Hibernation is a natural phenomenon that allows animals to survive through harsh winter conditions. It involves a series of physical changes that help conserve energy and protect the animal’s body. While there is still much to learn about hibernation, it plays a crucial role in the survival of many species. Hibernation is important for animals to conserve energy during the winter when resources are scarce. Eagle Creek park ranger, Heidi Shoemaker shared, “Animals’ heart rate and body temperature drops, decreasing their caloric needs while hibernating.” It also helps them survive extreme temperatures and other harsh weather conditions. Hibernating animals have adapted to hibernate in different ways depending on their species and environment. Some animals, like bears, can hibernate for several months while others, like ground squirrels, may only hibernate for a few weeks. 

One interesting fact about hibernation is that some animals can wake up and go back to sleep multiple times during the winter. This is called periodic arousal and allows the animal to maintain their body functions and avoid damage from extended periods of hibernation. 

Another interesting fact is that animals who hibernate are often able to lower their body temperature to near freezing levels without experiencing tissue damage. This is due to an increase in a protein called “adiponectin”, which helps protect cells from freezing.  

Scientists are still studying hibernation to better understand its mechanisms and potential applications for human medicine. Some researchers are studying how hibernating animals can survive without water for extended periods of time, which could have implications for organ preservation in humans and bone stature. Shoemaker stated, “I don’t know of changes in bones of hibernating animals, so I’m not sure of what the impact would be on the human skeleton.”

Shoemaker ended with, “there [are] still studies needed to be done with not only physical effects but also psychological on animals who hibernate!”