How Do Mountain Animals Find Food When Snow Covers Everything?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do mountain animals find food when snow covers everything?

The Big Idea

When snow covers everything, each mountain animal has its own food plan! Some store food, some sleep, and some dig. Others simply move to lower places.

Store or Sleep

Step one: store or sleep. Pikas eat stored hay all winter. Marmots sleep and live on the body fat they built up in summer. Eating a lot early means they can rest all winter.

Find and Dig

Step two: find or dig. Mountain goats nibble plants on windy ridges where snow blows away. Deer and elk dig through the snow with their hooves to reach plants underneath.

Twigs and Moves

Step three: twigs and travel. Ptarmigan eat buds and twigs that poke out of the snow. And many animals simply move to lower areas where food is easier to find.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Pikas keep stored hay for winter. Marmots live on body fat while they sleep. Wind can sweep a ridge clear of snow. And elk use their hooves to dig for food.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Wind can sweep ridges clear, so food is easier to reach there. That is why mountain goats like windy slopes in winter. Ptarmigan can eat buds and twigs above the snow. Many animals walk down to lower valleys when the snow gets deep. They come back up when spring returns.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Hide some dry cereal in a tray of flour or cotton. Dig with your fingers like an elk to find it. How long does it take? Now imagine doing that all winter long!

Outro

Mountain animals store, sleep, dig, or move to find winter food. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!