Alas, he episodically hides from animals (5)
I believe the answer is:
sheep
'animals' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Woolly animals ' mean 'sheep' so perhaps 'animals' could also mean 'sheep')
'alas he episodically hides' is the wordplay.
'hides' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'SHEEP' is hidden within 'alas he episodically'.
'from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for sheep that I've seen before include "Timid followers" , "Farm animals" , "Dolly or Shaun" , "- may safely graze (Bach)" , "Animals said to lack initiative" .)