Animals like groundhogs and bears hibernate through winter. Hibernation is a seasonal survival strategy that helps animals cope with cold temperatures and the shortage of food that commonly occurs during the winter months. Their metabolism slows, along with breathing and heart rate, so the body uses less energy.
Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, usually enter hibernation in autumn and may remain in underground winter burrows until March or April. Bears also prepare during the warmer months by eating heavily and accumulating body fat. They spend winter in dens, where they can remain inactive for months without regularly eating or drinking.
The seasonal timing is not identical everywhere. Groundhogs in colder northern regions may hibernate longer than those in warmer areas, and bears can emerge earlier or later depending on temperature, altitude, flooding, and food availability. Autumn is therefore the preparation season, while winter is the season animals are chiefly hibernating through. Spring marks the return to regular activity and foraging.