I’ve discussed how many birds “escape” the cold north and head to warmer areas in order to find food. Most other flightless animals that cannot find enough winter food don’t have that option. Elk in the Rockies migrate down the mountains to lower elevations to feed and avoid “strangling” deep snows. While other mammals like groundhogs, bears or chipmunks have the ability to “shut down” many of their body functions and “sleep away” the winter. How about a little information on hibernators?

A groundhog is a type of ground squirrel that lives in our area. This mammal feeds heavily on plants all summer accumulating large amounts of body fat. By mid-October they carry dry vegetation into their burrows and begin a long period of dormancy.

Its heart rate slows from about 80 beats per minute to 4. Its body temperature drops from the upper 90s to about 45 degrees. It does not eat, urinate or defecate while in its den. This dormancy will continue until late March or about five and half months. Of course, it still needed energy to survive, and that is why it stored so much fat. It will look much leaner in spring.

Chipmunks, another ground squirrel will also hibernate. However, they don’t store up large fat layers and aren’t so lethargic. They wake up regularly to feed on all the seeds and nuts they have stored in their underground “caches” to keep them alive.

The chipmunk is able to regularly turn hibernation on and off so they can eat the food they stored. The chipmunk’s heart rate and breathing slow, but not to the extent of the groundhog.

Probably the most studied hibernator is the bear. The black bear, like the groundhog, feasts and “stuffs” itself to build up extensive fat deposits in its body. They den wherever they can find shelter out of the wind and elements. Males sometimes pull together leaves and debris next to a large fallen log or near an uprooted tree trunk and curl up there.

Females, which by the way, give birth during hibernation, try to find more protected areas in rock ledges, etc. The commencement of hibernation is not entirely based on cold temperatures.

If plenty of grub is available, they can remain active well into December. About 10 years ago, one of my trail cameras captured photos of a bear the day after Christmas and we already had quite a few 15-20 degree nights. Biologists have no clue as to what determines WHEN the bear decides to go into hibernation.

A hibernating bear (sometimes as long as 100 days) also does not drink, eat, defecate or urinate. Their thick layer of fat provides the energy to survive. Female bears nursing young will lose up to 40 percent of their body weight.

Then in spring (again no one knows specifically when) they arouse and leave the den to begin feasting again.

NASA has long looked at how man could hibernate for long-distance space travel. The medical profession is interested in hibernation in efforts to find a way to continue human life while a person may be waiting for an organ transplant.

Black bears’ “hibernating” temperatures drop to about 85 and they remain relatively alert, while jumping mice and groundhogs’ temperatures drop into the 40s and they are in a stupor.

Amphibians are even more amazing. Frogs and salamanders bury into muddy pond bottoms or in spring seeps with their temperatures dropping to near freezing. Wood frogs are even more unique because they can survive after being frozen. Wow.

Test your knowledge: Over ____ percent of our hibernating bats have been “wiped out” due to white nose syndrome. A. 25, B. 50, C. 75, D. 90

Last week’s trivia: Both the house mouse and Norway rat were brought here by accident from their native Europe.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.