Animals that rest in winter
This spiky little mammal curls up tightly and sleeps through the winter.
Hedgehog
When animals move to a warmer place for winter, it is called
Migration
Scientists study how animals stay healthy during hibernation. One reason is to help treat humans with...
medical problems / diseases
The long, deep sleep some animals use to survive winter.
Hibernation
True or False: All animals sleep through the entire winter.
False
This furry rodent stores nuts, but doesn’t sleep much at all during winter.
Tree squirrel
Some animals prepare by hiding extra food for later. This behavior is called
Caching or storing
Hibernating animals survive with very little food because their __________ slows down.
metabolism
A shorter, lighter form of deep rest — some animals enter it daily or for a few hours.
Torpor
True or False: Bears hibernate just like ground squirrels.
False — they enter a lighter state called torpor.
This large animal rests in dens and drops its heart rate and breathing, but doesn’t go into true hibernation.
Bear
Beavers build strong lodges and store branches underwater to eat all winter. Is this a behavioral or physical adaptation?
Behavioral
NASA studies hibernation to help future astronauts on long trips to....
Space
Plants and some animals enter this state to slow growth and conserve energy in cold seasons.
Dormancy
True or False: Animals eat extra food before winter to build up fat for energy.
True
This animal’s body temperature gets so low in hibernation that it is just a few degrees above freezing.
ground squirrel / marmot?
Birds often fluff their feathers to trap heat. Why do they do this?
To stay warm / to hold body heat.
Scientists have learned from hibernation how to protect the body from __________, which happens when blood flow slows or stops.
tissue damage
Which is deeper: torpor or hibernation?
Hibernation
Myth or Fact: Snakes stay active and hunt during snowy months.
Myth — they go dormant or brumate.
Name one animal that enters torpor, not full hibernation
hummingbird, bat, mouse, bear
Give one example of a learned behavior that helps an animal survive winter.
learning safe shelter spots, how to hunt in snow, using group warmth, etc.
If humans could safely enter a hibernation-like state, name one benefit it could give us.
less need for food, survive injuries, long space travel, lower energy use, etc.
Name one key difference between hibernation and dormancy.
Hibernation = animals only; body temp drops and metabolism slows drastically. Dormancy = mostly plants; growth stops but body temp doesn’t drop like animals.
True or False: Hibernating animals can wake up easily when disturbed.
False — waking up takes lots of energy and time.