As winter approaches and the temperatures drop, some animals seem to vanish. But where do they go? Some may migrate and some may endure – but some enter into a truly remarkable place called: hibernation.

Hibernation is not just an extended nap – it is a life-surviving strategy some animals employ to slow their metabolism and lower their body temperature as well as their energy expenditure for months without eating.

In this blog, we will discuss what animals hibernate, how they hibernate and the importance of hibernation for survival.

What is hibernation?

Before we get into the list of animals, let’s clarify exactly what hibernation means. Hibernation is a dormant state that prepares animals to conserve energy, in colder weather or when there are food shortages. When an animal hibernates, their heart rate, breathing and metabolic rate drop significantly.

There are a few different types of dormancy:

• True Hibernation (very deep sleep and metabolism decreases drastically)
• Torpor (a hibernation-like state for a short-term)
• Brumation (hibernation in reptiles)
• Aestivation (summer hibernation in dry/hot areas)

Common Animals That Hibernate

Here are some of the more common – and some surprising – animals that hibernate:

1. Bears

• Type: Torpor (not true hibernators)
• Fun Fact: Bears can go months without eating, drinking, urinating, or defecating!
• Why: To survive cold winters when food is scarce.

2. Groundhogs (Woodchucks)

• Type: True hibernators
• Did You Know? Their heart rate can drop from 80 beats per minute down to just 5 beats per minute when hibernating.
• Why? To conserve energy during the long and harsh winter.

3. Bats

• Type: True hibernators
• Did You Know? Bats can hibernate for up to 6 months in caves and hollow trees.
• Why? Insects (their main food source) are not available in winter.

4. Hedgehogs

• Type: True hibernators (in colder climates)
• Did You Know? Hedgehogs build themselves nests called “hibernacula” to keep warm.
• Why? To survive the cold winters of Europe.

5. Chipmunks

• Type: Light hibernators (torpor)
• Did You Know? Unlike many hibernators, chipmunks will wake-up periodically, and eat some of the food they stored away.
• Why? They can’t store enough fat to last the whole winter.

6. Box Turtles

• Type: Brumation (hibernation for reptiles)
• Did You Know? Box turtles dig deep down into the ground to avoid freezing altogether.
• Why? Cold-blooded animals cannot function unless they slow down, or they freeze.

7. Common Poorwill (Bird)

• Type: True hibernator (very rare among birds)
• Did You Know? The common poorwill is the only known species of bird that enters true hibernation.
• Why? It hibernates in the winter months in the desert when insects just disappear.

8. Frogs (i.e. Wood Frogs)

• Type: Brumation
• Did You Know? Some species of frogs can literally freeze and thaw when spring arrives!
• Why? Frogs can survive freezing temperatures.

9. Snakes

• Type: Brumation
• Did You Know? Snakes hibernate in groups, in a hibernacula.
• Why? Since snakes are ectothermic and they need warm shelters in winter.

10. Lemurs

• Type: True hibernators (e.g., Fat-tailed dwarf lemur)
• Fun fact: They are the only primate known to hibernate.
• Why: They depend on stored fat in their tails to allow them to survive dry seasons.

Why Do Animals Hibernate?

Animals hibernate for one reason above all others: survival. Food can literally be impossible to find in winter – temperatures can be deadly! Hibernation allows animals to:

• Lower their energy needs
• Stay warm
• Avoid being sought out by predators
• Remain without food or water for months on end

Where do hibernating animals live?

You will find hibernating animals all over the planet, but mostly in regions of extreme seasonality, such as:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia
• Parts of Africa and Madagascar (lemurs)
• Mountainous and temperate regions

Hibernation vs Sleep: What’s the Difference?

Feature	Sleep	Hibernation
Duration	Hours	Weeks to months
Body temperature	Slightly lower	Very low
Heart rate	Normal/slightly lower	Drastically lower
Wakefulness	Easy to wake	Very hard to wake
Energy use	Moderate	Extremely low

Interesting Facts About Hibernating Species

• A hibernating wood frog’s heart stops for days at a time!
• Bears don’t eat, drink, or pee during hibernation, but they don’t lose muscle.
• Some species like chipmunks stockpile food and wake up to have snacks.
• Some hibernating animals like bats are subject to white-nose syndrome: a deadly fungal disorder.

Conclusion: Nature’s Ultimate Survival Mode

Hibernation is one of nature’s finest adaptations. A bear laid up in an icy cave or a frog literally frozen stiff like a cube of ice, animals have evolved to survive through some of the most challenging months of the year.

Next time you are snuggled up in a blanket during winter, just remember, out there in the wild, animals are doing the same but they will not wake from it until spring!

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