The Subnivean Zone

Marina and I were hiking a few weeks ago and she spotted some funny under-the-snow ridges near our wood pile. Having seen the tunnels that the mice and voles make that appear in the grass each spring, she connected the two: these were tunnels beneath the snow that some small mammal was using to get around unseen.

The next time you’re outdoors, look for small holes that indicate an entrance to this world: the subnivean zone. In the spaces between the grass, leaves, sticks and rocks that are insulated by snow, creatures are surviving, eating and traveling.

One of the best picture books to explore this concept with kids is Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner. It follows the discoveries made by a dad and child pair as they ski over the subnivean zone.