Who sleeps for the winter? Why do animals hibernate? What animals hibernate in winter?

Hibernation is a very interesting and complex process that deserves our attention and observation. IN hibernation animals living, for the most part, fall into temperate climate(warm summer and Cold winter). For many animals, hibernation is the only way to survive during frosty winter, since at this time it is very difficult for them to get food for themselves.

During hibernation (or hibernation), the animal's vital processes and metabolism, as well as its pulse and breathing rate, slow down. The animal begins to prepare for hibernation several months before the onset of cold weather. Before hibernation, it accumulates fat in order to survive this difficult period.

There is also torpor and suspended animation, characterized by more sound sleep and an even greater slowdown of internal processes.

In first place in this ranking is, of course, the well-known bear. However, it turns out that only three species of bears hibernate (brown, black and Himalayan). The rest of the bears (including polar bears) do not hibernate.

A bear's sleep is not as sound as that of other hibernating animals. The bear sleeps lightly and superficially. The body temperature practically does not decrease, and all internal processes work in the usual rhythm. However, waking up a hibernating bear is highly discouraged. An awakened bear is very aggressive, angry and dangerous. Often a bear simply wanders through the forest, using up its accumulated energy before winter and losing its fat reserves. Such bears are called “connecting rods”.

During hibernation, a bear can lose up to half its body weight.

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Hedgehogs do not store supplies for the winter, as they feed mainly on insects. Therefore, they have to store fat in the summer season and sleep in the winter. By winter (in October), hedgehogs become fat and hibernate, finding refuge in dense bushes, depressions in the soil, covered with fallen leaves, among forest brushwood. The hedgehog wakes up only when the frost stops.

3. Gopher.

Gophers are animals that can hibernate for a very long time, up to 9 months a year. After awakening, they most often experience a short period of vigorous activity.

Not all the bats hibernate. This directly depends on the climate and habitat. If the temperature in the bat's habitat falls below freezing in winter, they either hibernate in caves or other sheltered areas, or migrate to more warm places. Hibernation resembles deep sleep, in which the heartbeat is barely noticeable and breathing slows down to one inhalation and exhalation every 5 minutes. An active animal's body temperature is 37-40°C, while during hibernation it drops to 5°C.

All marmots, regardless of species, hibernate.

Research has shown that marmots prefer plants rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, the higher concentration of which in the fatty tissue of sleeping animals helps them tolerate lower temperatures during hibernation. By the end of summer, marmots accumulate up to 800-1200 g of fat, which amounts to 20-25% of their weight. During hibernation, the life processes of marmots almost freeze: body temperature drops from 36-38 to 4.6-7.6 °C, breathing slows down to 2-3 breaths per minute instead of the normal 20-24, and heartbeat - to 3-15 beats per minute instead of 88-140. In winter, marmots do not eat and hardly move, subsisting on stored fat reserves. However, since energy expenditure during hibernation is low, in the spring marmots often wake up quite well-fed, with a reserve of 100-200 g of fat.

During the winter, badgers go to sleep. Just like in bears, it is almost not accompanied by a decrease in body temperature and a slowdown in basic vital functions. By autumn, the badger accumulates significant reserves subcutaneous fat, so its weight almost doubles. By the time it lies down, its hole has already been cleaned, the nesting chamber is filled with fresh bedding, the entrance holes of the badger, climbing last time into a hole, stuffed with earth and leaves. If several animals live in one common “badger” for the winter, then each one sleeps in a separate nesting chamber. Animals stop appearing on the surface after the first snow falls. In the spring, they awaken with the beginning of active snow melting, when the average daily temperature passes zero.

The Australian echidna is poorly adapted not only to cold, but also to heat, since it does not have sweat glands, and its body temperature is very low - 30-32 °C. When it's hot or cold weather she becomes lethargic; when it gets very cold, it goes into hibernation for up to 4 months. Subcutaneous fat reserves allow her to fast for a month or more if necessary.

With the onset of autumn night frosts, the jerboas hibernate in deep burrows with several wintering chambers; they do not make any reserves for the winter.

