Do animals actually sleep all the way through the winter or do they just kind of go dormant for a while? I mean - they collect all that food in preparation - if they are going to be asleep it will all just go to waste!!
2006-10-19 03:30:53 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
It depends on the species. Bears store fat and sleep right through as long as they are fat enough; squirrels go through sleep/wake cycles. Thats why they store food, they might wake up and need it.
Squirrels are very small, and wouldn't be able to put on enough fat to fuel themselves all winter. Bears are big and can store vast amounts of fat without getting ill. They go to sleep when the food supply runs out; in one state in the u.s. a bear lover feeds local black bears, and they stay awake all winter.
2006-10-19 09:43:24 · answer #1 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animals like bears fatten up considerable before they go into hibernation. The extra fat they have put on will help them through the winter. They are not in a dead sleep but on a nice winter day that is fairly warm they might come out of their den a walk around. Small animals like squirrels or chipmunks gather a lot of food and put it in their sleeping areas to eat when the elements are bad and food is hidden under the snow. Skunks like bears fatten themselves up and sleep most of the winter away but will come out on a warm winter day.
When an animal is in deep hibernation their breathing slows down considerable and their heart rate also slows down. When this happens the body doesn't need the extra calories to keep the it going and they live off the extra fat they have put on.
2006-10-19 10:42:39 · answer #2 · answered by simbasega 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think a lot of it depends on climate/weather change. They store the food in case the weather hasn't changed for the better when they wake - that way they will have a good supply and hopefully more food is available when it should be. The weather is very unpredictable! Its all a bit too much for me to explain.
2006-10-19 10:48:12 · answer #3 · answered by candyflosskid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think it depends on animal. Squirrels are dormant,they still forage for their nuts! Hedgehogs if not disturbed will sleep til weather warms up enough. They are in a sort of semi coma where heartbeat and respiratory system slows right down.
2006-10-19 10:43:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not all of them sleep the whole time, some of them even come out and walk around etc. The gathering of food is so that they don't need to make effort to find it when it's scarce.
2006-10-19 11:09:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sleep throughout. I wish we could do it, i dont like dark evenings or cold weather, would be a pretty good way to shed those extra pounds........
2006-10-22 11:44:35 · answer #6 · answered by Kizzy_ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they actually sleep all the way through
2006-10-19 11:29:26 · answer #7 · answered by Sara P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some do and some don't. It depends on the animal!
2006-10-19 10:41:31 · answer #8 · answered by Down to earth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they store the food in hope that they'll have something to eat when they awake
2006-10-19 11:09:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they actually sleep..
2006-10-19 10:38:22 · answer #10 · answered by yacekiih 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