3/17/2023 0 Comments Animals that hibernate in winter![]() ![]() This is partly because of the chilly weather, but also due to a lack of insects for them to feed on. The 17 species of British bat all hibernate during the winter months. For more information about planting trees and shrubs for wildlife head to the Take action tab in the Naturehood platform. Over their active period dormice will feed on the pollen and nectar in flowers of species like hawthorn and honeysuckle before switching to bramble and hazel as they fruit in the late summer. By planting trees and shrubs that provide food for wildlife, you can make a real difference. It is vital for dormice to build up their fat reserves before curling up in the nest. ![]() Roughly the size of a tennis ball, this bed of tightly woven grass will help to keep the dormouse insulated from the worst of the cold. As the weather turns in October they climb down from the trees where they have been feasting on nuts, berries and insects to build a nest. It’s not just their low numbers that make them a rare sight though, as dormice can spend more than half of the year hibernating.ĭormice use the warmer summer months to build up their fat reserves as much as possible, even doubling their body weight. Weighing in a tiny 27g, these pocket sized mammals are classed as vulnerable to extinction in the UK. As we enter autumn, now is the best time to take action to help these species, helping to build up their fat reserves and find suitable spaces to spend the winter months. If they are woken too early they can lose vital energy or fail to return to sleep, entering a cold landscape where very little can be found to eat. Their survival also hinges on not being disturbed. Another key difference is that torpor tends to last for shorter periods, and is easier for animals to re-enter if woken too early.īecause our hibernating animals sleep for so long, so deeply, it is essential that they store enough fat reserves before they hunker down in their dens. This means that it is only entered when dictated by the environmental conditions. Unlike hibernation, torpor is involuntary. Other mammals, like badgers and red squirrels, instead enter a state called torpor. During hibernation an animal’s temperature will drop, metabolism will reduce and breathing and heart rate will slow down.Īlthough many species are less active over winter in the UK, only three groups enter true hibernation: the hedgehog, the hazel dormouse and our native bats. It is the technical term that describes a state of extreme inactivity, which an animal chooses to enter in order to preserve energy. Hibernation isn’t just a really deep sleep. We all know that hedgehogs hibernate, but what about the UK’s other hibernating mammals? ![]()
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