Bears don’t actually hibernate during the winter. Instead, they enter a state known as torpor—a deep sleep that allows them to conserve energy to survive winter.
During torpor, bears don’t need to eat, drink, urinate, or defecate. Bears can survive without food and water by lowering their body temperatures while their bodies break down stored fat for energy. And they can wake up quickly if disturbed.
Polar bears are different. Only the female will enter a state of “carnivore lethargy” while males remain active all year.
