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Squeaks and I were just exploring out in the snow and we found something amazing.
我和吱吱刚刚在雪地里探险，发现了一些神奇的东西。
Right in the middle of the snow, there was a small hole, too small for either of us to fit into.
雪中央有个小洞，它太小了，我们都进不去。
That hole in the snow led down to a small dark tunnel.
那个小洞通向一条黑暗的小地道。
It did look just like a secret entrance to a snow fort, Squeaks?
吱吱，它看起来像一个雪堡的秘密入口，对吗？
As we kept looking around,
我们不停地四处张望，
we found more and more of these holes,
发现了越来越多的小洞，
until we found someone popping out of one of the tunnels.
最终我们发现有东西从地道里跳了出来。
It was a vole, a small rodent just like Squeaks that lives in meadows and fields.
它是一只田鼠，一只像吱吱的小啮齿动物，生活在草地和田野里。
As soon as he noticed us watching him, he turned right back around and scurried down into his tunnel.
它一发现我们看它，就立刻转身，急忙钻进它的地道里。
After a few more minutes he pops back up from another entrance.
几分钟后，它又从另一个入口跳了出来。
You're right, Squeaks, those tunnels are connected deep under the snow,
吱吱，你说得对，这些地道在雪深处相连，
the vole has been working on his tunnel system since the snow first began to fall.
从第一场雪开始，田鼠就致力于建造地道系统了。
It leads to a special space under the snow, but above the ground called Subnivean Zone.
它会在雪下形成一个特殊空间，但在地面上被称为雪下区域。
Sub means under and nivean means covered with snow.
Sub的意思是下面，nivean的意思是被雪覆盖，
so subnivean just means below the snow.
所以subnivean的意思是雪下面。
That's right, even though it might seem like the layer of snow on the ground is hard and packed down,
没错，地上的雪层即使看起来坚硬压实了，
there's actually some space under there where there isn't much snow.
但仍有一些地方没有多少雪。
The empty space forms because when snow falls outside,
这些空地能够形成是因为外面下雪时，
some of the snow doesn't make it all the way to the ground.
有些雪并没有直接降到地面上。
Some of the snow gets stuck on the stems and leaves of sturdy plants, tree trunks and roots and even rocks.
一些雪卡在强壮植物的茎叶、树干、树根甚至是岩石上。
As more snow gets added, the plants and rocks act like tiny umbrellas,
随着雪越来越多，植物和岩石就像小伞一样，
leaving a special gap where the snow can't reach.
留下一个特别的缺口，让雪无法覆盖。
Eventually it looks like a tiny pocket of air hidden completely under the snow with a leaf or stem for a roof.
最终，它看起来就像一个小空隙，完全隐藏在雪下，由一片叶子或茎作屋顶。
In an area with lots of sturdy plants like a big meadow.
在有很多结实植物的地方，比如大草原，
lots of small pockets can form and connect to each other,
可以形成许多小空隙并相互连接，
creating a secret space under the snow.
在雪下创造一个秘密空间。
That's perfect for little creatures like voles.
对于田鼠这样的小生物来说，它是完美的去处。
These animals will dig tunnels down to the subnivean zone,
这些动物将地道挖到雪下区域，
and use it as a special shelter during the winter.
在冬天用它作特殊的避风港。
Only coming back up above the snow when they really need to.
只有当它们真正有需要的时候，才会回到雪地上。
I know, it does sound like it should be pretty cool under all that snow,
我知道，在雪下听起来应该很冷，
but it's actually surprisingly warm.
但实际上出奇得暖和。
The subnivean zone is protected by the layer of snow above it,
雪下区域受上面雪层保护，
so even if a cold wind is blowing above the snow,
所以即使冷风刮上面的雪，
the subnivean zone stays just above freezing.
雪下区域仍保持零度以上。
So that special space under the snow is a perfect warm shelter for our little animals friends.
因此，雪下的特殊空间是我们动物小朋友们的温暖完美避难所。
Small animals like the vole can also use this subnivean zone to stay safe from predators that might want to eat them.
田鼠这样的小动物也可以利用雪下区域躲避想吃它们的捕食者，保持安全。
Lots of predators like foxes search for their food by looking around with their eyes,
许多像狐狸一样的捕食者通过眼睛四处寻找食物，
then hunting down the prey animals that they see.
然后追捕它们看到的猎物。
But if prey animals like the vole are under the snow, predators can't see them.
但如果猎物比如田鼠在雪下，捕食者就看不到了。
Most predators are too big to fit into the subnivean zone,
大多数捕食者都太大了，无法进入雪下区域，
so prey animals are pretty safe if they stay below the snow, as long as they stay very quiet.
因此，如果猎物只要在雪下安静地待着，就相当安全。
But foxes also have great ears and they know to listen for scurrying sounds under the snow.
但是狐狸的耳朵很好用，它们知道听雪下疾跑的声音。
If they hear prey, they'll jump right through the snow and try to reach the animals hiding in the subnivean zone.
如果它们听到猎物的声音，就会直接穿过雪地，试图捉到隐藏在雪下区域的动物。
Don't worry, even as a fox tries to get him,
不用担心，即使狐狸想捉住它，
that vole has lots of tunnels that he can escape to.
那只田鼠也有很多地道可以逃离。
Lots of animals have many different rooms and tunnels in their significant shelters,
很多动物在它们的重要避难所有很多不同的房间和地道，
including places for sleeping, storing food, eating
包括睡觉、储存食物、吃东西的地方，
and even backup tunnels for getting away from any predators.
甚至有躲避捕食者的备用地道。
The subnivean zone is like an entire world made out of snowy tunnels.
雪下区域就像一个由冰雪地道组成的世界。
Even though we can't see it from the surface.
即使我们从表面看不见，
there's so much to explore down there.
但仍有很多值得探索的地方。
Have you ever found tunnels outside that animals might use?
你有没有发现过动物可能会用的地道?
What would your subnivean shelter look like if you were a vole?
如果你是一只田鼠，你的雪下避风港会是什么样子？
Ask a grown-up to help you leave a comment down below
找个大人帮忙在下方留言
or send us an email to kids@scishow.com.
或发邮件至kids@scishow.com。
Thanks and we'll see you next time, here at the fort.
感谢您的收看，我们下期见，沃斯堡等你哦！
