What Is the Difference Between Sleep and Hibernation?

Sleep and hibernation are both ways animals rest, but they're like taking a short nap versus going to sleep for months. When we sleep, we cycle between light and deep rest, and we wake up each day. But when animals hibernate, they slow down their body functions, sometimes for weeks or even months, to save energy, just like a bear sleeping through winter.

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Examples

  1. A bear sleeps through winter in its den, that's hibernation.
  2. You sleep for eight hours a night, that's regular sleep.
  3. An animal can hibernate without eating, but you need to eat every day.

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