Nature & Garden
How do animals get through winter?
A quiet leaf pile does not need curious paws.
The short answer
Animals cope with winter in different ways: hedgehogs hibernate, while squirrels wake and look for stored food. Others stay active or travel to warmer places. There is no single winter solution for all animals.
An imagined Wusel scene
Puschel and Flauschi investigate
A large leaf pile lies beside the path. Puschel“Could someone be taking a winter holiday there?”
Flauschi stops. Flauschi“It might be a hiding place. We will not open it to check.”
A robin sits on a branch. Puschel“That one is certainly awake.” Flauschi“Animals get through winter in different ways.”
Puschel holds a scarf in his paws. Puschel“So my scarf is not hibernation.” Flauschi“No. And our Wusel story is not a wildlife identification book.”
They walk quietly onwards. The leaf pile can keep its secret; they can explore their questions with a nature book.
Discovery 1
Hedgehogs hibernate. They save energy as body temperature, heartbeat and breathing drop greatly. Hibernation can also be interrupted.
Source: [1]
Discovery 2
Eurasian red squirrels do not hibernate. During cold periods they rest longer and become active again to find food. This is often called winter rest.
Source: [2]
Discovery 3
Other animals remain regularly active in winter. A robin still looks for food, for example. Animals need undisturbed places to shelter.
Little Wusel quiz
Do red squirrels hibernate just like hedgehogs?
Choose one answer: a), b).
- a)No.
- b)Yes.
Show answer
Correct answer: a): No. No. Red squirrels also become active to find food in winter.
May we open a leaf pile to look for a hedgehog?
Choose one answer: a), b).
- a)Yes, if we are quiet.
- b)No, possible shelters must stay undisturbed.
Show answer
Correct answer: b): No, possible shelters must stay undisturbed. No. We leave possible shelters undisturbed.
Explore in more detail
Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.
Understand step by step
How it works – simply explained
Saving energy has different forms
A hibernating hedgehog greatly lowers temperature, heartbeat and breathing. Fat stored in its body provides energy during food shortage.
Rest is not always hibernation
Squirrels rest longer but become active again to find food. Their winter resting differs from hedgehog hibernation.
Some stay daily active
A robin continues finding food. Winter residents have different approaches. Never open resting places to check how an animal sleeps.
Why not all animals sleep through winter
A hedgehog greatly reduces energy use in hibernation. A squirrel interrupts longer rest periods to seek stores. A robin still searches for food. Three animals in the same cold garden may use three strategies. The comparison is not a guarantee about every individual’s entire winter. Do not open resting places.