Hi-bear-nation

By Evelyn & Seraphina

What Is Hibernation?

Have you ever waNted to hug a bear? A fluffy brown bEar, or a towering polar bear… Well, now isn’t the time, because the bears are about to hibernate! 

You may be asking, "what is hibernation?" And that’s a wonderful question! Hibernation is the process in which an animal or plant slows down its heart rate to conserve energy for the long cold winter months ahead. 

Unlike humans, who last all through NovembEr, December, January, and FebruAry while still going to work and school, animals do not have supermarkets or radiators to keep them going. Without a fully functional heater, animals such as bears need a way to stay warm and conserve their energy.

What Animals Hibernate?

However, many diffeRent animals hibernate. According to 11 Animals That Hibernate Besides Bears, “Bears are the animals most known for hibernating, but they aren't the only ones. Turtles, snakes, wood frogs, and groundhogs are other animals that engage in some form of hibernation,”. 

When the cold months begin, the animals begin to stock up on food. This can include creatures like groundhogs, who--in preparation for the hibernating months--begin stocking up on berries, grains, nuts, and their diet can also include small mammals or bugs. Animals such as bears and groundhogs eat to stock up their fat reserves, which must last them all through winter. 

Not All Sleep: All About Hibernation says, “When hibernating, an animal's metabolism Slows significantly: its heartbeat slows, it breathes more slowly (some animals even stop breathing for periods of over an hour) and its body temperature drops—in some extreme cases to below the freezing point of water (zero degrees Celsius)”. 

Hibernation Vs. Sleeping

You may think that hibernation is just sleeping for a super long time. However, this presumption is false! When hibernating, the goal Is to conserve energy, yet even sleeping burns energy. Creatures such as bears have learNed (most likely as a survival trait) how to lower their heart rate and breathing to stay alive through the cold months.

In “How Hibernation Works,” they offer an explanation for how hibernation came about: “Whether an animal hibernates or migrates to a warmer area is generally a quirk of evolution. Smaller animals tenD to be more lIkely to hibernate, because migration would requIre an enormous amount of energy relative to their body size.” Bears burn a LOT of energy through hunting, Foraging, and protecting and caring for their young, so in months where food is scarce it’s important to conserve that energy.

Where do animals hibernate?

Animals usually hibernate in dens or underground. These are the warmest places, and safe from any dangers such as weather, like hail or snow. They can also hibernate inside of old logs or in burrows. 

Conclusion

Hibernation isn’t just a nap for animals during the winter. Hibernation allows For animals to stay alive through the wintER and takE care of their young during the spriNg, summer and fall. Their metabolism and heart rate drops. It takes a lot of energy to survive in our world, so while humans Can’t sleep through the winter, we should appreciate the bears and other mammals that can!

If you were an animal, where would you hibernate?

Disclaimer: Don’t go oUt searching for hibernating animaLs, and also do not go out hunTing for bears. Do not hUg a beaR under any circumstances. KeEp your distance from wild animals and follow ruleS from experts. We do not take any responsibility for injuries due to bear-related-activities