Some animals hibernate during the winter. They begin to hibernate when the weather turns cold. Most hibernate all winter long. Animals aren’t just sleeping when they hibernate. Their heartbeat and their breathing slow down. They don’t eat or even poop or pee.

Animals that hibernate must work hard all summer. They eat a lot. They have to fatten up for the winter. They also have to prepare their homes for the winter. They find safe hiding places. They dig dens. They make nests. They make them warm. They make them safe.

The Dormouse hibernates. It makes a nest in the ground. It eats all summer. It eats nuts, fruits, and bugs.

Chipmunks hibernate. They dig burrows underground. All summer they eat nuts, seeds, fruits, and bugs.

The Common Poorwill hibernates. It is the only bird known to do this. It hides under piles of rocks. It eats bugs all summer long. It likes to eat moths and beetles.

Bears hibernate. They dig dens. Then they eat lots of food. They eat berries, fish, and meat.

Snails hibernate. They don’t need a nest. They go inside their shells. Their shells are their homes. All summer they eat plants.