The transition from winter to spring leads to a dramatic transformation as the sun rises above the horizon, animals emerge from hibernation and humans look forward to the breakup of river and sea ice.

The short Alaskan summer is critical and animals must take advantage of the season to ensure they can survive the whole year. And younger animals have many lessons to learn before the long dark days of winter return.

Alaskan winters are extremely tough thanks to a combination of the state's northerly latitude, vast mountains and surrounding oceans. Life has adapted a myriad of strategies to survive the cold and the dark.