♪ Wild Kratts ♪ MARTIN: We'’’re here in North America!

CHRIS: In the Eastern Temperate Forest.

Hey, it'’’s us, the Kratt brothers.

I'’’m Martin.

I'’’m Chris.

And winter in the Temperate Forest is a great time to get out on sleds, snowshoes, snowboards, and skis.

But imagine living out here in the freezing cold, day and night, with no warm house or hot cocoa to go back to.

Well, that'’’s what animals have to do.

Temperatures go below freezing, food is scarce.

The snow is deep, and winters can be long.

Over there!

Deer!

What?

Whoa!

(Laughing) Snow is cold.

Oh, tell me about it.

But animals have special ways to deal with the cold winter.

Like that guy: the white-tailed deer.

Those deer find places where the snow isn'’’t as deep to bed down in.

Or snowshoe hares, who have feet so big, they don'’’t sink into the snow.

MARTIN: Or river otters.

Winter is no problem for them with that thick waterproof coat.

Snow, ice, sleet, rain.

Nothing can slow them down.

And they can always get into the water and go after their favorite food: fish!

But what do you think that little guy does?

A meadow vole!

How in the world does a teeny-tiny creature like a meadow vole survive the harsh winter?

Well, voles have an incredible and very surprising way of dealing with winter.

And believe it or not, snow, this ice cold stuff, is their key.

Imagine if we could enter the vole'’’s secret winter world.

And experience his ability to use the power of snow.

BOTH: What if?

♪ On adventure with the coolest creatures ♪ ♪ From the oceans to the trees ♪ ♪ The Brothers Kratt are going places you never get to see ♪ ♪ Hanging with their creature friends ♪ ♪ Get ready it'’’s the hour ♪ ♪ Gonna save some animals today with Creature Power ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild, wild Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild wild, wild ♪ ♪ Cheetah speed and lizard glide ♪ ♪ Falcon flight and lion pride ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild, wild Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild wild, wild ♪ ♪ Go wild, wild Wild Kratts ♪ Whoa!

Whoa!

Ah, I think I'’’m getting the feel of it.

(Gobbling) CHRIS: That was close.

Whoa, sorry turkey.

We'’’re getting used to the controls on this new toy of ours.

Whoa!

Ho-ho!

It may be only the size of a thumb, but this Mini-Rocket Jet has huge flight capability, Martin.

Oh, yeah!

Whoa!

Moose on the loose!

Whoo!

When we get miniaturized, there are always unexpected obstacles.

But the opportunities can blast us straight to the stratosphere!

Who else has a chance to miniaturize and see the birth of a snowflake up close?

A cloud.

And us!

Sounds like a creature mission to me.

MARTIN: Koki, Aviva.

We'’’re heading up to the clouds!

Good, but remember, no dilly-dallying!

This is our 34th adventure mission in a row, and I am ready for that vacation.

No problem, just a quick trip to the clouds and we'’’ll be right back.

Quick trip?

I'’’ve heard that before.

Don'’’t worry, this won'’’t take long.

Oof!

We'’’ve got lift off.

Woo-hoo!

Great.

We'’’re in the cloud.

Tiny little water droplets and dust.

And if they collide?

Wait.

Hold it.

Hold it.

And...

There!

That droplet!

It froze into an ice crystal!

Hey, wait up.

You can'’’t outfall us, ice crystals!

Yeah, we fall at least twice every adventure.

MARTIN: Look, it'’’s changing!

Ho-ho, yes!

Wahoo!

A snowflake is born!

I'’’ve always wanted to see a snowflake being born.

And I'’’ve always wanted to ride one.

Woo-hoo!

What a cool snowflake design.

When you see them up close, every single snowflake has it'’’s own shape.

Then they need their own name.

I'’’ll call you Chilly.

You are definitely Icer.

Oh!

And Freezie.

And... A snowman?

Frosty.

Brrr.

Yeah, they'’’re definitely cold.

Uh-oh.

