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Hibernation is amazing. Doesn’t it seem wild that a bear could go to sleep for six months? It usually does not wake up during all that time. It never eats, it never drinks—and it never poops! In fact, just before it goes into hibernation, a bear will eat a lot of grass and twigs, which creates a kind of plug in its bowels. This helps the bear settle down and put all its energy into surviving until spring. The bear can even slow its heart rate from 40 beats per minute to only 8. Sweet dreams!
Hibernation is amazing. Doesn’t it seem wild that a bear could go to sleep for six months? It usually does not wake up during all that time. It never eats, it never drinks—and it never poops! In fact, just before it goes into hibernation, a bear will eat a lot of grass and twigs, which creates a kind of plug in its bowels. This helps the bear settle down and put all its energy into surviving until spring. The bear can even slow its heart rate from 40 beats per minute to only 8. Sweet dreams!