9. Cold-blooded.

Cold-blooded vertebrates: amphibians (frogs, newts), reptiles (lizards, snakes), and fish, when cold weather sets in, fall into suspended animation (or torpor), in which all internal processes slow down so much that sometimes the animal can be mistaken for dead. Winter torpor occurs when the temperature drops environment. Animals hide in secluded places (in burrows, under snags) and fall into torpor until the onset of spring.

Another type of torpor is “summer torpor.” Animals - residents of hot countries - fall into it when vegetation burns out. For example, during summer torpor, steppe turtles “dry out,” that is, they lose a lot of water. The following types of turtles hibernate in winter: Mediterranean, Central Asian, Herman's tortoise and scalloped tortoise.

A large number of insects also hibernate or hibernate. In insects this process is called “diapause”. Before the onset of cold weather, they find secluded places, hide in the ground, under the bark of trees, hide in corners and cracks and fall into deep sleep. For example, spiders, beetles and butterflies hide for the winter under the bark of trees or stumps, bees spend the winter in hollows.

Be that as it may, with the beginning of spring and the arrival of warmth, all these animals come to life, awaken from a sound sleep, leave their warm winter shelters in order to begin a new cycle of their lives.

With the help of hibernation, many animals adapt and adapt to winter. As soon as they see the first white fluffy snowflakes, the inhabitants of the fields and forests fall into hibernation, which can be described as a kind of economical mode.

At this time, the body is reconstructed and some changes occur in it: the heartbeat slows down greatly, metabolism decreases by 20-100 times, and body temperature is approximately comparable to the ambient temperature.

Hamsters prefer to spend the winter alone. They cover all entrances and exits in their burrow with earth. During the entire winter they wake up only a few times. Thrifty animals do this in order to make sure that all their food is in place, no one has taken it, and, of course, to refresh themselves. In hamster burrows there are many small chambers filled with various seeds and grains.

Marmots spend the winter as a family. More than ten adult individuals usually spend the winter in one burrow. Before hibernation, these animals take care of the comfort of the mink and insulate it with hay. Their burrows are cramped. Having prepared their home for the winter, they fall asleep and wake up only in the spring, when it gets warmer outside. Since in winter they do not wake up to eat, they do not stock up on food.

Hedgehogs also arrange their homes before winter; they usually insulate them with grass, leaves, and moss. Having finished preparatory work, the hedgehog climbs into the hole, curls up into a ball and falls asleep. Hibernation in these animals lasts more than six months. During wintering, hedgehogs do not wake up, do not eat, or even move.

They prepare for winter in advance; in the fall they begin to eat large quantities of frogs, mice, lizards, beetles and all sorts of forest fruits and berries. Thanks to increased nutrition, the badger gains fat, weighing several kilograms. It serves as a source of life for the animal during prolonged winter hibernation. This animal can make a hole easily and simply; one day is enough for it. Then the badger drags leaves into its home, from which it makes a bed for itself, on which it spends the winter. Sometimes a badger does not spend the winter alone; it may have guests, for example, a raccoon. Badgers react well to such a neighborhood, because it’s warmer together.

Before the onset of winter, they try to bring as much food as possible into the burrow, which is guarded and preserved until the onset of spring, since it is in the spring that these animals have their mating season. Their reserves can reach five kilograms of seeds, and they carefully select the seeds so that they are not spoiled. Chipmunks are very greedy animals. In winter they eat only in extreme cases, when they are already completely exhausted by hunger and cold. But in the spring, not a single animal has such food reserves as the chipmunk has.

Everyone has probably heard that in winter a bear sucks its paw. This is true, but he does this because the skin on his paws itches and the bear thus licks off the keratinized part of the skin. These animals are preparing for hibernation; they arrange their den, insulating it with branches, weeds, moss, and pine cones. The bear doesn’t forget about the bed, which he makes from the same materials. Before falling asleep, the bear walks around the area around the den, carefully examines it, and then, making sure that everything is in order and there is no danger, begins to move back to the den, thus covering its tracks. They don’t want anyone to disturb them during hibernation.

