يومياتWhat Is Hibernation? Animal Facts for Kids
Michelle Parkes ·
What Is Hibernation? Animal Facts for Kids
As the nights draw in and frost sparkles on the grass, some animals do something amazing: they curl up somewhere cosy and sleep the winter away. This is called hibernation, and it is one of nature’s cleverest survival tricks.
In this post we explain what hibernation is, why animals do it and which animals hibernate in the UK. You can also watch Hibernation Nation!, our Earth Cubs episode with Geezer Rat and Pinky, and sing along to The Hibernation Song.
Watch: Hibernation Nation! with Geezer Rat and Pinky
Watch along with Geezer Rat and his cousin Pinky to find out how animals stay snug and sleepy all winter long. In this episode, children discover:
- what hibernation is, and why it isn’t quite the same as sleeping
- why animals eat LOTS of food before winter
- how a hibernating animal’s breathing and heartbeat slow right down to save energy
- all about Alaska’s Fat Bear Week, with Frankie Fox reporting from the scene (find out which bear won in 2026!)
- a joke from Parrot Parrot (told twice, of course)
Watch Hibernation Nation! now and share it with your class or at home.
Prefer to listen? Hibernation Nation! is also available as an Earth Cubs podcast episode, perfect for car journeys and quiet time.
What is hibernation?
Hibernation is a special kind of deep rest that some animals go into during the coldest months of the year. In winter, food like insects, fruit and nuts is hard to find, and staying warm uses up lots of energy. Instead of battling the cold, hibernating animals find a safe, sheltered spot and slow their bodies right down.
It looks like sleeping, but hibernation is different. During hibernation, an animal’s body temperature drops, its heartbeat slows and it breathes much more slowly. It is a bit like living in slow motion! This saves so much energy that the animal can survive for weeks or even months without eating.
Why do animals hibernate?
Animals hibernate to survive winter when there isn’t enough food to go around. By saving energy, they can live off the fat stored in their bodies until spring comes back, bright and warm.
That is why autumn is such a busy time. Before they hibernate, animals gobble up as much food as they can and put on lots of weight. Hazel dormice can almost double their body weight before winter!
How do animals get ready to hibernate?
- Eat, eat, eat: animals build up fat in autumn to use as fuel through the winter.
- Find a safe spot: a hibernation den, called a hibernaculum, could be a pile of leaves, a hollow tree, a burrow, a cave or even a compost heap.
- Get cosy: hedgehogs and dormice weave nests from leaves, grass and moss to keep out the cold.
- Slow down: as temperatures drop, their bodies switch into energy-saving mode.
Which animals hibernate in the UK?
Only three types of British mammal are true hibernators.
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs usually hibernate from around November until March or April, tucked inside a nest of leaves under hedges, log piles or sheds. While hibernating, a hedgehog’s heart rate can drop from around 190 beats per minute to around 20.
Hazel dormice
Dormice are champion snoozers! They can hibernate for six months or more, curled up in tight, woven nests on or just under the ground.
Bats
All of the UK’s bat species hibernate through winter, hanging in cool, quiet places like caves, old buildings, tree holes and bat boxes. Want more batty facts? Hang around for some awesome bat facts.
Other animals rest through the winter too. Snakes and lizards go into a similar state called brumation, while frogs, toads, queen bumblebees and ladybirds hide away and stay still until the weather warms up.
Do bears hibernate?
Bears are the most famous hibernators of all, but scientists sometimes debate whether they truly hibernate. A bear’s body temperature only drops a little, and they can wake up more easily than a hedgehog or dormouse. Even so, bears can spend months in their dens without eating, drinking or going to the toilet. Mother bears even give birth to their cubs during their winter sleep!
In Alaska, people celebrate how well bears prepare for winter with Fat Bear Week, where thousands of people vote for the bear that has fattened up best on salmon. Frankie Fox reports from the scene in Hibernation Nation!.
Do squirrels hibernate?
