Owlkids

P tarmigans are so adapted to cold weather that warmer temperatures can stress the birds out! Ptarmigans are the only birds that spend the entire year living in the frigid mountains of British Columbia, Alaska, and Yukon. In autumn, they shed their brown feathers for white ones. These new feathers allow the birds to blend in perfectly with their snowy environment and keep warm. When the wind really picks up, these birds tuck themselves inside snowbanks to wait out the storm. B ighorn sheep are no strangers to winter weather. These creatures live across the snow‑capped Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, Alberta, and the northwestern US. They can survive temperatures as low as –40°C! Their light coats act as camouflage from predators like coyotes and bears. But this disguise isn't the only way the sheep escape danger. Bighorns also have hooves made for jumping and climbing rocky terrain, allowing them to reach ledges no other animal can. The rough outer edges of their hooves hook onto bumps in the ground and the soft inner pads mould around them, giving the sheep maximum grip even when mountains are covered in ice and snow. Rock on! Bighorn Sheep T alk about a cool cat! The lynx is one of the only cat species found in chillier climates like Alaska, Yukon, and other parts of northern Canada. This shy creature lives in boreal forests across these areas. The feline's large paws act like snowshoes, keeping it from sinking into the snow while on the move. What's more, the lynx has tufts of fur covering its paw pads, which help it grip onto icy surfaces. What a winter warrior! And its coat blends in perfectly with the trees, making the lynx difficult for predators like wolves to spot. Ptarmigan 19

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