From badgers to red foxes, stoats to garden birds, find out how Britain's wildlife copes with the cold.
British wildlife
The climate here in Britain is mild compared with much of the northern hemisphere, which means sudden winter cold spells can come as a shock - especially to younger animals experiencing snow for the first time. Whilst animals like red foxes and squirrels can rely on thick winter coats to stay warm over winter, some, like badgers solve the problem by simply staying in. Although they don't hibernate, badgers do reduce their activity during periods of cold, often cuddling up with other members of the clan in their underground setts.
Surviving the cold
But it's not all about staying warm. Some animals also need to blend in with the winter-white landscapes to survive. A few stoats. particularly those living in the north of the UK, shed their usual brown fur and replace it with winter-white coats that blend in. Known as 'ermine' these animals turn completely white, save for the black tip of their tails. With fewer daylight hours, the race is on to find enough food during winter. Pheasants have to peck through the frost to find food. But I help my garden birds by putting out nutritious seeds.
Watching wildlife
It's always special to see and photograph wildlife against a wintery backdrop - and to understand the resourceful ways they cope with the weather.
