19 Hibernation

Hibernation written by John Lockyer

It can be very cold in winter. In some places, there is so much snow and ice it is hard for animals to find food. Some animals go away to warm places. Other animals stay behind and go to sleep. These animals are hibernators. polar bear

An animal that is hibernating looks like it is dead but it isn't. Its heart is going very slowly and it is breathing very slow. dormouse The animal slows its body down so it doesn't have to eat when it is asleep. All hibernators have to eat a lot of food before they go to sleep.

Hibernating animals must find a good place to sleep. The sleeping place must be dry and warm. cave It has to keep the hibernator away from other animals. Caves and holes underground are good places to hibernate.

Bears are hibernators. They know it is time to go to sleep when the nights get much longer than the days. Bears like to hibernate in caves. Bats are hibernators that sleep in caves. Sometimes more than 100 bats hibernate together. bear

Animals like snakes have cold blood. They use the sun to keep them warm. Snakes that live in cold places have to hibernate in winter. If they don't, then the snow and ice will freeze their blood. snakes Before it gets too cold, these snakes get together and go underground to sleep. Sometimes more than 500 snakes hibernate together.