They don'’’t like warm hugs.

Whoa!

Huh!

You killed Freezie!

Sorry, Freezie!

Help!

Hang on.

Turbo engaged.

I knew a fall was coming.

Please land in soft snow.

Please land in soft snow.

Ah!

I still don'’’t see them.

Well, they'’’re up there somewhere.

Well, all I see is snowflakes.

(Laughing) Please land in soft snow.

Please-- (Gasping) No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!

Waaah!

Got you!

(Sighing) Ah!

Ah!

Whoa!

Yuck.

Weird snowflake.

Ah!

Stop this thing!

I can'’’t!

The flight module malfunctioned.

That'’’s because it'’’s gone!

We'’’re heading for a crash landing!

Deploy emergency parachute!

Oof!

Oh.

Too late.

CHRIS: Well, at least we landed in soft snow.

Freezing cold, but soft.

Brr!

Yeah, but I think Jimmy just swallowed the flight module.

Argh, we'’’re grounded.

Good thing Aviva added Ground Gear.

Great!

Then let'’’s get back to the Tortuga.

They'’’ll be waiting for-- (Both gasping) A meadow vole!

Kind of like a mouse, but different.

Shorter tail.

A little like a mole, but different.

Small paws.

100% vole!

And pretty roly-poly.

Hey, I'’’ll call you Rollo!

But what are you doing out and about?

It'’’s super cold out, way below freezing.

You should be hibernating or something.

Yeah, sleeping through the winter.

Like groundhogs and bats and hedgehogs.

Winter'’’s harsh.

Freezing temperatures.

Food'’’s scarce.

No leaves.

No berries.

A little guy like you could die out here.

BOTH: Rollo?

Wait!

Hold up!

Are you okay?

We can'’’t let anything happen to that little vole.

Let'’’s go!

♪ Ugh.

It shouldn'’’t take them this long.

You know those Kratt brothers, always getting caught up in something.

Speaking of caught, I got something caught in my teeth.

Anyway, I'’’m not waiting around for them out there.

I never was a big fan of winter.

In fact, if I were an animal, I'’’d be a bird and fly south to warm weather during the wintertime.

Not me.

I'’’d be a black bear and sleep through the winter.

Slow down the old heartbeat and body temp and hibernate.

Ah.

No way.

I love the snow.

I'’’d stay active.

I'’’d be a lynx.

Put on a warm coat and snowshoes and get out there.

Ah.

South for the winter.

That'’’d be a good way to spend my vacation.

A nice, warm beach.

Hibernate on a beach?

I have no problem with that.

If I could just get this thing out of my teeth.

Isn'’’t anybody just a little worried about what happened to those guys?

(Snoring) MARTIN: Maybe she'’’s got brain freeze and isn'’’t thinking straight.

Well, if she doesn'’’t get somewhere warm fast, her whole body will freeze.

What?

Oh-no!

That'’’s ice cold snow, and she walked right into it.

We'’’ve got to get her out of here!

But go down in that snow?

Are you kidding me?

Our Rocket Jet could get stuck under all that snow.

So could Rollo!

We'’’ve got to go.

Rollo buddy, we'’’re coming!

BOTH: Whoa!

(Grunting) Okay, we must be under at least 8 inches of snow down here!

I got blankets.

Yeah, got to bundle up.

Listen Rollo, you'’’ve got to get out of this deep freeze.

Yeah, you can come back to the Tortuga.

It'’’s warm there, and we'’’ll help you figure out how to get wherever you'’’re going.

Whew.

A little warm in here, isn'’’t it?

Yeah, it is kind of warm.

But there'’’s snow all around us.

It should be freezing.

I'’’m burning up!

What?

It'’’s warmer down here than it was up there!

Warm gear, off!

That'’’s better.

Whew!

Yeah, but what'’’s with the warmth down here?

What'’’s with-- (Gasping) The voles down here!

MARTIN: Whoa!

It'’’s a whole colony of them living in a snow cave!

Ha!

