What Animals Hibernate During the Winter?. What is True Hibernation? Hibernation is different from sleep. With normal sleep, the animal moves a little,

What Animals Hibernate During

the Winter?

What is True Hibernation?

• Hibernation is different from sleep. With normal sleep, the animal moves a little, has an active brain, and can wake up very quickly. There are different kinds of hibernation. A "True" hibernator appears to be dead because the animal's heart rate slows down and the body temperature drops to almost the same temperature as the outside The animal's breathing also slows down. It takes a long time for the animal to wake up and to move about. Some animals (like bears) are not true hibernators.

• In the late summer and fall, before going into hibernation, animals eat a lot of food. Their bodies are able to live off the stored body fat. They look for a safe place to spend the winter. (caves, dens, burrows)

• Some hibernating animals wake up and move around, have a snack and then go back into hibernation again.

Ground Squirrel (Gopher)

• SHELTER - They dig a burrow with many tunnels, openings, and different rooms ( called chambers ). If a predator ( enemy ) comes in one hole, they can escape out another hole.

FOOD - The Richardson's Ground Squirrels store some food During hibernation, they wake up every 10 to 14 days and have a snack.

A Squirrel Hibernating in a Tree.

Bats

• Some BATS are hibernators. In the fall large flocks of Big Brown Bats find shelter for the winter. The bats hang upside down and pull their wings and tails close to their bodies to keep warm. Their body temperature drops and they seem to be dead. Bats hibernate from October to April, waking up once a month. Bats likes warm buildings to hibernate in and are able squeeze through a hole the size of a thumb.

Bats Hibernating ina Cave.

Frogs

• FROGS hibernate at the bottom of streams and ponds where the water does not freeze. Woodland frogs find shelter by digging a burrow. During the winter they freeze but thaw out and wake up in the spring.

Frogs Burrowing into the Ground

Snakes

• SNAKES travel to one spot where hundreds of them can hibernate together so they can stay warm. Snake dens can be found in rocks, burrows, or old wells and basements.

Snakes Can Hibernate in Groups Inside a Pit.

Ladybugs

• LADYBUGS spend the winter in a state of sleep known as diapause. They fatten up for the winter by eating plenty of aphids and pollen. Then they hide in buildings or under logs, rocks or piles of leaves. Many other insects also fall into a deep sleep and wait for warmer weather to arrive.

Ladybugs in Hibernation