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This article provides a basic overview of what hibernation is, how it works, and which animals hibernate. It's a fantastic resource for kids to understand the concept of hibernation in an easy-to-understand format.

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Animals that hibernate seem to have the right idea: Find a cosy burrow, head indoors, and catch some Zzz's until spring returns. Or do they?
1. When animals hibernate, they aren't sleeping. When the weather is cold and food is in short supply, animals like hedgehogs, bears and bats become inactive to save energy. During hibernation their heart rates and breathing slow down, and their body temperature drops.

2. To prepare for a long hibernation in which they don't eat or drink, animals stuff their faces. Dormice, for example, eat so much that by the end of summer, they can be double their normal size. Just as well, because they can lose up to half their body weight during hibernation.

3. Animals hibernate in lots of different ways - from snails, who attach themselves to a surface, cover themselves with their slime, and wait out winter, to hedgehogs, who like to build nests out of grass, leaves and straw, often under fallen logs.

4. Squirrels don't hibernate because they can't build up enough body fat. During summer, they stash food in different locations. Then in winter, they sleep for up to 20 hours a day, heading out in the early morning or late afternoon to snack on their hoards.

5. In hot, dry climates, creatures like the African hedgehog and crocodiles 'aestivate'. This is when they find a cool, safe spot and become inactive. Aestivation usually lasts for a shorter period than hibernation.

6. Reptiles like snakes and lizards often find an unused burrow and settle in to wait out the cold because they are cold‐blooded (their body temperature is controlled by the environment). This is called brumation.

7. In North America, a species of wood frog can survive being frozen and thawed a few times a season thanks to a unique natural substance in their blood.

8. Echidnas hibernate in underground burrows or hollowed‐out logs during bush fires in the hot, dry Australian outback. They stay carefully hidden away until it's safe to emerge to find food.

9. Despite how nice it would be to curl up under a warm blanket and sleep away the cold winter months, sadly us humans can't hibernate. Scientists think this is because of our size. Except for bears, it's mostly small animals that hibernate.

10. Dormice hold the record for the longest hibernators ‐ up to 11 months! In fact, the name dormouse comes from the French word 'dormir' meaning 'to sleep'.

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10 fascinating facts about hibernation | National Geographic Kids

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Animals that hibernate seem to have the right idea: Find a cosy burrow, head indoors, and catch some Zzz's until spring returns. Or do they? 1. When animals hibernate, they aren't sleeping. When the weather is cold and food is in short supply, animals like hedgehogs, bears and bats become inactive to save energy.

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Dive into the reasons behind why some animals choose to hibernate. This article explores the benefits of hibernation for animals, offering a deeper insight into the natural world for curious minds.

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What do you do when Old Man Winter comes calling? If you're at home, you might turn up the heater or throw an extra blanket on your bed. If you have to go outside, you probably wear a sweater and throw on your heaviest jacket.

But what about all those animals that call the Arctic home? It's there pretty much the whole year, and during winter it gets especially . How do those animals survive the chilly temperatures? Do they turn up the heat or throw on extra blankets or heavy jackets? Not exactly!

Even though Arctic animals don't have all the ways we humans have to fight the , they have developed some really interesting ways of dealing with the . Let's take a look at a few Arctic animals and how they deal with those freezing temperatures.

Lemmings are small rodents that call the Arctic home. Few trees can survive the vast expanses of exposed , so lemmings burrow underneath the . Since they're also covered in , long , lemmings find their tunnels to be comfortable winter homes, because the traps the air and becomes a natural insulator.

Another Arctic animal that's really hairy is the Arctic hare. Get it? Hares are hairy? OK, so that's not a great joke, but they are! And they use that hair to great advantage. They don't only rely on their , though. They use a tried and true technique to survive the : they hang out in large groups. You might find hundreds of Arctic hares huddled together for warmth and protection.

Arctic ground squirrels spend up to seven months at a stretch hibernating inside their cozy dens. Before retiring for the winter, they line their dens with insulating materials, such as hair and leaves. During hibernation , their hearts slow down and their body temperature drops almost to freezing. They stay in this vegetative -like state until warmer temperatures return.

Some of the larger animals you'll find on the Arctic are musk oxen. Their long, , dark hair surrounds them like a tent, keeping them warm. Their hairs are unique in that they're . These hairs help to trap air close to the body where it keeps the animals cozy. Like Arctic hares, musk oxen also tend to hang out in groups when it gets especially .

When it comes to surviving the Arctic , however, there's one undisputed champion with multiple ways of dealing with Mother Nature: the polar bear. The polar bear's insulates its body quite well, but it's also surprisingly . This coating helps keep moisture out and heat in.

One final defense that the polar bear uses to fight off hypothermia sits just beneath the skin: a layer of . When you combine the polar bear's layer of with its , , it's no WONDER that polar bears can about in the waters of the Arctic and thrive.

Although the Arctic doesn't seem appealing to us humans, many animals choose to call it home. They survive freezing temperatures for months at a time by developing some specialized features that help them stay warm, including insulating , layers of , and skin coatings.

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How Do Arctic Animals Survive in the Cold?

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What do you do when Old Man Winter comes calling? If you're at home, you might turn up the heater or throw an extra blanket on your bed. If you have to go outside, you probably wear a sweater and throw on your heaviest jacket.

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Get to know some fun facts and trivia about hibernation with this engaging article. Perfect for sparking interest in young learners and expanding their knowledge on the subject.

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A comprehensive list of animals that hibernate. This article helps students to identify various hibernators and understand that it's not just bears that hibernate!

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Learn about the fascinating preparations animals make for hibernation. From food storage to finding the perfect spot, this article covers it all in a child-friendly manner.

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Hibernation is a way that some animals deal with the harshness of winter. They curl up in a safe place and stay there until winter ends. Hibernating animals seem almost dead....