Hibernation: Not Just Sleep

Author: Ioannes Salamanes

Editors: Ken Saito and Michael Zhu

Artist: Gianluca Zhang

Hibernation is a familiar word for many of us. However, not everyone knows about how it really works, or what different things are required to make hibernation practical and effective. Read this article to learn more about how different animals hibernate.

From a young age, we’ve learned that hibernation is when animals enter a sleep-like state for the whole winter season. While this is somewhat true, there is more to hibernation than just sleeping. Hibernation is the involuntary biological process where some animals undergo physiological changes like slowed metabolism and a drop in body temperature. Animals hibernate to conserve energy when there is a lack of food during harsh weather conditions. It is critical for the survival of many animals.