In the last few weeks before the onset of cold weather, bears begin to actively eat everything edible. They do this in order to gain as much as possible large quantity fat First of all, they try to eat more high-calorie foods, which include fish and nuts. At this time, the amount of food consumed by these animals triples. Shortly before the onset of hibernation, they switch to a vegetarian diet, eating the stems and roots of plants; the amount of food consumed is very small during this period. As a result, the bear's stomach is gradually emptied and sealed. Now the bear can hibernate. But their sleep is not sound, but sensitive and alert, so that in case of danger or the appearance of an enemy they are on alert. The body temperature of these animals decreases, and the body is warmed by fat.

Mother bears practically do not sleep in winter, since during this period they give birth to cubs, and several cubs appear during the winter. The offspring grows very slowly. During this period, the female’s body is configured so that the cubs are fed and warm until spring. The bear hibernates without water or food, so at the end of the poor winter, the starved and exhausted animal greedily eats even the remains of lingonberries and cranberries.

Males have restless sleep; they listen warily to external sounds. These animals will not let anyone near their den for close quarters. They may sometimes emerge from the den to make sure there is no danger nearby. If the animal finds the den too cold, damp, or simply uncomfortable there, the bear may change its home. However, finding a new den in winter, especially one that is free and comfortable, is almost impossible.

For all representatives of the animal world, the day is divided into phases of active wakefulness and rest. Man, by the way, is no exception either. However, some animals also go into seasonal hibernation. It's hard for us people to imagine what does it feel like to sleep soundly for months, but bears, many rodents and frogs take such things casually. Let's figure out why animals hibernate.

How does this happen?

Hibernation is not just a long sleep, but a certain state organism that helps to survive the winter. During hibernation, an animal's metabolism slows down significantly. However, this also applies to all other processes. Body temperature sometimes drops even to sub-zero temperatures. Breathing may slow down to 1-2 breaths per minute. The heart can also only beat a few times per minute. All nutrients are thus consumed much more economically, so the animal can survive for several months only on internal resources.

Each cell of the body begins to use energy more economically.

In most species, the body is in a state of torpor during this period so that energy is not wasted on unnecessary muscle contractions. If you find a gopher hibernating, it may well be mistaken for dead.

Animals in northern regions hibernate in winter, and in dry regions in summer. Thus, it is clear that hibernation helps them survive the most difficult time per year.

Hibernation can also be daily. Hummingbirds and bats flow into it.

And some animals can hibernate when suddenly attacked. unfavorable conditions. For example, when a period of prolonged rains has begun, and it is difficult to get food, you can wait out some time in hibernation.

By the way, one of the primates hibernates. We are talking about the idea of ​​a dwarf lemur from Madagascar. He sleeps in his hollow for about seven months (!). Quite strange, because in those parts the temperature in winter is about 30 degrees Celsius. However The Colombian ground squirrel is considered the record holder for hibernation., who begins his marathon in the summer and wakes up only in the spring.

Why do animals need hibernation?

Everything is quite prosaic - a state of hibernation is needed to survive a hungry winter.

Of course, not all animals survive the winter in hibernation. They can be killed by extreme low temperature, exhaustion, or simply a predator who accidentally found their hiding place.

How do animals survive without food during hibernation?

Stocks! It is food prepared in advance that helps animals survive the winter. But they are fast asleep! In fact, at certain intervals, small animals still wake up to eat and drink water.

But bears do without all this. The fat layer accumulated during the preparation period not only provides them with nutrients during hibernation, but also helps maintain a certain body temperature. The bear does not urinate, so fluid loss is minimal. The water balance in his body is maintained by burning fat. Bears wake up much less often. Most often, they sleep soundly all winter.

Contrary to popular belief the bear sucks its paw not because of hunger, but in order to moisturize dry feet and nibble on dead skin.

We need to prepare!

Animals spend a lot of time preparing for hibernation, because they not only need to stock up on nutrients, but also arrange your home so that a certain microclimate is maintained there.

