It's about hibernation, what is it, and which animals are getting ready now?
Larger animals don't tend to hibernate, with the exception of brown bears.
Some insects and reptiles, like butterflies, snails, tortoises, and snakes, also hibernate.
How do animals hibernate?
Hibernation is not animals going to sleep for weeks at a time, but they do find a safe place to get cosy for the winter. Hibernating animals are able to decrease their heart rate and slow their breathing whilst also reducing their body temperature. This helps them use considerably less energy, and they therefore don't need to eat to keep them alive.
Some dormice can hibernate for up to 11 months, but most get up occasionally to look for food, have a drink of water, or get rid of bodily waste!
In order to get themselves ready for weeks of very little food and drink, some animals gorge on food, even doubling their body weight in the build up to winter. This gives them plenty of reserves for the weeks ahead.
Squirrels don't hibernate, as they are not able to store the fat on their bodies for long enough. Therefore, they spend the late summer and autumn months stashing food away in hiding places. They then return to those secret stores during the winter. They do, however, sleep more in colder temperatures in order to conserve their energy.
Can humans hibernate?
The short answer is no.
As lovely as it would be to get in bed and wait for the cold season to pass, we humans don't need to hibernate because of our size and access to regular warmth and food. Our ancestors discovered fire, clothes, shelter, hunting, and growing food. These are all more effective ways of surviving winters!
Related post
Spare a thought for Prickles Your Garden Hedgehog - read it here
You may have heard of animals hibernating for the winter, but what does it mean? Well, during the colder months, it can be tougher for animals to find food and water. Therefore, they have developed a special skill to "shut down" their bodies for long periods of time in order to conserve energy and be able to go without food. This process is called hibernation.
It is particularly common in small mammals like mice, hedgehogs and bats.
Larger animals don't tend to hibernate, with the exception of brown bears.
Some insects and reptiles, like butterflies, snails, tortoises, and snakes, also hibernate.
How do animals hibernate?
Hibernation is not animals going to sleep for weeks at a time, but they do find a safe place to get cosy for the winter. Hibernating animals are able to decrease their heart rate and slow their breathing whilst also reducing their body temperature. This helps them use considerably less energy, and they therefore don't need to eat to keep them alive.
Some dormice can hibernate for up to 11 months, but most get up occasionally to look for food, have a drink of water, or get rid of bodily waste!
In order to get themselves ready for weeks of very little food and drink, some animals gorge on food, even doubling their body weight in the build up to winter. This gives them plenty of reserves for the weeks ahead.
Squirrels don't hibernate, as they are not able to store the fat on their bodies for long enough. Therefore, they spend the late summer and autumn months stashing food away in hiding places. They then return to those secret stores during the winter. They do, however, sleep more in colder temperatures in order to conserve their energy.
Can humans hibernate?
The short answer is no.
As lovely as it would be to get in bed and wait for the cold season to pass, we humans don't need to hibernate because of our size and access to regular warmth and food. Our ancestors discovered fire, clothes, shelter, hunting, and growing food. These are all more effective ways of surviving winters!
Words and image from article seen here
Spare a thought for Prickles Your Garden Hedgehog - read it here
All the best Jan
31 comments:
Great post. I sometimes wish I could hibernate. LOL
That was very interesting! I admit I always thought they just slept through the winter. And, sometimes I wish humans could do that... :)
Oh, but hibernating does still sound good sometimes!
That is what I have been doing lately... : )
I try to cut back one day a week. It could be considered my Sabbath.
Interesting on hibernation
It does feel as if we can come close though! At least, I do, just by shutting out the winter by surrounding myself with hygge. One of my favourite Christmas adverts was the John Lewis Bear and Hare where Bear hibernated and Hare woke him up for Christmas Day.
Hope you are not bearing any brunt of Bertie! It's been dreadful for so many. Stay safe, Debbie
Interesting, Jan. We have a few animals that do that.
I would like to hibernate summer away.
I would quite like to hibernate over winter. It's bitterly cold here, this morning. Xx
Thanks for such an interesting post! I have never heard of hibernation for up to 11 months.
A nice, concise explanation of hibernation. I think the human equivalent is a duvet day!
...some days hibernation sounds wonderful.
I may not be able to hibernate officially, but I can certainly get the winter lazies. Grin. Thanks for this interesting post Jan.
The photo is cute! There are some cold winter days, I feel like hibernating.
Take care, enjoy your day!
I may not hibernate but boy, I sure try to mimic that style when winter comes!
I read that squirrels often forget where they buried their nuts. "My" Peanut buries the walnuts I provide in neighbouring flower beds and I bet he forgets? Wish I could hibernate...
Interesting post Jan...I love Prickles..Happy Thanksgiving..
What a great post! I do love winter, and I love that feeling of hibernating somewhat although I like my food too much so I wouldn't like to be like an 11 month hibernating dormouse!
Have a good week.
Wren x
While not technically hibernation, I have in years past, told people that I am stepping back from various activities so I can spend December quietly enjoying the increased dark and cold. It's amazing how disturbed people were by this. This was in places where there were real winters with snow and quite cold temperatures. I was amazed when we experienced our first Irish Christmas 10 years ago at how quiet it was. Things shut down and it was lovely. I didn't have to work at my version of something hibernation-ish. It just happened. It's the best thing about Christmastime for me!
Interesting!!
This is such an informative and delightful read! I love how clearly you’ve broken down the process of hibernation, making it easy to appreciate how animals adapt so ingeniously to their environments. The distinction between true hibernators and energy-conserving strategies like those of squirrels is especially fascinating. It’s a reminder of how resilient and resourceful nature is!
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Great blog Jan, and photo of that little hedgehog!
Early in the fall, I already spot ladybugs in the woods, looking for a spot in the tops of the small pine trees. And all through the winter, I keep taking pictures of them. Shhh… I’m being very quiet. Don’t wake up! I personally sleep more during the winter, taking things slower. How about you?
Lots of Love,
Aritha
Siempre es bueno aprender. Muy interesante. Te mando un beso.
Enjoyed reading about the hibernation of animals, Jan, and more the pity that it doesn't apply to humans.
I didn't realize how many hibernate, guess I didn't think about a lot of them and what they did during the winter, it's amazing how God created them to be able to do that
Very interesting :) you have answered a few questions I have always wondered about. Thank you for a lovely post and all the best.
There is a little more to hibernation than this brief outline - but I am sure you know that. Personally, I have no wish to hibernate. Winter is to be enjoyed.
It is interesting that some critters, i.e., black bears, hibernate here, but not to the south. Then, there is climate change changing polar bear habits.
Interesante reportaje. Besos.
I wish I could hibernate :-D
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