Voles do not hibernate. Rather, they spend the winter underground in burrows and forage above ground using a labyrinth of runways built under the snow. When the snow melts, the runways become exposed.
Some vole runways are revealed by receding snow. A colony of voles lives among the roots of a willow bush in the upper right. In a bit of visual irony, their runways look like a classic airport terminal: a semicircular causeway links vole parking with concourses leading to distant lands.
Good, imaginative, and instructive commentary as usual. Thanks, Alistair!
“Vole runways” — another example of why “Kootenay-Lake” tops the list of my favourite websites.
I’m sure you will never run out of subjects, Alistair. Good news for your grateful followers!