Rodent burrows can be up to 3 meters deep. Grains, nuts and seeds are stored there, which will help maintain vitality. An entire family of rodents can overwinter in one shelter.

Every hollow, den, burrow must be safe and inaccessible to predators, and the temperature must remain above zero, even if outside very coldy. The temperature in the home will correspond to the body temperature of many hibernating animals. So it's not that simple.

The easiest situation is for the dalia fish, which does not need to take care of its home. She feels great in the frozen lake. The unique structure of the tissues protects this fish from freezing, and when the ice melts, it continues its life activity.

Bears are perhaps the most picky in terms of housing. These comrades can simply bury themselves in the leaves, and in winter they are covered with snow. So be careful, because one of the snowdrifts may turn out to be a sleeping bear, and they do not sleep so soundly. It will be especially bad for you if you come across a clubfoot closer to spring, because he will be very hungry. Probably because their sleep is not deep, bears are not particularly worried about a safe home. Everyone already knows how unsafe it is to wake them up in winter.

By the way, you should read ““. At the same time, you will find out how animals react to tickling.

Why do some animals fall into matches and others do not?

Each species has adapted to winter in its own way. Migratory birds(yes, yes, they are not animals), without thinking twice they fly away to more comfortable places for wintering. The body of some animals is preparing for an active winter. An example of this is hares, which change their color to white for camouflage purposes and grow fur on the pads of their paws to make it easier to move on ice and snow. Squirrels simply fill their hole with enough supplies for the winter. Many insects, having laid eggs until spring, simply die.

IN winter conditions the same bear would spend a lot of energy searching for food, moving through snowdrifts and simply resisting frost. The food found would not always replenish lost strength, and the survival of the bear would be in question. He cannot move to other warmer regions, and in order to collect enough supplies for the winter, the bear would need a huge den. Therefore, the most acceptable option for him, as for many other species, is hibernation. Their usual activity in winter conditions would be lethal.

Since we are talking about bears, some scientists say that their hibernation cannot be called complete. The processes in the clubfoot’s body do not slow down as much as in the same rodents. And his body temperature does not drop that much - only 5 degrees. There are ground squirrels whose temperature during hibernation can be about -2 degrees.

Based on the above, Bears' hibernation is called light. This also includes raccoons and badgers. But gophers, hedgehogs, jerboas and many others fall into true hibernation, when their body becomes completely numb.

Changes in air temperature have affected the lifestyle of some animals. There are representatives of animals that sleep in winter in order to survive during bitter frosts, when it is difficult to find food and, in general, to stay alive. Most animals do not leave their permanent habitats, but adapt to natural conditions: from the article you can find out which animals sleep in winter and what “hibernation” is.

The adaptability of the animal’s body, at the genetic level, to sudden temperature changes is that very “hibernation”. During the period of winter sleep, the inhabitants of not only forests, but also steppes, put their bodies into economy mode: body temperature drops to air temperature, metabolism decreases, and the heartbeat slows down. Thus, animals that hibernate in winter adapt to the cold.

In preparation to survive the winter, an animal like a hamster diligently prepares for this: it fills several cubbyholes in its hole with grains and seeds. Then he covers the entrances and exits with earth, remaining in the hole completely alone. But the hamster does not sleep all winter long - he wakes up several times, refreshes himself, checks the bins and then continues to sleep.

The marmot, unlike the hamster, spends the winter in the company of the whole family: there are more than 10 of them in one hole. A little cramped, but warm. In addition, in preparation for wintering, marmots insulate their homes with hay, not forgetting about comfort. They do not stock up on food: throughout the entire winter the groundhog never wakes up and sleeps until spring comes.

The badger also does not stock up on food: it feeds intensely, fattening up so that it can winter peacefully. He eats a lot of forest fruits and berries, eats lizards, frogs, mice - all so that his weight increases to several kilograms - this is his source of life for the whole winter. He also cares about his comfort and covers the hole with leaves, and also makes his bed from them. It happens that a raccoon spends the winter with a badger - it’s much warmer together.

