Groundhogs are starting to disappear for the year... and what happens to their bodies underground is pretty wild.
During deep hibernation, a groundhog's body temperature can drop from around 99°F to as low as 37°F. Their heart rate can fall from roughly 80 beats per minute to only 4-5, and their breathing can slow to about one breath every few minutes.
They'll spend the winter surviving almost entirely on the fat they worked so hard to pack on all summer.
So when you stop seeing those chunky little bodies waddling around soon, they aren't just sleeping. Their entire body has essentially shifted into energy-saving mode until spring.
Stanley here will be staying awake with us - as he has epilepsy and needs medications daily to keep him healthy. By controlling his environment, we can stop the signals that he would normally get to tell him it's time to hibernate - but his wild friends are getting ready to clock out for the season.
Informative, with a cute animal and a smiling girl holding him?
Oh, this is headed for the top of all, all aboard the expesss
I usually don't share people since I want to focus to be on the animals and the work. Thankfully most comments have maintained the spirit of the post.
If people want to admire other things, I wish they would keep it to themselves. If everyone stays respectful, I have much less of an issue sharing photos like this. Rehab work is very hard, filled with long hours, with a ton of stress and heartbreak and barely any time off. Animal rehab would not be a thing without these selfless women. They make up over 90% of all rehab clinic workers. They deserve better than being objectified.
Objectified? Referencing they were smiling is objectification?
Did I somehow reduce their contribution in this world?
Edit: sorry, for presuming on my end
Not you. Some of the other comments. Apologies that was unclear.
Oh good, I am glad you saw this. I was worried you had blocked me before I cleared things up.
I had been kinda upset by some people's comments all day, and I was debating if I should clarify that I wasn't talking about you, but I thought it was clear you were being well intentioned, and I was packing up to leave work and thought it was good enough.
Sorry again. 😔
No worries I’m glad we could clarify haha.
Thanks for all the work you put in to show the efforts of these people and the animals. I know it can get disheartening the way people comment on topics, miscommunications are bound to happen.
Thank you! I try to give everyone some daily positivity to look forward to. I still don't think I've missed a day in the 3-ish years since I became an active poster. Almost everyone loves animals, and I think seeing humans doing good things is more important than ever these days.