There are several species of animals known for going inactive during the colder months in winter months, and just hibernate and sleep. Although most of us are fond of the idea of just curling up and sleeping for days or months at a time, this behavior is necessary for these animals' survival. If you want to learn more about why these certain animals have to hibernate, continue reading!
During winter, it is more difficult for animals to find food in the wild, especially since the days are shorter, and the nights are longer, meaning that they have less time with sunlight to catch their meals. The cold weather can also prevent them from roaming freely outside, especially during blizzards and snowstorms. So how do these animals survive during those times?
The answer is: hibernation. This quality is unique to certain species of animals, whose bodies are equipped for these extended periods of rest, which can be days or months, depending on the species. When animals hibernate, their bodies significantly slow down its metabolic rates so that it can survive without needing to consume food for a greater amount of time. These changes include slower heart rates, slower breathing, and lower body temperatures. With these changes come the abilities of being able to survive without drinking water or disposing of body waste for many days or months at a time.
Some examples of animals that hibernate are mammals such as bats, rodents, bears, and primates. Mammals are warm-blooded, meaning that they need a greater amount of energy in order for their bodies to generate internal body heat to stay warm. However, as the months get too cold and food becomes more scarce, the external energy source they rely on is not enough for them to survive, and the solution would be to shut down their bodies during those periods of time.
Prior to hibernating, these animals usually eat heavily when there is plenty of food, storing more fat to use when they are inactive. This special type of fat is called "brown fat", and it has the special quality of being metabolized very slowly, only 2% of their normal rate, making it possible for their bodies to function for longer periods of time without food.
Similarly, reptiles also become more inactive during the colder months, a state known as dormancy. However, this state is different from hibernation because they are still responsive and conscious of their surroundings. Because reptiles are cold-blooded, they regularly already have slower metabolic rates, but during this state, they become even slower, their heart rates dropping to 1-2 beats per minute! As a result, they can also survive for longer periods of time without needing food or water, giving them the ability to hide in warmer areas and stay out of the cold.
I hope you learned something new about different species of animals. Thank you for reading, and stay safe!
References:
Weisberger, Mindy. “Why Do Animals Hibernate?” Live Science, 6 June 2016, www.livescience.com/54982-why-do-animals-hibernate.html.
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