All through this winter I have watched 2 squirrels in my garden, I thought they were meant to hibernate,wont they get tired in the summer?
2007-03-24 22:58:23 · 9 answers · asked by fran 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Not cold enough for long enough. . .
2007-03-24 23:23:22 · answer #1 · answered by Dover Soles 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hibernation is a stage when an animal, go underground, and have deep sleep for months together. This happen mostly in winter season, where heavy snowfall occurs. As they do not get enough food during this period They start accumulating excess fats, during season, and then go for hibernation. Where all their body metabolism stops completely, even heart beat to certain extent. This phenomena is commonly called as DEEP SLEEP. When the out side atmosphere comes to normal, with the arrival of spring / winter , they wake up. This can be observed in polar bears, frogs etc. In your case, your squirrels must be very comfortable during winter. Hence no hibernation. Pets do not hibernate, even animals kept in zoo.
2007-03-25 06:44:00 · answer #2 · answered by manjunath_empeetech 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
squirrels dont necessarily hibernate except in extreme cold. why do you think they go burying nuts all through the autumn. this is to feed them through the winter when food is scarce. if it gets really cold then yes they may sleep for a few weeks but as you know it was very mild of late.
2007-03-25 13:51:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the climate is altering and the winters are getting warmer, so the sqirrels either dont hibernate at all or else wake up too early, which will kill quite a few of them off.
2007-03-25 06:21:14 · answer #4 · answered by Outhval 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Niether the red or grey squirrels hibernate, they may not come out in wet, or very cold days.
They keep running just in front of my cycle tyres, while I'm cycling.
2007-03-25 06:17:30 · answer #5 · answered by Sprinkle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Squirrels don't hibernate. That's why they bury food throughout the year.
2007-03-25 06:15:20 · answer #6 · answered by Captain Flaps 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The reaon they hibernate is not to rest. It is to stop them from getting cold in the winter. Because we have had a relitavely warm winter there was no need fr them to hibernate.
2007-03-25 06:06:12 · answer #7 · answered by Emily 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Squirrels DON'T hibernate in the UK, this year or any other year.
Now, hedgehogs and dormice, that's a different matter.
2007-03-25 12:20:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i live in the tropics and the squirels are active all year round ,they are the same squirels
maybe the squirrels in England have found out about global warming and dont want to miss anything going on.
2007-03-26 00:44:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