Martin, do you realize where we are?

Do you realize where we are?

The Subnivean Zone!

A secret creature world under the snow, where it'’’s warmer than up above.

Because the snow is like a giant blanket, holding in the earth'’’s heat.

So even if it'’’s super cold, like 50 degrees below zero up there...

Under the snow, it stays much warmer, right around 32 degrees all the time.

Cozy, right Rollo?

Wait, Rollo!

Wait for us!

Whoa!

Whoa, sorry, buddy.

Watch the vole traffic, bro!

Is that what you call rest and relaxation?

Yep!

Rest and relaxation doesn'’’t involve running around like crazy.

I thought you wanted to rest on a beach?

I do.

And I'’’m an engineer, so I'’’m going to bring the beach to me.

With this.

Ta-da!

The InstaBeach Heat Amplifier!

Did someone say "beach"?

See, the solar panels collect the sun'’’s rays, amplify the heat, and make a beam of warm weather.

It'’’s an instant beach vacation.

I'’’ll get the sand!

If those Kratt brothers want to be late, we'’’ll just start our vacation without them.

Where is she going?

Who knows?

(Imitating horn honking) Coming through!

Hey, I'’’m driving here!

Left side!

Look out!

Whoa!

Whew, made it.

That'’’s the end of the line.

Hey, what'’’s she up to now?

Whoa!

Hey, watch where you'’’re going, pal.

Chris?

Chris?

Rollo!

You'’’re a mama!

Oh, those babies are so cute.

Well, except that one.

Hey.

Shhh!

They'’’re sleeping.

Creature Pod ringers off.

We don'’’t want to wake these guys up.

Ringer off.

Ah.

Bath before bed?

Good idea.

I can'’’t believe it.

Babies under the snow while it'’’s still wintertime.

Most animals wait until spring to have their babies, but because of the cozy Subnivean Zone, voles can keep having babies, even in the winter.

That'’’s the power of the Subnivean Zone!

And the voles sure know how to use it.

Whoa!

Wha--whoa!

Aw, no fair.

(Laughing) They also know who'’’s a baby vole and who'’’s not.

KOKI: Nothing.

Should I be worried, or are they ignoring me because they found some cool creature?

Aviva?

Jimmy?

AVIVA: Out here!

Huh?

Hi, Koki.

Another cool drink please, Jimmy.

My pleasure.

See?

It'’’s warm in here all right.

Heat melts snow back to water.

It'’’s a snow-free zone.

I hate to disturb your beach vacation, but Chris and Martin aren'’’t answering the Creature Pods.

Koki, I know what'’’s going to happen.

We'’’ll do this big search, and then find out that they were chasing a creature and having a great time.

Guaranteed.

(Gasping) Got it!

Got what?

That thing that was stuck in my teeth.

It'’’s a... A Rocket Jet flight module?

What?

I thought that was a pretty yucky snowflake I caught in my mouth.

I just didn'’’t know it was really the Mini-Rocket Jet.

I spit it right out.

Oh, okay.

Well the Rocket Jet has ground gear, so Chris and Martin may be somewhere out there in the snow, but they'’’re not stranded.

They'’’re probably fine.

We better go out there and have a look, just in case.

Aren'’’t you coming?

Well, someone'’’s got to watch the beach.

Don'’’t overheat.

Ahh!

(Laughing) Hey!

Wahoo!

Right behind you, Rollo!

Man, I could hang out in the Subnivean Zone forever.

Yeah, this is like a winter paradise.

Warm, cozy, plenty to eat.

Wait, there'’’s nothing to eat.

Where'’’s the food down here anyway?

Snow burger?

Snow dogs?

Snow-on-the-cob?

Kind of bland.

Could use mustard.

(Chewing) Hey, bark!

That'’’s her lunch.

They just feed on little trees and bushes that grow right through the snow.

Yech!

I'’’d rather stick to snow burgers.

This is genius.

The voles don'’’t even have to leave the comfort of the Subnivean Zone to eat.

