If you had to scrape the snow off your car this morning or slip-slide your way into work over icy pavements spare a thought for these little critters. Brit photographer Simon Phillpotts captured a family of red squirrels darting about in the freshly fallen snow, looking frantically for somewhere to hide their nuts. The adorable squirrels were caught on camera near Hawes, North Yorks., as the country surrenders to the annual traffic and travel chaos caused by widespread snowfall. Simon braved the freezing temperatures to grab these amazing shots of the squirrels as they frolicked in the snow, jumping into drifts and hunting for grub amongst the white stuff. Simon said: "They were just running around, burying nuts - they don't stop, even in winter.
STRETCHING his little legs in the air, a smiley leaf-tailed gecko breaks free from his old, scaly skin .
This starling and prairie dog will not back down an inch as they have a fearsome stand-off over who gets to eat a nut .
WITH A wide smile plastered across his face, this little gecko is ready for his close up .
SAT ON top of a Brazilian turtle’s head, this little ladybird looks content as he studies his environment from a new height .
A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy .
WITH STUNNING colours and serene scenes, these photographs capture the otherworldly beauty of the English coast .
A terrified moose, trapped in a frozen lake, bobs her head above the icey water and awaits her rescue .
A young orangutan comes over all shy as she hides her face behind a broken bucket .
Sprawled out on top of a log, this sleeping leopard takes a relaxing break from his daily routine .
This longhorn beetle demon-strates a dark side as it looks just like the devil .