No! It is a common myth, but squirrels in the UK don’t hibernate. They stay active all winter, relying on the nuts and seeds they buried in autumn. On very cold days they simply stay snuggled up in their nests, which are called dreys.
Fun hibernation facts for kids
- The word hibernation comes from the Latin word “hibernus”, which means wintry.
- Hibernating animals don’t always sleep straight through. Many wake up now and then before settling back down.
- Wood frogs in North America can survive being partly frozen over winter, then thaw out in spring!
- The Arctic ground squirrel’s body temperature can drop below freezing while it hibernates, the coldest of any mammal.
- Bears can lose a big chunk of their body weight over winter, which is why they need to fatten up first.
How to help hibernating animals this winter
With Bonfire Night and chilly weather arriving together, here are some simple ways families and schools can help:
- Check before you light: hedgehogs love to nest in bonfire piles. Build your bonfire on the day, or gently check underneath before lighting.
- Leave a wild corner: piles of leaves, logs and long grass make perfect winter hideaways.
- Make a hedgehog highway: a 13cm by 13cm gap at the bottom of your fence lets hedgehogs travel between gardens.
- Offer the right snacks: never give hedgehogs milk or bread. A shallow dish of water and some meaty cat or dog food is much better.
- Build a bug hotel: give insects a safe place to spend the winter. Learn how to build a bug hotel.
- Be a quiet neighbour: if you find a hibernating animal, leave it in peace. Waking up uses precious energy.
Sing along: The Hibernation Song!
The catchy song from the episode is also available as a music video with Pinky and Geezer Rat. It is perfect for bedtime, circle time or a winter topic in the classroom.
Hibernation activities for home and the classroom
- Hibernation statues: children move in slow motion like a hibernating animal, then wake up when someone calls “spring!”
- Design a den: draw a cosy winter den for an animal of your choice. What would you line it with?
- Talk about it: why do animals eat so much before winter? What does it mean for a body to slow down to save energy?
- Rest and recharge: as Wilfred Walrus reminds us in the episode, sleep helps recharge our brains and bodies too.
Hibernation links to KS1 and KS2 science topics including seasonal changes, animals including humans, and living things and their habitats. For more ideas, explore what biodiversity is and our outdoor learning ideas for primary schools.
Hibernation FAQs
What is hibernation in simple words?
Hibernation is a long, deep winter rest. Some animals slow their bodies right down to save energy, so they can survive the cold months when food is hard to find.
Why do animals hibernate?
To survive winter. Food is scarce and keeping warm uses lots of energy, so hibernating animals live off the fat they stored up in autumn until spring comes back.
What animals hibernate in the UK?
Hedgehogs, hazel dormice and bats are the UK’s true hibernators. Snakes, lizards, frogs, toads and insects such as queen bumblebees also hide away and rest through the winter.
How long do animals hibernate for?
It depends on the animal and the weather. In the UK, hedgehogs usually hibernate from around November to March or April, while hazel dormice can hibernate for six months or more.
Is hibernation the same as sleeping?
No. Hibernation is much deeper than sleep. An animal’s body temperature drops and its heartbeat and breathing slow right down, which saves far more energy than an ordinary night’s sleep.
Do bears really hibernate?
Bears spend months in their dens without eating, drinking or going to the toilet, so they are often called hibernators. Some scientists describe it as a lighter winter sleep, because a bear’s body temperature only drops a little.
Do squirrels hibernate?
No. Squirrels in the UK stay active all winter and rely on the nuts and seeds they buried in autumn. On very cold days they stay snuggled up in their nests, called dreys.
How can I help hibernating hedgehogs?
Check bonfire piles before lighting them, leave leaf and log piles in your garden, cut a 13cm by 13cm gap in your fence as a hedgehog highway, and never disturb a hibernating hedgehog.
Where can kids learn more about hibernation?
Watch Hibernation Nation!, the Earth Cubs episode where Geezer Rat and Pinky explain how animals stay snug and sleepy all winter, then sing along to The Hibernation Song.
Ready to snuggle up and learn? Watch Hibernation Nation! and watch The Hibernation Song on Earth Cubs.
