Results: Time For A Good, Long Nap -- Wake Me When It's Spring!

As the cold settles in, animals all over our countries are preparing for hibernation. You may have noticed a flurry (no pun intended) of mammals and rodents stockpiling food for the winter, if you live in some of our colder areas, as they prepare for the upcoming winter. Do you live in an area of our countries where this happens?

There are many winter survival strategies in the animal world, and one of the most interesting is hibernation. Some animals enter a state of "suspended animation." Their breathing and heart rates slow and they allow their body temperature to drop, in some cases even below freezing. They stop eating and in many cases stop excreting. All of these things happen so the animal can use less energy. Which of these hibernation facts did you already know?

Hibernaculum is Latin for "winter quarters" and refers to where an animal hibernates, such as a den or cave. Oddly enough, contrary to what we thought when watching Yogi Bear, bears do not actually hibernate, in the true sense. They do however, go into a deep sleep, which is called "torpor". Unlike "true" hibernators, bears can be easily awoken from their winter lethargy and their body temperature doesn't drop substantially. However their heart rate does drop from 55 to 9 beats per minute and their metabolism is reduced by 53%. They also don't defecate or urinate all winter long, instead turning urine into protein. Bears give birth and nurse their young while "hibernating." Were you aware of this fact?

So, even though bears do not actually hibernate in the true sense, they are not alone. The list of animals who hibernate is extensive, but these animals actually do not hibernate. Which of these did you know do not actually hibernate?