Spare a thought for our area’s hibernating animals this Winter
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Nov 25 2009 by Andrew Brown, Midweek Visiter

WITH the weather taking a turn for the worse, local wildlife volunteer GRAHAM MORETON, a student at Tarleton High School, reveals how animals in our area survive through the Winter months

WHEN Winter hits and the cold frosty nights start to descend on the UK we just put the heating on and snuggle up with a nice mug of cocoa and watch TV. However have you spared a thought for the creatures that have to spend the winter outside in the frost and the rain?

When most people think about hibernation they imagine hedgehogs or badgers curling up in a hole and going to sleep. They are not wrong in thinking this but it is not 100% true.

Badgers do not truly hibernate like hedgehogs, they just sleep through the cold weather and are not seen as frequently as they are in the Summer as they rarely leave the sett.

Also when an animal hibernates it goes into an almost comatose state, slowing down its heart rate and metabolism (food digestion) which makes sure the animal doesn’t need to feed as often during the winter months. This is not a true sleep as we know it.

Squirrels also don’t truly hibernate, instead they go and find a nice snug hole in a tree when it gets cold. They hide food underground for the winter months when there is no other food source available.

The true hibernators that you are most likely to come across in the North West are hedgehogs. These small clever creatures around this time of year are looking for a safe spot to hibernate which could be under decking, among leaves or in a pile of logs which could be made for a bonfire. This is the worst threat during the hibernation period for hedgehogs.

Always check underneath your bonfire before you light it! If you come across a hibernating animal quickly cover it back up again or move it to a safe area which is well covered.

l TO see more of Graham Moreton’s wildlife photos, visit his website at: www.grahammoreton.co.uk