Winter Is Coming

Animals Sleep

Some animals go to safe places during the coldest parts of the winter to sleep. Those animals are
part-time sleepers. They go into dens, logs, and other places. Sometimes they wake up to look for
food. Animals such as opossums, skunks, and raccoons are part-time sleepers.

Animals Hibernate

Some animals hibernate (HIGH-behr-nayt) during the winter. An animal that hibernates goes into a
deep sleep. It doesn’t wake up until winter is over. Animals hibernate because they can’t find
enough food in the winter. Animals that hibernate breathe slowly as they sleep. Then they need
less food. Animals such as woodchucks, chipmunks, and bats hibernate.

Animals Migrate

Some animals migrate when winter comes. Animals that migrate go from colder places to warmer
places. Those animals can find food more easily in warmer places. Some whales, insects, and
birds migrate.

Animals Stay Busy

Some animals stay busy throughout the winter. Those animals fix their homes and gather food.
Sometimes when it is very cold outside, they go into their homes. Then they eat some of the food
they have stored there. Animals such as squirrels, deer, and beavers stay busy all winter.

Questions

1) According to the text, what are opossums, skunks, and raccoons?

2) What are important for animals to survive the winter?

3) What is the main idea of the text?

4) What do some birds do during winter?

5) What is one similarity and one difference between animals that are part-time sleepers and
animals that hibernate?