Last winter, after warmer temperatures had melted the top layer of snow, we noticed a network of tunnels throughout our yard. We soon realized that they were created by either mice or moles. It was a fun discovery!
A couple of months ago my husband started reading Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival by Bernd Heinrich to our children. He got to a section that talked about the subnivean zone and the kids realized that the tunnels we had seen were evidence of subnivean life. My husband was fascinated and suggested that I use it as one of my nature words of the month. Well, this is the perfect month. I hope you enjoy exploring the subnivean zone!
Learn More
- Northern Woodlands has a great article about these shelters in the snow.
- This article by the National Wildlife Federation is very helpful and has a nice graphic.
Resources to Inspire
- Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
- Who Lives in the Snow by Jennifer Berry Jones
Fondly,
Monique
Green Acorns 