#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Muskrats, voles, lemmings, shrews, and pikas do not hibernate in winter – the animals have perfectly adapted to harsh conditions and wait out the winter under thick snow, rarely getting out.
In autumn, pikas – small animals 13–20 centimeters long with fur coats ranging from brown to light brown in color – are busy before the long Arctic winter. The rodents filled the natural voids under the stones with huge amounts of hay, which they prepared in summer.
Famous photographer and tundra expert Olga Alexandrova shared her observations of the rodents’ autumn preparations:
“It doesn’t matter that the doors in the storage rooms do not close. The pika moves around unstoppably carrying grass into its bins. It’ll sit down on a pebble, whistle, feel a little sad… and then get back to work”.
Olga says that in winter the active life of rodents does not stop, they just hide from our eyes. Under the snow, they organize a complex labyrinth-city – with streets, squares and warm nests built from wool and dry grass:
“Hoofed lemmings put on white winter coats for winter. In addition, the two middle claws on their front paws will grow together and take the shape of a hoof. And then they can hoof the ground with them and proudly imagine themselves the noble reindeer”.
In February, lemmings and pikas celebrate snow weddings. And in March the first offspring appear. The next, more significant litter is born in April, and when summer comes, and they can breed recklessly. Voles can breed throughout the year.”
Arctic foxes don’t sleep either. They hunt all winter, detecting the slightest movement and sounds under the snow.
“In the spring, on the thawed lids, the entire mouse city can be seen with your own eyes. Take a closer look! And you will definitely see streets, houses, and even some residents who did not have time to leave their winter apartments”.
By human standards, the life of rodents is very short; on average, these funny and smart animals live only two years.
“It would be a pity to spend most of your life sleeping!” – Olga Alexandrova summed up the story.
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Text: Angelika Stepanova, Photo: Olga Alexandrova
