What is Hibernation? | Hibernation for Kids?

Hibernation is when some animals sleep for a long time during winter to stay warm and save energy.

Imagine you're wearing your thickest blanket on a super cold night, and you don't move at all, that's kind of like hibernation! Some animals, like bears, go into a cozy den (like a big cave or a special nest) and sleep the whole winter through. They don’t need to eat because they’ve stored up fat from eating lots in the summer and fall.

During hibernation, an animal’s body slows down, it breathes less, its heart beats slower, and it doesn't need to use much energy. This is like when you're super sleepy after a long day and don’t want to move at all. The bear just keeps dreaming until spring comes.

When the weather gets warmer again, the bear wakes up hungry and ready to find food once more, just like you wake up in the morning and are ready for breakfast!