And it'’’s that nutritious cambium layer that they'’’re after.

Bark, roots, it'’’s all down here for these little plant eaters.

Okay, it'’’s official.

This is a winter paradise.

A whole world we never knew existed, right under our feet.

(Spitting) (Laughing) Koki, finding a couple of mini-Kratt brothers in a Rocket Jet out here is going to be like finding a-- A what?

I don'’’t know, like finding a-- Aviva, look!

In the willow thicket.

AVIVA: A red fox!

What does he hear?

KOKI: Whoa.

BOTH: Wha--?

What was that?

It looks like some kind of small mousy thing.

(Gasping) Wait, I just realized what finding the mini-Kratt bros in a Rocket Jet out here would be like.

What?

Like finding a small mousy thing in a giant field of snow.

Exactly.

And that red fox is finding and eating small mousy things.

With a pretty impressive technique.

Kratt brothers!

Come in!

Answer your phone!

We'’’ve got to find them fast.

But they could be anywhere!

What about a fox Creature Power Suit?

There'’’s no time, but I have another idea.

Hurry!

(Gasping) Wow, those were some serious avalanches.

Yeah, where'’’d they come from anyway?

(Sniffing) Uh-oh.

This paradise just became a nightmare!

CHRIS: Predators know about the Subnivean Zone too!

This is crazy.

You can be having a peaceful time down here, then boom!

It'’’s all over.

I know.

Anything could be listening from up there.

Listening for the voles skittling around and chewing.

As long as no one makes any sudden loud noises, we should be fine.

Ahhh... Shhh!

Ah.

Ahh!

Shhh!

(Sighing) (Sneezing) (Echoing) Oops.

Hopefully nobody heard that, but let'’’s get out of here anyway.

Quietly, Martin.

Drive quietly!

We'’’ll be back soon, Jimmy!

I hope so.

(Shivering) Using the heat amplifier was a great idea, Aviva.

Thanks!

If they'’’re hidden somewhere in all of this snow, we'’’ll find them.

Let'’’s just hope we'’’re not too late.

You know Martin, did you ever get the feeling that voles are the main winter food for lots of predators?

Oh, yeah, like the voles couldn'’’t survive winter without the Subnivean Zone.

And the foxes, weasels, owls, coyotes, and bobcats couldn'’’t survive winter without the voles.

Oh, great.

Everyone'’’s trying to eat us.

Uh, whoa, hey!

Look at the time!

We wouldn'’’t want to overstay our welcome in Voleville.

Nope, wouldn'’’t want to do that.

We'’’ll see you, Rollo.

It'’’s been fun.

Quick, let'’’s get out of here, bro.

Oof!

Huh?

Where'’’d that snow bank come from?

(Gasping) Oh, uh, hi.

You'’’re not a snowbank, are you?

You'’’re...

BOTH: An ermine!

Rollo, run!

These weasels are like furry snakes on legs.

They'’’re burrow- and tunnel-hunting specialists, built for bending and twisting in tight spaces.

Tell me about it!

And hang on!

Whoa!

Rocket Jet to Tortuga!

Come in!

Well, well, it'’’s about time.

Where are you guys?

We'’’re being chased by a weasel.

Under the snow!

Or not.

KOKI: There they are!

It worked!

We found you!

And saved you.

Even though we shouldn'’’t have.

We'’’ve been calling you forever.

Uh, our ringers were...off.

Yeah, we kind of lost track of time.

BOTH: Sorry.

No problem, thanks to my Heat Amplifier machine.

See?

It took awhile, but we found you under all that snow.

BOTH: Oh, no!

Oh, yes, we did!

We mean, "Oh, no, you destroyed the Subnivean Zone!"

BOTH: Subnivi-who?

The Subnivean Zone, the space under the snow cover.

All the voles depend on it to keep them warm and survive in the winter.

Oh-no, Rollo'’’s nest!

Her babies.

They'’’re shivering.

They'’’re too cold!

