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Hibernation in mammals!![]()
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Some mammals have adapted to survive the cold winter months that are associated with food shortages by entering a state of greatly reduced metabolic activity called hibernation. During true hibernation, animals slow down their breathing and heart rates, while lowering their body temperatures drastically, to just above the outside temperature. ![]()
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A common misconception of hibernation is that animals will sleep all winter, without ever waking up. This is not true as the physiological characteristics of hibernation are not maintained throughout the entire winter and animals need to periodically wake up to meet essential body functions. They change position, urinate, defecate, and some species eat from stored food reserves, while others survive solely on their accumulated body fat. During true hibernation, the animal sleeps so deeply that it’s nearly impossible to wake them up. Waking up takes a lot of energy and they wake up very slowly after going through a lethargic state. Groundhogs, ground squirrels, and bats are animals that are considered true hibernators.![]()
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In contrast, bears are considered super hibernators. Not only can they wake up quickly to react to danger, but their big size also allows them to conserve body heat better than small species. When bears are hibernating in their dens, they decrease their breathing and heart rate but their body temperatures do not decrease as drastically as true hibernators. Another reason bears are considered super hibernators is because they recycle their metabolic waste. During hibernation, bears do not need to eat, drink, defecate, or urinate at all! A plug made up of feces, hair, and dead intestinal cells forms in their anus during hibernation. They also have the ability to maintain their muscle and bone mass despite months of inactivity!![]()
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What signs of fall do you see? Visit us for a hike or take a walk around your neighborhood looking for cyclical events influenced by seasonal changes. ![]()
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Photo: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center![]()
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#PhenologyUpdate #HibernationMammals #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside
