![]() ![]() Their body temperature drops and heart and breathing rates are just a fraction of what they are during their active periods. True hibernators have a period of torpor during which their metabolism drops to just 5 percent its normal rate. Is There a Difference between True Hibernators and Light Sleepers? True hibernators The behaviors necessary for hibernation, like going for weeks without sleep, or dropping to near-freezing body temperatures would be potentially fatal to non-hibernating species like us. During dormancy, rodents typically use about 15 percent of the energy used during normal activity. How Much Energy Can Animals Save in Hibernation? The reduction in activity along with the low metabolic rate reduces energy requirements during the hibernation season by up to 95%. Hibernation can last for days, weeks, or months – depending on the species, the time of year, ambient temperature range, and the animal’s overall health. They do this by decreasing their metabolic rate and lowering their body temperature. Hibernation allows animals to conserve energy when there isn’t enough food or water available to maintain activity levels necessary to successfully hunt, forage, or avoid predators. More recently, people have discovered that animals can hibernate in all sorts of environments, including arid deserts and tropical rainforests, as a way of reducing their energy needs. For many years, experts believed hibernation occurred only in polar and temperate environments. Hibernation is a regular survival strategy in over 200 species that we know of. Hibernation is More Common than You Might Think Some hibernators need to rest up after awakening, often sleeping for days afterwards! A common definition for hibernation is a long-term state in which body temperature is significantly decreased, metabolism slows drastically, and the animal enters a comalike condition that takes some time to recover from. A few species can survive being frozen solid, including the Arctic ground squirrel. True hibernators appear to stay alive by having barely enough blood and oxygen moving around in their bodies. ![]() Bears are not true hibernators they are considered light sleep hibernators and can wake up and move around. How can animals survive such long periods without eating? As a biologist, I’ve researched this topic thoroughly and have prepared this article to provide you with some key insights into this fascinating adaptation.Īnimals hibernate to reduce their energy needs when necessary, by decreasing their metabolic rate, lowering their body temperature, and reducing their heart rate and breathing rate. Hibernation is one of the great mysteries of the animal kingdom. ![]()
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