Hibernationis a state of minimal activity and metabolic reduction entered by some animal species.Hibernationis a seasonal heterothermy characterized by low body-temperature, slow breathing and heart-rate, and low metabolic rate. Someanimalsonlyhibernatefor a few weeks, while other true hibernators rest for moths. List ofAnimalsThatHibernate.
How manyanimalshibernate? A lot of them! Thereareover 8 millionanimalspecies worldwide, and many survive byhibernating. Examples of animals that hibernate includebats, bears, bumblebees, chipmunks, and dear mice. Hibernation is a state of inactivity and reduced metabolism that some animals enter to conserve energy during the winter.
The word “hibernate” derives from the Latin word “hībernāre,” meaning “of winter.” Apr 7, 2025 ·When temperatures drop and food becomes scarce, many animal species have a built-in survival trick:hibernation. Instead of braving the elements,animalsthathibernatecan enter a state of deep sleep, where their body temperature drops and they conserve energy for months at a time. Sep 6, 2024 ·One bird and a variety of amphibians, reptiles, and insects also exhibithibernation-like states.
There is even at least one fish—the Antarctic cod (Dissostichus mawsoni)—that slows down its metabolism in winter, becoming 1/20 less active. And, of course, there are lots of mammals. Discover the types ofanimalsthathibernatein summer and in winter.
Learn why theyhibernate, howhibernationhelps them, and much more. Bears aren't the onlyanimalsthathibernate. These creatures emerge from their winter slumber in the spring too.While bears maybethemost famousanimalsthathibernate, they certainly aren't the only ones that sleep through the winter.
Hibernatingismuch more profound than simply sleeping, though. Depending on the species, it can vary from long, deep unconsciousness to light spells of inactivity. Buthibernationcarries risks as the dormantanimalisvulnerable to predators and the unpredictable climate.
Whichanimalhibernatesthe longest? The winner for longesthibernationgoes to the edible dormouse . They canhibernatefor up to eleven months! It’s wild to think about what happens whenanimalshibernate—animalsarepretty amazing. Why doanimalshibernate? Put simply: “Hibernationisa means of energy conservation,” says Kelly Drew, a neuropharmacologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who studies the brain chemistry ofhibernatingArctic ground squirrels.
