Skip to main content

How does hibernation work? - Sheena Faherty

1,539,327 Views

8,733 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

The Arctic Ground Squirrel hibernates by burrowing under the permafrost and slipping into a state of suspended animation. The female black bear can give birth while she hibernates. The fat-tailed dwarf lemur prepares to hibernate by storing its fat reserves in its tail - doubling its body weight. Why do these animals go to such extremes? Sheena Lee Faherty details why animals hibernate.

A dwarf lemur’s normal heart rate is 180 beats per minute. During hibernation, it slows to _______ beats per minute.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Sheena Faherty
  • Director Rémi Cans
  • Script Editor Emma Bryce
  • Art Director Rémi Cans
  • Animator Dabid Pascual, Davy Dumartheray
  • Composer Stephen Eugene Larosa
  • Sound Designer Stephen Eugene Larosa
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott, Elizabeth Cox
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Julianna Zarzycki
  • Fact-Checker Laura Shriver

More from Awesome Nature