| Habitat
and Range Nutrition Predation More Predation  |
 Annular cycle. After the seasons' young have all matured, the Male becomes redundant until the mating season recommences in Spring. At the approach of winter, the Female drives him away. He wanders the slopes, searching for the last of the alpine strawberries, with which to woo his mate. These attempts invariably fail. As the temperature falls, the Female and her young hibernate, huddling together in her egging cave for warmth and protection.The Male seals them in with a wall of snow. Subsequently, all the local Males hibernate in one cave, but lacking a cave-sealer, their winter is more hazardous. Some individuals nearest to the cave-mouth will succumb to the sub-zero temperatures and freeze to death. |