The Snowy Owl nests on the ground, placing the nest in a shallow scrape on a dry, raised spot with a good view over the terrain. Clutch size is adjusted to the food supply and can, in peak years, number up to around ten eggs, whereas breeding may not take place at all in rodent-poor years. The female incubates while the male defends the territory aggressively against intruders, including predators and people who come too close.