Out of Hibernation
Our resident woodchucks here at Distant Hill Gardens are out of hibernation. In New Hampshire, seven mammals sleep away the winter to some extent. Bats, woodchucks, chipmunks and jumping mice go into a deep sleep, or hibernation. Bears, raccoons and striped skunks sleep during the cold months, but not as deeply as the true hibernators. Sometimes they snooze only during the coldest, snowiest parts of the winter.
Of all our hibernators, Woodchucks are masters of winter sleep. By late September, when air temperatures drop into the 40s, they go into hibernation. The woodchuck's weight will drop by about half over the winter. Its heart rate plummets from 105 beats per minute to just 4, and body temperature drops from 104 degrees F to about 38.
Out of Hibernation
Our resident woodchucks here at Distant Hill Gardens are out of hibernation. In New Hampshire, seven mammals sleep away the winter to some extent. Bats, woodchucks, chipmunks and jumping mice go into a deep sleep, or hibernation. Bears, raccoons and striped skunks sleep during the cold months, but not as deeply as the true hibernators. Sometimes they snooze only during the coldest, snowiest parts of the winter.
Of all our hibernators, Woodchucks are masters of winter sleep. By late September, when air temperatures drop into the 40s, they go into hibernation. The woodchuck's weight will drop by about half over the winter. Its heart rate plummets from 105 beats per minute to just 4, and body temperature drops from 104 degrees F to about 38.