It is important to note that bats go into hibernation, which lasts up to six months and even up to seven months. They hibernate wrapped in their wings: their body temperature drops below 10°C. But if the air temperature is very low, the bats may become hypothermic and die.

Another animal that sleeps in winter is chipmunks. They stock up on food in huge quantities: their burrows can hold up to 5 kg of seeds! These greedy creatures save on themselves all winter: they eat only when they are very hungry, saving food until spring. During the spring mating season, chipmunks will really need food supplies.

The common hedgehog makes its burrows in the rhizomes of trees, providing two exits in them, one of which is covered with leaves. Back in October, hedgehogs drag moss and dry leaves into their burrows, making loose insulation out of them. There they hibernate, curled up in a ball, and sleep right up until the month of April. During winter sleep, hedgehogs do not eat anything, and their body temperature drops to 5°C.

There are also large animals that sleep in winter - these are bears. Before hibernation, they arrange the den: they begin by insulating it with branches, pine cones, and moss. The bear makes his own bed from the same material. He walks around the den and the area around it and, making sure that everything is in order, climbs into the den, backing away. A bear's sleep is very sensitive - it can be woken up by a dog barking or some noise.

A few weeks before the cold snap, bears eat intensely in order to stock up on fat for the winter: they eat a lot of nuts, fish - high-calorie foods. When, in cold weather, the body temperature drops, the fat will warm them. The she-bear does not sleep in winter: during this period she gives birth to cubs, which she feeds until spring. She does not eat or drink anything - in the spring she is very emaciated.

Interestingly, aquatic and aquatic animals hibernate in winter. land frogs. For lake frogs, silt at the bottom becomes a secluded place, and for land frogs, animal burrows, tree roots, or even basements become a secluded place. In winter, they fall into torpor and wait for the arrival of spring.

Severe climatic conditions, winter is a time of survival for many animals. During this difficult period, there is one way to wait for warmth - to hibernate. Nature took care of this: forest and field animals have adapted to the colder conditions and are coping well, falling asleep until spring.

Why do you think animals hibernate?

\r\nNot all creatures can continue to be active with the onset of cold weather. For others, the phenomenon of hibernation helps them avoid starvation. Some animals in hibernation even experience a period of pregnancy, the offspring are born after this process.\r\n\r\nDuring such a period, the animal’s body temperature drops significantly (in individual cases, it rises or falls slightly, as in brown bear), and their body uses the resources accumulated during the warm period.\r\n\r\n \r\n

\r\nFirst of all, in winter dream animals such as bears fall into depression (at this time their body temperature varies around zero degrees Celsius, but the body produces such energy resources to return the animal to full life), raccoons, badgers, hedgehogs, horseshoe bats (sleep, covered with their wings).\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMost often representatives of mammals fall into such a “sleep”: rodents, marsupials, some lemurs (although for a long time it was believed that primates do not hibernate in winter, as it turned out, the small dwarf lemur hibernates for 7 months out of twelve), marsupials.\r\n\r\nIt is a mistaken opinion that birds can hibernate, with the exception of birds by the characteristic name of dremlyuga. In the absence of parents, swift chicks also form this exception. For a long time also believed that giant shark spends the winter period this way. But it turned out that this creature was simply moving through the depths of the ocean in search of a more suitable place to feed. But fish such as ruffe, sturgeon, carp and perch prefer to go to the most deep points water. They awaken closer to the onset of heat, around April, when the water temperature reaches approximately ten degrees above zero.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nBats, after hibernation, have to, in the literal sense of the word, freeze to death. Their body temperature at this time can reach -5 degrees.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nFrogs burrow deep into the ground or under fallen leaves. The animal is interesting because its heart stops beating, and with the onset of warmth, it acquires its usual rhythm.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nHedgehogs are the most heat-loving representatives of the fauna; they emerge from hibernation later than everyone else, closer to mid-March. They tolerate the cold extremely painfully, so, without having time to “stock up” with a sufficient amount of fat and necessary substances, the hedgehog can die without waiting for its awakening.