“When it gets cold, turtles go into a dormant state called brumation, slowing their metabolism to survive winter by finding cozy spots in mud at the bottom of ponds, lakes, or rivers, or burrowing deep into soil/leaf litter on land, sometimes using existing burrows, to stay insulated and conserve energy until warmer weather returns. They can even breathe underwater through their cloaca (butt) to get oxygen, and may occasionally wake to bask on warm winter days. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Where They Go (Depending on Species):
- Freshwater Turtles (Pond/River Turtles):
- Bury deep in the mud at the bottom of water bodies.
- Nestle under logs, roots, or in leaf piles at the bottom.
- Some may even move around under the ice.
- Terrestrial Turtles (Box Turtles, Tortoises):
- Dig deep burrows into soil or under logs, safely below the frost line.
- Find stable underground spots (hibernacula) to avoid extreme temperature swings. [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9]
How They Survive (Brumation):
- Slowed Metabolism: Their body functions drastically slow down, so they don't need to eat much, if at all, surviving on stored body fat.
- Breathing: They can absorb oxygen through their skin or cloaca (cloacal respiration) to get oxygen from the water.
- Activity: They aren't truly asleep like hibernating mammals; they can wake up on warm days to move or bask before returning to their winter spot. [1, 2, 3, 5, 7]
Key Takeaway: Turtles are cold-blooded (ectothermic), so they don't hibernate; they brumate, and find the most stable, insulated spots in their environment to wait out the cold. [2, 5, 7, 10]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://virginiazoo.org/where-did-the-turtles-go-for-the-winter/
[2] https://mnzoo.org/blog/what-do-turtles-do-in-the-winter/
[3] https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fhq2yzFi230
[4] https://digital.tnconservationist.org/article/Wait...What%3F+Turtles+Use+Their+Shells+and+Butts+to+Survive+During+Winter%3F/3794535/678262/article.html
[5] https://lakemax.org/where-do-turtles-go-in-the-winter/
[6] https://splashsupplyco.com/turtles-winter/
[7] https://www.facebook.com/summitmetroparks/posts/have-you-noticed-a-distinct-lack-of-turtles-where-do-they-go-in-the-winter-natur/1028918622600829/
[8] https://www.canaltrust.org/2023/01/where-do-the-turtles-go-during-the-winter/
[9] https://blog.nature.org/2017/02/15/torpid-turtles-tortoises-and-terrapins/
[10] https://myfahlo.com/blogs/wildlife/where-do-turtles-go-in-the-winter-and-4-other-facts-on-turtle-hibernation”
Words of wisdom to youth and adults. Citation for the above image of our brother monks coming later. 🙏🏽🤝
