Here's why:
* Hibernation is a state of deep sleep: During hibernation, an animal's body functions slow down dramatically. Their heart rate, breathing, and metabolism all decrease significantly. This allows them to conserve energy.
* They store energy before hibernation: Before entering hibernation, animals like bears, squirrels, and hedgehogs eat a lot to build up fat reserves. This stored fat is their fuel source during hibernation.
* They can go months without eating: Some animals can hibernate for weeks, months, or even longer, relying entirely on the fat they stored before.
So, while they might dream about delicious meals during their long sleep, they don't actually eat anything until they wake up in the spring!