Chapter 1: The Impact of Winter on Wildlife

As winter approaches, the last solar term of autumn—frost—signals a chilling change in the environment. While humans can seek warmth through blankets and heaters, animals in the wild face much harsher conditions. The following scenes serve as a poignant reminder of the struggle for survival in extreme cold, so let’s take a moment to acknowledge these creatures.

One particularly striking case occurred in Alaska, where two moose were discovered frozen in a lake:

These moose were locked in combat when they succumbed to the frigid temperatures, having gotten their antlers entangled while fighting over a mate…

Tragically, they were unable to escape their fate as they froze to death in the ice…

In Germany, a fox met a similar fate, becoming trapped in the icy grip of the Danube River as it froze over…

Such occurrences are not uncommon in the cold, northern reaches of the globe. For instance, Sweden has seen its share of “glacier foxes,” with at least one reported each year…

In Wisconsin, a hunter placed a frozen fox by a lake as a cautionary reminder for others about the dangers of icy waters…

Even with an awareness of the risks, animals must sometimes take dangerous chances to secure food or escape predators…

In 2014, a sudden drop in temperature led to thousands of herrings freezing in a bay on Rowand Island, Norway, illustrating the relentless challenges posed by nature…

Some fish became trapped in an Andean lake, where scientists believe they suffocated as oxygen levels diminished…

The sight of frozen fish is just one aspect of this cold reality…

In many cases, there are not just a few fish struggling for air; entire schools have been found with only their heads above the surface, gasping for oxygen…

In Syria, a group of eleven young donkeys were lost and later found frozen in ice and snow, unable to move…

Some were even encased in ice, resembling popsicles…

Fortunately, these donkeys survived and were rescued just in time!

In another instance, a kingfisher made the unfortunate choice to dive beneath the ice…

A fish managed to leap out of the water, but its tail became frozen in the process…

A deer also succumbed to the cold, remaining upright until it could no longer endure…

With heavy snowfalls and harsh conditions, the reality of nature is often far more brutal than the fairy tales suggest…

In addition to natural challenges, human actions can also lead to tragic consequences. For example, a skating rink in Japan controversially chose to freeze nearly 5,000 fish to create a “frozen aquarium” to attract visitors…

They claimed this initiative aimed to educate the public about marine life…

However, this drew widespread backlash, forcing the rink to shut down on its opening day…

We owe a debt of gratitude to our ancestors for mastering the use of fire, a skill that remains vital for survival in the face of nature's harshness.