Please excuse us… we slept in this morning… 😴
Cody the black bear, and his sister Roxy, don’t fully hibernate in the winter. However, they spend a LOT more time sleeping! They have access to food and a warm, straw-filled den throughout the winter months. You’ll likely see them on warmer days, but if they are MIA, they decided it was a nap day!
Wild American black bears in northern regions hibernate over the winter months, which involves a reduction in their metabolism that allows them to go without food, water, or defecating/urinating. Unlike smaller hibernating mammals, bears don’t lose body temperature and remain relatively alert, allowing them to get up and look for food on warmer winter days.
(📷: Zookeeper Jen)
