Do I Hibernate?
Ground squirrel — I spend winter underground with a very low body temperature and almost no activity.
True hibernator
Hibernation helps animals survive winter by drastically lowering their __________ to conserve energy.
metabolic rate
When animals move seasonally to find better food or climate, this behavior helps them avoid harsh winters.
What is migration?
Raptors migrate to find better access to one main resource. What is that resource?
Food (prey availability changes seasonally)
True or False: If you find a wild animal in “deep sleep” during winter, it must be hibernating.
False — it could be in torpor or another dormant state.
Hummingbird — I slow my heart rate and metabolism for short periods, often overnight, but wake regularly.
Torpor
During hibernation, many animals’ heart rate and breathing rate drop significantly along with body temperature. Why does this help them survive winter?
It reduces energy needs when food is scarce, making stored fat enough for survival.
Some animals gather and hide food during warm months, so they have resources during scarce winter periods. What is that behavior called?
food-storing or caching
Many raptors migrate south when winter begins in colder regions. Why do they leave these habitats?
Because prey becomes harder to find in winter.
True or False: Hibernation always means an animal’s body temperature drops to the freezing point.
False — hibernation means metabolic rate and body temperature drop, but “freezing” is not required.
Insect (e.g., butterfly or beetle) — I pause development in cold seasons or drought until conditions improve.
Diapause (type of dormancy)
When animals hibernate, their bodies carefully control changes like heart rate and temperature. This kind of body-balancing is called __________.
What is homeostasis? — the body keeping conditions stable to survive winter.
For some mammals, entering a state of torpor is triggered not by choice but by harsh cold or lack of food. That means torpor is a(n) ____ adaptation to winter.
What is an involuntary (physiological) behavioral adaptation? — i.e. survival behavior triggered by environment
Name one raptor species commonly seen during fall or winter migration.
Red-tailed hawk, Swainson’s hawk, Cooper’s hawk, Osprey, Turkey vulture, Bald eagle, etc.
Myth: All bears hibernate in the same deep way as small rodents. Why is this a myth?
Because many bears use a lighter form of dormancy / torpor rather than true hibernation, and their metabolic suppression is less extreme than small rodents.
Bear — I rest for months, rarely eat or drink, but my temperature doesn’t drop as drastically as small mammals.
Torpor / Winter lethargy, not true hibernation
Some animals don’t hibernate even in winter but use a different energy-saving method that lasts only hours or days. What is that method and why is it important in energy conservation?
That method is torpor — it allows short-term metabolic reduction, which conserves energy when conditions (temperature or food) are unfavorable.
Some raptors migrate to find enough prey in winter instead of staying put and risking starvation. How does that help them survive?
It ensures they have access to food and better environmental conditions rather than survive scarcity. (Adaptation for survival)
Raptors use rising columns of warm air to soar long distances without flapping. What are these warm air currents called?
Thermals
Myth: Torpor is just a shorter name for hibernation. Explain why this is incorrect.
Torpor is a short-term drop in metabolism/body temperature (hours or days), while hibernation is a prolonged period (weeks/months) of low metabolism and activity.
Deciduous tree — I shed leaves and slow growth until spring.
Dormancy (plant form, not hibernation or torpor)
Explain how changing climate or unpredictable winters might create challenges for animals that rely on hibernation or torpor.
Warmer winters or changing food availability could disrupt when animals go into or come out of hibernation/torpor, possibly before food is ready — threatening survival.
Describe one example of a combined adaptation: an animal that both migrates and uses torpor or dormancy, depending on conditions, to survive harsh times.
Some small mammals or birds may migrate where possible, but if cold or food scarcity hits during migration or in new habitat, they might use torpor to conserve energy.
Explain how climate change could affect raptor migration routes over time.
Warmer winters or shifting prey availability could change where and when raptors migrate, possibly shortening or altering their routes.
True or False: Only cold triggers dormancy or hibernation in animals. Explain your answer.
False — lack of food or water, seasonal changes in daylight, or extreme heat (in the case of aestivation) can also trigger dormancy-like states.