grass) and to sleep there in herds.
And finally, let's not forget that the chamois, a fearful animal, cannot rely on its agility and speed to flee because sinking into the snow, which is extremely costly in terms of energy, exhausts it. This is why it is advisable to observe it from a good distance so as not to frighten it and force it to flee.
The Alpine ibex, mountaineer of the ridges
Many ibex are migratory. In late autumn they return to their wintering areas, often lower in altitude and more suitable for spending the winter there. Indeed, moving in the snow is far too energy-intensive for them. Their hooves, which make them incredibly agile on rocks, are not adapted to snow. In addition, they are heavier than the chamois, and sink easily.
It sometimes prefers to stay on wind-exposed ridges, where the snow is blown, to find a little grass. It also happens to dig the snow with its hooves. Despite this, it loses on average a third of its weight in winter.
The black grouse, the little black grouse
Very sensitive to the cold, this “Eskimo bird” is an igloo builder that it digs using its wings. The black grouse is an example of patience because it spends most of the winter in its mountain hut, well protected from the cold and predators. It limits its movements to a minimum to feed on conifer needles, unfortunately very low in energy, generally at dawn or dusk.
It chooses slopes of fresh snow at the high edge of the forest to dig more easily. These are often areas frequented by skiers and hikers who, by passing too close to an igloo, will force the black grouse to fly away and thus expend a lot of energy. It then takes refuge in a tree and is exposed to the cold and predators for several hours, hence the great vulnerability of the black grouse in winter.
The rock ptarmigan, the snow partridge
Nicknamed the “snow partridge”, the ptarmigan is a high-altitude bird. It lives between 1 and 800 metres above sea level, above the tree line, in scree or on scrubby slopes. In winter, they descend to south-facing scree where the snow is blown away by the wind.
This is an expert in camouflage, which nests on the ground, because its changing plumage allows it to blend into the landscape. Its gray-brown plumage in summer turns white in winter. This weapon resulting from the evolution of species is called mimicry.
Finally, despite the feathers on its legs that serve as snowshoes, each movement is counted. It only moves to flee danger or to feed on twigs, even if it can withstand periods of fasting.
The variable hare
The rock ptarmigan and the mountain hare have many things in common. Smaller than its so-called “European” counterpart, the mountain hare is called “variable” because its coat changes color at the onset of winter, from gray-brown to white. Mimicry is also an adaptation strategy for it. Indeed, it roosts on the ground, mountain huted by large rocks, and therefore needs to camouflage itself effectively to escape predators.
Either he chooses to join the windy ridges where the snow-free ground leaves twigs sticking out, or he descends into the coniferous forests where food is abundant and hiding places numerous.
He is extremely discreet, capable of complete immobility to go unnoticed, which is why it is not easy for us, curious humans, to spot him to get around his mountain hut.
As you will have understood, the survival of mountain animals in winter depends on very little. Too many disturbances can make them very vulnerable. Here is our advice to help you respect their living environment and increase their chances of seeing spring.
advice to practitioners
Lovers of off-piste skiing, ski touring or snowshoeing, you have in common a love of unspoiled and wild spaces. How we understand you! And consequently, we all fully appreciate the importance of preserving these spaces and their inhabitants. All the more so as winter sports activities are diversifying.
Let us keep in mind that if the mountain belongs to everyone, the animals that live there are our guests. And, as we would do in a foreign country, let us adapt our behavior to the local way of life. So, let us be humble and attentive guests.
“Everywhere in the mountains, let’s practice sharing spaces for all living things.”
The Ecrins National Park
“Shh, it’s winter!” is the title of the invitation from the Parc des Écrins to make “soft tracks and velvet spatulas”. To discover the words of experts on the subject, visit the page on their website.
Shh… in winter, enjoy the serenity of the place by whispering.
The key word when we are in the wilderness in winter is “shh…”. Calmness, synonymous with safety for animals, is the basic reflex to respect. Noise makes them run away and waste precious, sometimes vital, energy. That's why it's best to go in a small group and be discreet when chatting. And, of course, leave the speakers connected at the chalet, keep the musical atmosphere for the hot chocolate when you get back.
In winter, avoid forest areas
Skiers, avoid going off-piste, otherwise, respect the refuge areas when they are indicated. Since they are not all indicated, avoid skiing in forest areas, especially after a heavy snowfall or during a period of intense cold. During these episodes, any movement is more energy-intensive for wildlife.
Also be aware that the upper edge of forests, where trees are more sparse, is an area inhabited by a large part of the wildlife.
If you are (shortly) passing through the forest on skis or snowshoes, stop when you change slopes and move in single file to concentrate the tracks into one. This allows the animals to move away from the passage areas and not be disturbed outside of them.
To sum up, favor open spaces to be visible from afar. And for more details, consult the brochure “Wild winter, shared mountain” from the Sensitive Natural Areas Network (Isère Department).
In winter, avoid going out at dawn or dusk.
Although this advice may seem logical, some hikers leave very early, or even at night, and are not aware that their impact is much greater at dawn. These are the times of day when many animals come out of their mountain hut to find a minimum of food. It is just as important not to damage the vegetation, by breaking a branch for example, because this is the food of many animals.
In winter, keep your distance with binoculars
It is quite natural to hope to be able to observe animals in the wild. And this curiosity is precisely conducive to raising awareness among as many people as possible about good practices. So remember that an intrusion, even silent, too close to winter refuge areas, will cause disturbance and the animal to flee. And it is the repetition of these movements that will exhaust it. So equip yourself with binoculars to spot the black grouse igloo, even if the possibility of getting closer is tempting…
In winter, keep your dog warm
He will be disappointed, but his presence is unfortunately too much. While it is advisable to keep your dog on a leash in all seasons for the peace and quiet of wildlife, the stakes are even higher in winter, because an escape can force an animal to draw on its last resources.
In fact, dogs, regardless of their size or temperament, are perceived as predators. If they wander, they can spot a temporary mountain hut in the snow and cause fatal stress to the one who has taken refuge there.
It is therefore best to take your dog on groomed pedestrian trails, on a leash of course, because wild animals know how to spot crossing areas and stay away from them.
Admire
Now you know the tips to follow to help wild animals survive the winter. Without spoiling our fun, let's keep in mind that we can be potential disruptors for the animals we come to contemplate.
So, while all this advice seems full of common sense, it is not always easy to apply it. Indeed, the mountain is a unique terrain, which requires time to be understood.
This is why the guides and mountain guides will be best placed to direct us towards suitable sectors during a supervised activity.
Good reflexes in the mountains
Or how to protect nature and prepare yourself