AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Bears do wake up, however, and move around inside the den. It’s kind of like your dog sleeping. Bears will go through a lot of posture changes where they wake periodically to shift around. It is thought this helps prevent pressure sores from developing.

Detailed explanation-2: -However, not many animals truly hibernate, and bears are among those that do not. Bears enter a lighter state of sleep called torpor. Hibernation is a voluntary state an animal enters to conserve energy, when food is scarce, and minimize exposure to the winter elements.

Detailed explanation-3: -Bears can also come out of hibernation if they are disturbed. As previously mentioned, unlike other animals, bears do not slowly awaken from hibernation. So, if disturbed by loud noises or approaching danger, they can immediately wake up to defend themselves or their cubs.

Detailed explanation-4: -One misconception about hibernation is that animals do not wake while hibernating. They do wake up, but how and how often they do depends on whether they are true hibernators or light sleep hibernators, Russell said.