Welcome to Creature Feature, production of IHeartRadio.

I'm your host of many parasites, Katie Golden.

I studied psychology and evolutionary biology, and I really love birds.

I just can't get enough of them, dang birds.

Today on the show, winter is coming.

Remember that from the dragons show?

Well, we won't be talking about the dragon show,

but we will be talking about how animals prepare

for the winter.

From hibernation to magical wardrobe changes

to cryogenic freezing, discover this more

as we answer the age-old question.

When, if ever, is the right time to breathe through your butt?

What is hibernation? How do you distinguish hibernation from a really, really long nap?

While there are definitely some distinctive features of hibernation, like many behaviors in evolutionary biology, it's hard to get away with one easy definition.

But one thing's for sure, hibernation isn't just an extreme nap, it's more akin to stasis, like something you'd come up with in a science fiction setting.

There are many ways that animals cope with the winter, and we'll discuss some of the

wildest winter adaptations. So let's start with this most famous method and reveal the weird

and sci-fi details beyond our childhood image of a really sleepy bear in a nightcap. Joining me today to

prepare for winter's comedian, writer, and co-host of the Bechtel cast, Caitlin Durante. Hello, I'm also a sleepy bear.

Aw.

We're here in our pajamas.

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