Other animals settle in for a long winters nap. Bears . Setting the hibernation debate aside for a moment, for the purpose of this article, we will call the Black bears winter snooze hibernation. Take bears, for example. Bears eat… a lot. The length of denning depends on location, and can vary from a few days or weeks to a few months or more. Brown and grizzly bears, semi-hibernation can last as long as seven months, depending upon the severity of the winter and the location of their territory. Bears hibernate not because of the cold but because there is a lack of food during the winter months. Here are some facts that may surprise you about bear hibernation. Hibernation may even hold the key to developing life-saving medical interventions and achieving long-distance space travel. Ursus americanus). Bears do not go into complete hibernation the way rodents do. A bear is an animal that is related to the dog family although it is omnivorous. In northern areas of the U.S. and Canada, bears hibernate as long as 8 months without moving from their den. Especially bears in warmer climates like the Andian Bear, where they can find plenty of food all year round, so they have little reason to hibernate. Bears make their dens in hollow trees or logs, under the root mass of a tree, in rock … While it’s true that bears don’t need to eat or drink (or even urinate or defecate!) 2. Most bears hibernate or den during the winter months. However, not many animals truly hibernate, and bears are among those that do not. How long do bears hibernate? Do Florida black bears hibernate? Hibernation Period: 5 – 7 months Although bears are famously known for hibernating, like many of the hibernators not all bears hibernate. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they hibernate, but they more go into what is known as a lethargic state. This adaptation works to ensure that the female bear will survive the long winter. They have short tails and they walk on the soles of their feet. Bears are large and heavy mammals covered with very thick fur. They do … In the colder regions of Alaska, bears can hibernate for up to seven months, while in the coastal regions of North America bears hibernate for only 2-5 months. Hibernating bears will, on occasion, leave their dens—particularly when the dens are damaged or flooded. When we think about strategies animals use to survive the winter, we often picture birds flying south and bears hibernating in caves. Bears have the ability to remain stationary for longer periods than rodents without feeding or eliminating waste. *It can go for as long as 100 days without eating, drinking, urinating, defecating, or exercising. 1. An example of animals that undergo torpor is the bear. They can remain active, however, they choose not to. Herein lies the main difference in bear and rodent hibernation. 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