Wake Me Up When It's Over Trivia Quiz

Answer: Squirrel

These marmots are ground-dwelling and can be found in various central and southern mountainous areas of Europe, not just the Alps. They are adapted to living in colder climates and live at high altitudes.

Their hibernation begins as the weather gets colder, which may be in October in some areas. The animals live in burrows, in groups for warmth, having eaten as much food as possible to last them until April. Their heart and breathing rates slow to conserve energy. Some, often younger, animals die during hibernation as they have insufficient fat reserves to draw upon.

Answer: Common poorwill

The common poorwill is a member of the nightjar family, and is found in the western parts of North America, from Canada to northern Mexico. As the family name implies, it is a nocturnal bird and feeds on insects at night. In the colder months, food sources are scarce, and many birds hide in rocks in a state of torpor which can last for months. During this time, the birds' needs for food are kept to a minimum, and the length of inactivity is close to that of hibernation.

This behaviour was first officially recognized in 1948, in a publication by Dr Edmund Jaeger, but the Native American name for the poorwill translates as 'sleeping one', indicating that this was not a new discovery.

Answer: Pipistrelle bat

The pipistrelle is the UK's most common bat, and the smallest. In the first quarter of the twenty-first century, there are about 17 or 18 different species of bat living in the UK.

Bats start looking for suitable hibernation spots in October and spend longer periods of torpor during November. During December and January, bats are in full hibernation, and by February some may need to come out in warmer weather to top up fat reserves. By April, hibernation has usually finished, with pups being born in June, giving them time to build up their own energy reserves ready for the following winter.

Answer: Brumation

Garter snakes, common in many parts of the USA, go into brumation in colder areas. They congregate in large dens, with groups of several hundred having been found. One report even suggested a den in Canada contained more than 8,000 snakes, which must have taken some counting.

Aestivation relates to extended inactivity in hot weather, when food sources are scarce for different reasons.

Answer: Butterfly

The butterfly species in the question are only two of the ones which spend the winter hibernating in the UK. Others are the Comma, Large Tortoiseshell and Small Tortoiseshell, with signs that other species are also finding the winters warm enough to stay in the UK.

Although they can overwinter inside houses, this is not the best place for them as central heating can mean they wake too early when there is still insufficient food for them to survive. Sheds and garages are better and safer, so if you find one indoors research how to move it safely to give it a better chance of survival.

Answer: Honey bees

Most bumble bees, wasps and hornets die as the weather becomes too cold for them to find food. Only the queens, and only some of them, survive by finding places to hibernate. Having mated prior to hibernating, the new queens are ready to establish new nests when spring arrives.

Honey bees have a different strategy. The honey they make is their insurance policy for winter survival, so beekeepers make sure that they have left enough honey in the hives for the colony to survive. The honeybees huddle together for warmth, using up their reserves of honey, bee bread and royal jelly. If the resources run out, the hive will die. It is worth remembering that only the queen and worker bees can remain in the hive - the drones are forced out and left to die, having served their purpose. Nature is ruthless and won't waste food resources on bees which no longer have a use.

Answer: USA & Mexico

Box turtles are North American natives, found in diverse habitats, including semi-desert areas. Most live in woodlands, and the woods are their chosen area for hibernation. They dig out a chamber, the depth of which varies between different species. Hibernation lasts from three to five months, depending on the location.

There is an unrelated species of box turtle, called the Asian box turtle, which belongs to the genus Cuora.

Answer: The adults hibernate

Ladybirds feed on aphids, which are rarely available during the cold months, so the ladybirds look for spots to hibernate. Depending on the species, they can spend the winter in tree bark or take refuge in loft spaces. Survival depends on how well they had fed during the summer, and many perish during hibernation, which can last anything from five to eight months.

Answer: Wood frog

All of these frogs hibernate, using different strategies. Frogs which live in water, like the Leopard frog (Rana pipiens) and American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) will stay underwater, partly covered by mud or vegetation, leaving enough skin exposed to allow oxygen to enter their bodies. Other species dig into the ground.

The wood frog burrows into leaf debris or hides in rock crevices, which do not offer as much protection from the elements as some hibernacula, as the winter sanctuaries are known. They will still survive, as they can stop every bodily function, including their heartbeat and breathing, with parts of their bodies freezing, only to thaw out when spring arrives. Sylvatica means 'relating to forests', from which we also get the word 'sylvan'.

Answer: New Zealand

Hedgehogs are native to Europe, Africa and Asia. Neither Australia nor USA has native species still extant. Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, so seeing one during daylight is usually an indication that something is wrong with it. They are omnivores, eating anything from snails and frogs to insects, berries and roots. Hibernation in the UK lasts from October or November until March or April, and the hedgehog needs to have built up sufficient fat reserves to see it through.

They were introduced to New Zealand by European settlers to dispose of the pests eating their crops. Unfortunately, as incomers, hedgehogs have no predators and have caused havoc with native insects and ground-nesting birds, whose eggs make a tasty addition to the hedgehog diet.