Sleeping Through Winter

Winter is a difficult time for many wild animals. The weather is very cold, and it is hard to find food. To survive these tough months, some animals, like bears, bats, and frogs, go into a deep sleep called hibernation.

Before winter comes, these animals eat a lot of extra food. Their bodies store this food as fat. When the weather gets cold, they find a safe, warm place, like a cave or a hole in the ground, and go to sleep. During hibernation, their body temperature drops, and their hearts beat very slowly. Because they are not moving much, they do not need to eat. They can survive just by using the fat stored in their bodies.

When spring arrives and the weather becomes warm again, the animals wake up. They are usually very thin and hungry because they haven't eaten for months. They immediately leave their homes to search for fresh food to eat.

Sleeping Through Winter

Winter is a difficult time for many wild animals. The weather is very cold, and it is hard to find food. To survive these tough months, some animals, like bears, bats, and frogs, go into a deep sleep called hibernation.

Before winter comes, these animals eat a lot of extra food. Their bodies store this food as fat. When the weather gets cold, they find a safe, warm place, like a cave or a hole in the ground, and go to sleep. During hibernation, their body temperature drops, and their hearts beat very slowly. Because they are not moving much, they do not need to eat. They can survive just by using the fat stored in their bodies.

When spring arrives and the weather becomes warm again, the animals wake up. They are usually very thin and hungry because they haven't eaten for months. They immediately leave their homes to search for fresh food to eat.