Typically this will begin in October in response to reduced daytime temperature and shorter day length, but it can vary depending on the year and species. The only exception to this is when the temperature drops too low – at this point they may depart their existing nest and build a completely new one with better insulation! In general, hedgehogs hibernate from November to April, but depending on the temperature and weather, this can vary from year to year.Īll reptiles in the UK hibernate. Hedgehogs build hibernacula using dead leaves, twigs, log stacks and compost heaps and, although evidence shows that they rouse several times during their hibernation, they rarely leave these nests. Dormice choose the seemingly riskier solution of making a nest using natural items such as logs and leaves on the floor of forests and woodland. Bats utilise hollow trees, roof spaces, caves and bat boxes and will usually spend the entire winter, from November to April, in hibernation. Image by Bruce Detorres via Flickr.Īlthough many small mammals, including mice, shrews, badgers and rabbits, enter short periods of torpor throughout the winter, the only mammals in the UK that truly hibernate are bats, dormice and hedgehogs. Which animals hibernate in the UK? Dormice, along with bats and hedgehogs, spend the winter months in hibernation. As preparation for a period of hibernation, as much food as possible will be consumed and a suitable refuge or hibernacula found (or built). Throughout the hibernation period, the animal may become active again briefly, either for a bathroom break, to eat some food, or if the temperature becomes too low for them to survive without moving. Other animals utilise a different solution and enter a period of torpor or hibernation as a way of conserving energy throughout this time.ĭuring hibernation, the animal will slow their heart rate and breathing while at the same time lowering their metabolism and body temperature, all of which vastly reduce the amount of energy they require. Some animals, particularly birds, solve this problem by migrating to a warmer location where food is more plentiful. During the winter months, cold temperatures and a lack of food can make survival challenging for many species.
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