![]() To animals, winter could easily be interpreted as a short, and regular, time of famine and cold.īarnes has studied hibernation and the animals who practice it for over 40 years. Since food doesn’t grow well in cold conditions, winter can be viewed as a time, although short by human standards, of famine. Famines are simply when there is no food available for an extended period of time, mainly because of the environment. Famines aren’t always caused by desert conditions. National Wildlife Federation’s article about Brian Barnes, the director of the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks explains that animals that hibernate do so in anticipation of a famine. Gray squirrels were never included in these sites. However every site that said that squirrels did hibernate specified that they were talking about one of the ground squirrels. There would most likely be fewer predators such as domesticated cats and dogs. With classes in session during the winter months, it may be possible for squirrels to gather food more easily from students’ handouts than it would be in other areas. Some explain that many college campuses are home to this type of squirrel. Many other sites state the same claim about gray squirrels. It also might be only certain types of squirrels, including gray squirrels, who do not hibernate. If the squirrel population is large enough, then people in the area might assume that all of the squirrels are active, all of the time, when in reality, only a fraction is outside of their den at any given time, with the majority peacefully hibernating, out of sight. If people in the area set food out for birds, rabbits and other animals, including their own domesticated four footed friends, such as their dogs and cats, squirrels quickly learn where those places are. This can and does happen, especially if the squirrels know that there is a food supply waiting for them and is easily available. Animals do come out of hibernation, only to return to it soon after, sometimes several times. However, hibernation is not a state that is kept for the entire duration of the cold season. Another site, which isn’t as authoritative, also says gray squirrels don’t hibernate during the winter months. Homeotherms regulate their body temperature, maintaining it at about the same temperature year-round. The zoo claims that these squirrels don’t hibernate because they are homeotherms. ![]() This zoo has many eastern gray squirrels on their grounds, although they are not found in an exhibit, but rather just inhabiting the grounds as they please. The Lincoln Park Zoo, in Chicago, Illinois What do the experts say about these two different types of squirrel and whether they hibernate or not? They have stolen from a nest, but that is not a staple of their diet. Both of these type of squirrel eat nuts, seeds, berries, leaves, roots, fruits, insects, caterpillars, and different grains. The squirrels we are interested in and whether they hibernate or not are those found in the North American continent, specifically the gray squirrel, and the ground squirrel. ![]() One of the smallest is the Pygmy squirrel found in Africa. Some are very large, like those found in India. Squirrels are found everywhere in the world ![]() So, let’s look at the information science has to offer about squirrels and hibernation. This research has also lead to several different discoveries that might be helpful to people’s health in the future. Animal experts and other scientists have been curious about this very same question and have been conducting research for decades. Many animal lovers across North America are united on many different fronts, but one question that has some divided is do squirrels hibernate? Some say they do hibernate but wake up at different times, and others say that squirrels are too small and cannot store up enough body fat to really hibernate. Ground squirrels on the other hand such as the large yellow-bellied marmots found in the Rocky Mountains will often tuck themselves away by early October and are not seen again until April or May. Tree squirrels such as the Eastern Gray Squirrel and the American Red Squirrel do not hibernate, but tend to sleep a lot during the winter months. ![]()
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