Have you ever felt like staying in bed all day when it is cold outside? Some animals do that, but for a lot longer! In the winter when it is cold and food is scarce, some species become very sleepy and hibernate or have a long sleep that can last for weeks or even months.

When animals hibernate, they are using almost no energy at all. Their heart rate is reduced, they have a lowered breathing rate, and they almost stop eating, drinking or moving. They depend on the fat they stored in the warmer months to see them to spring.

Let’s look at some animals that hibernate and hibernate the longest.

1. Bears

Bears are one of the most famous animals that hibernate. In late fall, they eat a lot of food to get fat. Then, when the snow starts falling, they find a cave or den and go to sleep.

Bears can hibernate for 5 to 7 months without eating or drinking. They sleep so deeply that their heart rate and body temperature drop. Sometimes, mother bears even give birth while they are hibernating. Cubs drink their mother’s milk while she sleeps!

2. Groundhogs

Woodchucks, or groundhogs, are small burrowing animals, and true hibernators. This means they sleep very deeply, and their body temperature drops very low and becomes cold in the winter.

Groundhogs hibernate in October, and wake up in March. That is for about 4 to 5 months of sleep. Their heart rate goes from 80 beats a minute, to just 5. They live off the fat they stored in the summer to survive in the winter.

3. Bats

Some kinds of bats also hibernate in winter. They sleep in caves, hollow trees, or even old buildings. Bats like to stay in places that are dark, quiet, and not too cold.

Bats can hibernate for 6 months or more. During this time, they hang upside down and do not eat. Their body becomes very cold, almost the same as the air around them. They only wake up once in a while.

4. Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are small, spiky animals that curl up into balls. In places where winters are cold, hedgehogs hibernate to survive.

They find a safe spot, like under leaves or in a burrow, and go to sleep around October or November. They stay asleep until March or April. That’s 5 to 6 months of hibernation. During this time, their body works very slowly, and they use little energy.

5. Chipmunks

Chipmunks are small squirrel-like creatures with striped backs. They don’t hibernate quite as deeply as some animals, but they do sleep for long periods of time in winter.

They sleep in their burrows for several months. They wake up once in a while to eat some of the food they stored away during the summer. Then they go back to sleeping.

6. Turtles

Many turtles also hibernate, especially the ones that live in cold places. In winter, pond turtles go to the bottom of lakes or ponds and stay very still.

They don’t breathe air during this time. Instead, they get oxygen from the water through their skin. They can hibernate for 3 to 5 months, depending on how cold it is.

7. Snakes

Snakes are cold-blooded animals, which means they need the sun to stay warm. In winter, when it’s too cold, they can’t move or hunt. So, they go into a type of sleep called brumation, which is like hibernation.

Many snakes hide in holes or under rocks. Sometimes, they gather in groups to stay warm. They stay in brumation for 4 to 6 months.

8. Frogs

Some frogs also hibernate. Wood frogs, for example, live in very cold places. In winter, they hide under leaves or snow and even freeze solid like ice!

Their heart stops, and they stop breathing. But in spring, they thaw out and come back to life. Frogs can stay frozen for up to 7 months!

9. Dormice

Dormice are small, mouse-like animals with fluffy tails. They are known for their long winter sleep.

They hibernate in tree holes or underground from October to April or even May. That’s 6 to 8 months of sleep! They stay warm by curling up into tight balls and using stored body fat.

10. Garter Snakes

Garter snakes are one of the few snakes that hibernate in large groups. In cold places, they sleep in big piles in caves or holes to keep warm.

They go into brumation in October or November and wake up in April. That’s about 5 to 6 months of winter rest.

Why Do These Animals Sleep So Long?

Finding food during winter is difficult. It is cold, and many creatures cannot stay warm once they are cold or have difficulty moving. Hibernation is one way to survive because it slows the body down and allows it to use the fat it stored during summer for energy during deep sleep.

Animals do not all sleep the same. Some animals sleep very deeply while others wake up every once in a while. However, they all sleep long enough to wait for spring.

How Do They Know When to Wake Up?

Most animals wake up when the weather gets warmer, and the days get longer. Their bodies can sense the change. Then they get up, stretch, and start looking for food again.

Fun Facts About Hibernation

• Some animals sleep so deeply, you could pick them up and they won’t wake up.
• A bear can lose up to 30% of its body weight during hibernation.
• A wood frog can survive being frozen like an ice cube!
• Bats can lower their heartbeat to just a few beats per minute while sleeping.

Conclusion

Animals have their own type of intelligence. When they feel it’s too cold, they know to take a break. Hibernation is a process that animals enter into to take care of themselves when times are tough. While the rest of the world moves on, they sleep, waiting until the Earth is ready to begin again. Eventually, spring arrives. New life.

So the next time you’re all curled up in your blanket during the winter months, just remember that there are some animals that are sleeping the entire season away. And that when they wake up—they are ready to do new things just like you!