Microtus nivalis is a true symbol of survival in the demanding conditions of the high mountains, where hikers most often encounter it among scree slopes, in talus fields, or near mountain huts above the tree line. It is recognized by its dense and soft gray-brown fur and relatively large ears, which are noticeably larger than those of its lowland relatives. Its most pronounced feature is the long and completely white tail, which helps it maintain balance during skillful climbing on rocks. It grows to a length of up to 14 centimeters, and its endearing appearance is also contributed to by long white whiskers, with which it orients itself excellently in the darkness of rock crevices.
In the mountain world, it is active throughout the year, as it does not know hibernation and feeds under the thick snow blanket on its summer stores of dried grasses and mountain herbs. It is an extremely curious animal, and it often happens that it fearlessly peeks out from behind a rock when it notices a calm hiker nearby. It feeds primarily on green parts of high-alpine plants, berries, and rootstocks; due to its color, it is almost invisible on mountain scree fields. Microtus nivalis is an indispensable member of the mountain ecosystem, and every encounter with it in the heart of the mountains reveals the incredible liveliness of life in an environment where survival conditions are the harshest.
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