Oh, no, we'’’re so sorry, little voles.

We didn'’’t know.

Oh, we'’’ve got to save these voles.

And the only way to do that is to restore the Subnivean Zone.

Fast!

But there'’’s no snow coming in for days.

We can'’’t just make snow.

Or can we?

Water all set!

Aviva?

Thanks, Jimmy.

AquaMisting nozzle ready!

We'’’re good to go, guys.

I love it when we get to use one of my favorite Creature Powers of all.

Thanks to one of my favorite creature pals of all.

Incoming!

Torpedo, the peregrine falcon!

BOTH: Activate Falcon Power!

♪ To the clouds, peregrine falcon speed.

Got it.

BOTH: To the Subnivean Zone Rescue!

CHRIS: For the voles and all the creatures that depend on it!

Jimmy, turn on the water!

Let'’’s hope this works.

Come on.

Freeze, freeze, freeze.

All right!

Yes!

Snow!

Wahoo!

Here comes the snow!

AVIVA: Yeah!

The snow is coming!

The snow is coming!

All right, the snow is coming!

You guys don'’’t need this anymore.

Not with the warmth and power of the Subnivean Zone.

(Cheering) And, yep, 6 inches.

A solid, warm blanket of snow.

The Subnivean Zone is restored.

Sorry we messed up your secret world, Rollo.

I had no idea so much was going on down there.

You voles really are incredible.

I mean, finding such an amazing way to survive through the winter.

Yeah, and doing it so well that lots of bigger predators wouldn'’’t even be able to make it through the winter if it weren'’’t for you.

Well, Jimmy wouldn'’’t be able to make it through the winter if it weren'’’t for Aviva.

ALL: What?

(Shivering) (Giggling) I think he needs your Heat Amplifier.

Coming up, Jimmy.

Ah.

That'’’s better.

Relax-o Jimmy.

Time for that beach vacation!

See you later, buddy.

We'’’re heading to the beach.

BOTH: Bye!

So meadow voles have figured out a way to use the power of snow to survive the winter, right under our feet, in the Subnivean Zone.

Without voles and their ability to live and reproduce under this blanket of snow, many other animals might not survive the winter.

And I'’’m talking about the predators!

Martin, over here!

A red fox!

Predators like that fox, coyotes, and weasels, rely on voles as a critical winter food when food is scarce.

It'’’s a special predator-prey relationship made possible by the Subnivean Zone.

He cruises around, always alert and listening.

And if he hears a sound coming out from under the snow, he'’’s ready to cue in on it, and pounce!

Ooh!

It'’’s a miss.

The red fox doesn'’’t use a blanket of snow to keep him warm, he just curls up into a ball, tucks his face in his tail, and goes to sleep.

Whoa.

MARTIN: Check it out, a fisher.

Now, this is a big member of the weasel family, the bigger cousin of the ermine, and like all weasels, the fisher is a fast, agile, amazing hunter.

Fishers also rely on the Subnivean Zone in the wintertime.

They'’’ll pull voles and snowshoe hares out of the Subnivean Zone.

They'’’re too big to go into the vole tunnels like the ermine can, but they'’’ll listen for sounds down below, and then grab the voles out when they hear them.

You could describe the fisher'’’s hunting style as search-and-destroy.

A fisher goes running through the woods, jumping over logs, racing around trees, jumping into burrows, trying to surprise any prey.

Fishers are also great tree climbers.

And a lot of times they'’’ll nest and sleep in tree cavities and tree branches.

Hey, Chris, seems like everyone'’’s taking a break.

Yeah.

We need to find a nice warm place to hunker down and take a nap too.

Yeah.

Ah, a blanket of cozy snow.

Yeah, this is the life, hanging in the Subnivean Zone.

Keep on creature adventuring.

We'’’ll see you on the creature trail.

♪ To find out more about cool animals... And collect your own Wild Kratts Creature Powers... Go to the Wild Kratts website.

At PBSKids.org.

BOTH: We'’’ll see you there!