Knowledge Tree
hibernation
Facts (39)
Sources
Climate Change is Affecting Hibernation Patterns of Animals - PBS pbs.org Oct 23, 2022 16 facts
claimHibernation is a state that can be triggered by either extremely cold temperatures or extremely hot temperatures, with animals undergoing hibernation in cold climates and estivation in warm climates.
claimFat-tailed dwarf lemurs in Madagascar sleep through the dry season as a form of hibernation.
claimRising regional temperatures may cause Northern Idaho ground squirrels to emerge from hibernation progressively earlier.
accountIn a study of nine free-ranging chipmunks during a particularly warm year, only one chipmunk entered hibernation, and scientists concluded that the remaining eight chipmunks died by the end of the winter.
claimClimate change impacts hibernation patterns, particularly in facultative hibernators whose hibernation behavior changes based on environmental conditions.
claimDecreased metabolism during hibernation causes an animal's body temperature to drop.
claimScientists hypothesize that the decline in Columbian ground squirrel survival is caused by later emergence reducing the time available to accumulate fat reserves before the next hibernation.
claimMany hibernating animals regulate their metabolism by adding or removing phosphate tags to proteins to turn them on or off.
claimWarmer summers caused by climate change could lead to droughts that dry up food sources, preventing hibernating animals from storing sufficient fat to survive the winter.
claimHibernation is a type of dormancy characterized by periods of torpor (decreased activity interspersed with short awake periods), slowed breathing, slowed heart rate, slowed metabolism, and decreased body temperatures.
measurementFat-tail lemurs can hibernate for up to seven months at a time.
claimScientists have observed squirrels and bears emerging from hibernation sooner as winters become warmer.
claimWarmer weather in some years has prevented chipmunks from entering hibernation entirely.
claimNorthern Idaho ground squirrels living at lower, warmer elevations emerge from hibernation sooner than Northern Idaho ground squirrels living at higher elevations where there is deeper snow and later snow melt.
claimHibernation is a biological response to hostile environments where food and water are scarce, such as during cold winters or hot summers.
claimGenes required for dormancy and hibernation are present in many animals, including humans, and are typically used for everyday functions like fat breakdown, circadian rhythms, and homeostasis.
The Migrating and Hibernating Season - The Last Green Valley thelastgreenvalley.org Nov 9, 2021 10 facts
quoteEdwin Way Teale described hibernation in his book 'Autumn Across America' (Chapter 11, 'Mystery Sleep') as a sleep that seems close to death where the flame of life sinks very low for months.
quoteEdwin Way Teale wrote in 'Autumn Across America' that hibernators use up fat reserves like an oil lamp turned down low to conserve the heat of life.
claimFemale black bears (sows) give birth to cubs during hibernation, relying on fat reserves to nurse and bring forth healthy cubs in the spring.
claimWoodchucks rely on fat reserves to survive the cold during their winter hibernation.
measurementWoodchucks are true hibernators whose body temperature can drop from 99 degrees Fahrenheit to as low as 37 degrees Fahrenheit during hibernation.
claimChipmunks hibernate but wake up periodically to feed before returning to slumber.
measurementBats hibernating in caves enter a state of torpor characterized by heart rates dropping to 25 beats per minute, a breathing rate of about one breath per minute, and a near-freezing body temperature.
claimBlack bears hibernate but are not considered 'true hibernators' like woodchucks; they experience lower body temperatures and slower heart rates during the winter denning season to survive cold weather and food scarcity.
claimMigration and hibernation are biological strategies used by animals to survive seasons characterized by scarce food resources.
claimSome bats migrate south to find available insect food sources, while others migrate into caves with low, stable temperatures and optimal humidity to hibernate.
How Climate Change Affects Winter Wildlife - The Nature Conservancy nature.org Feb 4, 2025 6 facts
claimPikas do not hibernate during the winter; instead, they spend the summer gathering grass and consume this stored forage throughout the winter months.
claimHibernation is an adaptation used by various animals, including bats and bears, to survive cold climates by waiting out the harshest parts of the year in a den.
claimIf temperatures rise sufficiently, animals may emerge from hibernation prematurely, leaving them physiologically unprepared for subsequent periods of extreme cold.
quoteSvancara stated: "If it gets warm enough, they can come out of hibernation and we go through an extremely cold period that physiologically they are not prepared for."
claimResearchers are concerned that shorter winters and more extreme temperatures caused by climate change may negatively affect animals that rely on hibernation.
claimHibernation is a survival adaptation used by various species, including bats and bears, to endure harsh winter conditions.
Cycles and seasons impact animals, wildlife | News, Sports, Jobs observertoday.com Jan 18, 2026 4 facts
claimSome mammals hibernate fully during the winter, a process that involves storing food during the fall and emerging in the spring in a ravenous state.
claimMany animals, including groundhogs, chipmunks, and turtles, enter a period of rest during winter by hunkering down in underground tunnels or burying themselves in the ground.
claimPainted Turtles remain buried in the bottom of ponds during winter as a period of rest.
claimSome mammals hibernate during the winter by storing food in the fall and emerging in the spring, a cycle influenced by food availability and temperatures.
How Do The Seasons Affect Animals? - Ask A Biologist askabiologist.asu.edu May 20, 2015 2 facts
measurementGarter snakes enter underground dens to hibernate when daytime temperatures drop to 0°C (32°F).
claimGarter snakes use changes in ambient temperature to regulate the timing of their hibernation and reproduction.
Climate change and seasonal reproduction in mammals - PMC - NIH pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 1 fact
claimThe annual cycle of hibernation and reproduction in marmots is controlled by photoperiod.