Why do bears hibernate during the winter months?

Question

Why do bears hibernate during the winter months?

Responses

Bears bypass winter when their food supply disappears to save energy.

Bears bypass winter when the rainfall is extremely high, and survival would be difficult.

Bears bypass winter when the temperatures are too cold for survival.

Bears bypass winter to protect themselves from roaming predators.

Answer 1

The correct response is: Bears hibernate during the winter months to conserve energy when food is scarce. During winter, the food sources for bears, such as plants and berries, are not available. Hibernation is a survival adaptation that allows bears to conserve energy by slowing their heart rate, breathing rate, and metabolism. This allows them to survive without food for months until spring when food sources become abundant again. Hibernate will prevent bears from expending too much energy in the winter months.