Hibernation: Not Simply Sleep

0:00Bears really don't hibernate after all. Learn about it next on today's Creation Moment. And now, here is our Creation Moments host, Ian Taylor. True hibernation is much more than simply a deep, prolonged sleep. In fact, many animals which are popularly believed to hibernate, like bears, are not really true hibernators. A wintering bears body temperature seldom falls below 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and so bears are easily awakened. True hibernators need several hours to awaken. The ground squirrel is a true hibernator. Its hibernation pattern is triggered by an internal clock which causes hormone changes. These changes not only lower the squirrel's temperature, metabolic breathing and heart rate, but change the way that its nervous system and cell membranes operate. If the squirrel's nervous system and cell membrane operation were not modified for hibernation,

1:01the other changes would kill it. Once the squirrel is in true hibernation, its body temperature drops to about 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Its heart rate drops from 350 beats per minute to about 3 beats per minute, and it will breathe only once every several minutes. The vast and complex internal changes, which must take place in hibernation, show us that hibernation is an ability which was built into so many creatures. If all these changes were due to genetic accidents, there would be no hibernating animals today. They all would have died trying to find the right combination of internal changes to allow hibernation to take place. To receive a free copy of our newly released resource catalogs stuffed with creation products, articles, tracks, puzzles and more, call us toll free at 1-842-Bible. That's 1-800-422-4253. And be sure to join us next time for another creation moment.