Did you know that moles spend most of their lives underground hidden from enemies like the sharp-toothed weasel? They also stay hidden underground during hibernation. They need to be under the ground to stay safe from predators, and protected from wind and snowy weather.
Hibernation is when animals go into a sleepy state , and their breathing gets very light, they almost seem dead. The hibernating animals eat lots and lots of food, to build up fat for their long hibernation.
Scientists believe that the length of the daylight tells animals when to hibernate. As the days get shorter animals know that it is time to eat up and go to sleep.
TRUE HIBERNATORS
True hibernators like the ground squirrel hibernate all winter and don't wake up at all. Their body temperature drops down to just above freezing.
LIGHT SLEEPERS
Racoons, skunks and bears are not true hibernators, they are light sleepers. They sleep for awhile and wake up often. They look for predators and to eat a light snack. They do not hibernate underground, they sleep inside hollow trees or caves.
GLOSSARY:
Hibernation; to spend the winter in sleep
Predators: animals that hunt other animals
Hi Caleb,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your piece about hibernation! You gave lots of information but kept the reader interested. I liked how you asked the reader questions like "Did you know that moles spend most of their lives underground hidden from enemies like the sharp-toothed weasel?". That was able to grab my attention and get me interested. It made me want to learn more about hibernation. The glossary was a nice touch so that others could understand all the words you were using. Overall great job!
Holly