‘Snow Animals’ Recap

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary special, ‘Snow Animals’.
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Winter is a sacred time for human beings. Because the loss of color and life from the world that surrounds us, motivates us to take inventory on our own personal journey through the year. Something that we share in with others, by way of grand celebration with friends and family, one that involves bountiful meals and gift giving. But while it is indeed a supremely inflective time of year, it is also a bit of an inconvenient time for us as well. For the air is cold and bitter, and that prompts us to bundle up and move about the world with care, thanks to the snow and ice that is sometimes on the ground. But while that occasionally prevents us from taking part in our personal rituals in a prompt and comfortable manner, the important thing is… we get through winter just fine.

Because we live supremely privileged lives, the kind where we have safe transportation and clothing and homes that can keep us warm when the temperature dips to below freezing temperatures. Plus, we always have an abundance of food at our fingertips and that truly gives us the opportunity to be inflective and reflective when the cold arrives because we don’t have to deal with the elements and a lack of or search for sustenance, unlike wild animals. Which begs an important question. In that, if we are able to survive the winter with ease, how does nature handle it? Well as it turns out, a special documentary that aired on BBC America last night, opted to answer that question, and that made Snow Animals quite the fascinating affair.

For it showed us in great detail how nature prepares for and survives the harsh winters that take place around the globe, and for a good deal of animals, preparation and hibernation is essential to dealing with the cold. Which is why so many animals eat hearty in the fall and collect food stores, so that they can either wake up briefly and nibble upon the food lying around, or so they can sleep through the winter and in the event that’s simply not feasible, then nature adapts. Take for example the snowshoe hare, a species of rabbit that outright transforms its fur from brown and black to ghostly white when winter arrives, so it can blend in once the snow falls around it and they are not the only ones that learn how to adapt to the winter. For the sika deer of Japan will turn to eating tree bark in order to survive the barren season and a vast majority of other animals will simply huddle for warmth in order to see another day.

But while all of that made for some supremely fascinating moments for certain, what was truly stunning to learn in this particular documentary, is that there is a great deal of animals that have simply evolved to thrive in the winter. Take the bobcat for instance. For this particular cat not only boasts a fluffy coat that keeps it warm, but it has finely tuned ears that are designed to hear sounds in the dead of winter and it even boasts perfectly padded feet that help it move around in silence. And of course, there’s the polar bear. A species of bear that lives off of fat stores the rest of the year while it patiently waits for the cold to return, so it can thrive and feast and of course… work to raise a family and really, seeing little polar bear cubs pop up at the end of this tale, brings the question we posed earlier, around full circle.

For that visual helped to teach us that nature always finds a way, regardless of the conditions or the temperature. Because the animals that populate our world, have a powerful desire to see another day and all of these lessons really made for one beautiful documentary when all is said and done. One that genuinely reminds us of the fact that our world is constantly in motion and thriving and that we are a part of something quite special. Because all of these majestic and powerful moments are happening around us while we search for the perfect gift or think about dessert or what we are going to accomplish in the new year and hopefully this documentary will motivate us to perhaps soften our stance the next time we find ourselves frustrated over the fact that a bunch of snow is headed our way. Since our rough day won't compare in the slightest to the struggle that's happening beyond our warm and cozy walls. 

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