Hibernators

For most animals finding enough food in winter can be difficult when the main source of food like insects or green plants is in short supply. <br> Some animals solve this problem by hibernating. Hibernation is a deep sleep that helps them to save energy and survive the winter without eating much. <br> During hibernation the animal’s body temperature drops, and its heartbeat and its breathing slow down so that it does not use much energy. <br> Hibernating animals get ready for their winter sleep by eating extra food and storing it as body fat which they then use as energy while sleeping. <br> There are two types of fat – regular white fat and brown fat. <br> The brown fat forms patches near the animal’s brain, heart and lungs. <br> It sends a quick burst of energy to warm these organs first when it is time to wake up. <br> Some of the hibernating animals include fish, frogs and turtles, which have no way to keep warm during winter. They shelter under logs, rocks and fallen leaves in the water. <br> When the weather gets cold, they move down to the bottom of lakes and ponds and some even burrow into the mud. <br> Some insects also hibernate and to keep warm they find holes in the ground, under tree bark or in rotting logs. <br> Can you name some of the animals that hibernate in the winter? <br> Some hibernators go into such a deep sleep that it is almost impossible to wake them, and they appear to be dead. <br> If the temperature falls too low some animals will awaken slightly and shiver to warm up a bit.<br> Even when the weather is severe, hibernators may wake up for a short period every few weeks to use their ‘toilet rooms’ and eat a little food if it is available. <br> <b> List of some Hibernators</b> Dormouse,<br> honeybee,<br> frog,<br> bat,<br> toad,<br> newt,<br> hedgehog,<br> earthworm,<br> lizard,<br> badger,<br> snail,<br> bear,<br> squirrel,<br> ladybird,<br> butterfly, <br> <b>Words in Wordsearch</b><br> Y L A D Y B I R D E<br> L B A D G E R O E E <br> F S Q U I R R E L A <br> R G B A T M D T I R <br> E O D O O A W A A T <br> T R U U O E B H N H <br> T F S T N O R E S W <br> U E L I Z A R D A O <br> B G O H E G D E H R <br> E E B Y E N O H Y M<br>