Snow Pest

Snow Pest is a small cold-affinity creature covered in a thick, woolly coat of fur. It emits chill as it moves and is encountered across multiple biomes and facility sectors where cold-tolerant fauna appear. The creature performs a distinctive leap attack and can be trapped, tamed, and repurposed by players once captured.

The Snow Pest’s movement is a slow, hopping gait within a limited area; some individuals remain stationary until provoked. Contact with a Snow Pest or most Entities triggers a short, forcible launch into the air. This jump does not cause fall damage or broken legs if the player lands on the same vertical level as the launch point; fall damage and potential broken legs occur only when landing on a lower level. In combat the Snow Pest uses a leap attack with an effective reach roughly equivalent to 3–4 storage crates. The attack deals damage and has a chance to inflict bleeding. Individually a Snow Pest is low danger, but groups of three or more become overwhelming.

The GATE Compendium contains an entry identifying the Snow Pest as IS-0173-I (designation Crucis, AG/CA) and recommends heated protective clothing for researchers handling specimens, including battery-heated outer shells, cold-weather sportswear, or even an EVA suit in extreme cases. Field notes in that entry state the Snow Pest’s evolutionary adaptations appear capable of on-demand alteration beyond mere fur development. A separate note in the game’s trivia documentation states that the Snow Pest lacks an IS designation or compendium entry; both statements are present in source materials.

Locations where Snow Pests are found include multiple facility areas and wild zones:

• Office Sector: Level 2 Data Farm; Level 2 supply room in Bio Lab D; Level 2 room adjacent to an electrified-water-blocked chamber near the Residence Tram and Level 3 elevator; Level 3 outside Silo 2 elevator in the hall with electrified pools; Level 3 viewing area in Silo 3 near the staff kitchen.
• Manufacturing West: area below Shipping infested with Pests and Peccaries, accessible via the Shipping elevator or a small cave portal.
• The Mycofields: three nests distributed through the region; nests respawn infrequently with portal world resets.

Harvesting a Snow Pest yields animal products used for cooking and crafting. Typical drops include Raw Pest and Raw Pest Rump (each with a 75% chance) and Yeti Fur (50% chance).

Snow Pests can be captured and tamed using a Pest Trap together with three Nachos or Anteverse Wheat. Once tamed they become friendly companions that will follow the player or patrol randomly and will attack player-hostile targets. Tamed Snow Pests can be returned to their cage on command or put to work generating power in a Pest Wheel.

Combat and handling tips:

• Sidestep to the right just before the Pest retracts to avoid its leap. Precise crouch timing at attack start can also evade or reduce impact.
• After dodging or crouching the attack, melee strikes are effective; blunt weapons deal increased damage.
• Late-game ranged weapons reliably dispatch Snow Pests at distance.
• Status effects that stun a Pest allow a stomp follow-up for a kill and create an opening for other attacks.
• Capture tools and items allow live capture of Pests for taming and utility use.
• Shields can block the leap attack if timed correctly.

The Snow Pest’s cold aura, tamability, and utility in power generation make it a versatile target for players who invest in traps and appropriate baits.