A big black bear walks out of its den. A bat flies out of its cave. A squirrel scampers out of a hole in a tree. These animals have been in hibernation, starting their long nap in late autumn and waking up between March and May. Aarna Domadia, a fifth grader, is excited to interact with the animals.
“I’m really excited for animals to come out of hibernation because when I go outside, I can see animals coming out,” Domadia said. “It’s really fun seeing animals out in the wild, and I love trying to catch them and play with them.”
Ava Finnerty, a fifth grader, is also excited to see the animals come out.
“I’m happy that animals are coming out of hibernation because you get to see more wildlife,” Finnerty said. “ I just don’t like the bees, but if I just avoid them, I’ll be fine.”
Finnerty says she is not a fan of bees because they have a reputation for stinging. However, the website for one Department of Natural Resources states that bees are not aggressive and prefer not to sting, only using it as a last resort if they feel threatened. In fact, bees die after they sting, which is why they avoid doing it unless necessary.
“If you really just look outside, you’ll see a bunch of wildlife and it’s really pretty,” Finnerty added.
Along with the animals of nature, there are also important safety tips to remember. When grizzly and black bears wake up, they are driven by extreme hunger, which is also known as hyperphagia, according to the website BearWise. They look for easy food and can be highly aggressive and territorial, so it is important to be careful. As more animals return from hibernation, it is important to enjoy nature while also staying safe and respectful of wildlife.
