Hibernation

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Hibernation is a state that some animals enter in the winter in order to survive a period when food is not readily available. Animals that hibernate enter a temporary condition in which their body temperatures drop significantly and their heart rate and breathing slow drastically. As a result, the animals use up less energy than when they are active. Hibernating animals, such as bats, ground squirrels, mouse lemurs, and European hedgehogs, do not need to eat or drink because their metabolism slows and their bodies can live off of stored fat.