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Photo Gallery: Winter Wildlife

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Arctic Hare
Photograph by Paul Nicklen
Shortened ears and thick, white fur are among the physical traits that arctic hares have adapted to survive in the harsh, frozen tundra.
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Arctic Fox
Photograph by Norbert Rosing
The lush white coat of the arctic fox provides both warmth and camouflage in winter.
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Baby Harp Seal
Photograph by Norbert Rosing
A baby harp seal rests on the Arctic ice. Its mother can distinguish it from hundreds of others by scent alone.
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Desert Cottontail Rabbit
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Ubiquitous throughout North and South America, cottontail rabbits, including this desert variety, are noted for their fluffy "cotton" tail.
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Snowshoe Hare
Photograph by Michael S. Quinton
The aptly named snowshoe hare has particularly large feet and a winter-white coat. In the summer though, their fur turns brown, taking up to ten weeks to change color completely.
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Musk-Oxen
Photograph courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Thick, shaggy fur keeps musk-oxen warm in the harsh Arctic tundra.
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Siberian Tigers
Photograph by Michael Nichols
Of the three remaining species of tigers, Siberian tigers are the largest. While there are only 400 to 500 left in the wild, the population is considered stable, and conservation programs are introducing captive-born tigers to the wild.
Bighorn Sheep
Photograph by Donald J. Crump
Bighorn sheep live in divided herds: ewes and lambs together in larger groups, rams in smaller bachelor herds. They usually only cross paths in the fall for mating.
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King Penguins
Photograph by Steve Raymer
King penguins' flippers are distinctively large, helping them dive deep in the icy ocean. On land, they waddle and toboggan across the ice—sliding on their bellies, and propelling themselves with their flippers.
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Emperor Penguins
Photograph courtesy Giuseppe Zibordi/Michael Van Woert/
NOAA NESDIS, ORA
Emperor penguins are the largest penguins, standing about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall.

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Photo Gallery: Winter Wildlife