Many animals hibernate to survive harsh winter conditions when food is scarce and the environment becomes too hostile. Here are some notable animals that hibernate:
- Alpine Marmots: Hibernate for up to eight months, with drastically reduced breathing and heart rates.
- Common Poorwill: The only known bird species to hibernate, can stay asleep for up to 100 days.
- Bears: Four species (American Black Bear, Asiatic Black Bear, Brown Bear, Polar Bear) hibernate with reduced heart rates and metabolism but unlike true hibernators, their body temperature only drops slightly.
- Bats: Can hibernate for long periods, their heart rate can drop from 1000 beats per minute to 25.
- Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemurs: Hibernates in Madagascar for about seven months by living off fat stored in their tail.
- Common Box Turtle: Can hibernate with a very slow heart rate, absorbing oxygen through their skin.
- Bumblebees: The queen hibernates alone during winter, surviving underground or in tree stumps.
- Garter Snakes: Hibernate in groups for warmth during winter.
- Hedgehogs: Some sleep through the whole winter, slowing their body functions drastically.
In the UK, only three groups truly hibernate: bats, hedgehogs, and dormice. Reptiles and amphibians enter similar states called brumation or dormancy to survive cold months. Many hibernating animals slow down their metabolism, heart rate, and breathing to conserve energy and survive without food for extended periods. Some animals do wake up occasionally during hibernation but generally remain inactive until conditions improve.
