Do species that hibernate deficate defecate?

This is a shit question! ;-}

I think they don’t really eat or drink during hibernation so the output is probably minima

Interesting question….I know their metabolism slows waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down. Like a bear will take a breath a minute. I’ll go research.

Here you go. Pretty gross, but no, they don’t poop until they get up.

I heard somewhere that bears actually plug their anus up, so nothing comes out while they are under.

That’s what the article I shared said.

It’s my understanding that there’s a team of misguided wildlife freaks who plan to sneak into bear lairs, tranquilize them, and then fit them with biodegradable “den diapers”. ;-o

Yeah, bears stop off at the “toy” shop for a butt plug.

Great question. Reminds me to finally google what I’ve been wondering about for years ——- since deer don’t dig up dens like bears, where do they go to sleep in the woods especially during winter?

@mazingerz88, deer find places where leaves accumulated in autumn, and bed down in those places. They move around to lessen the possibility of predators observing their nesting place and get them in their sleep.
If the snow gets deep, they will dig it away before settling in.

I have deer sleeping in my woods, apple orchard, and on my back lawn every night! When there is snow cover, in the morning it is melted where they bed down the night before.
It is fun to walk around and count how many night visitors I had.
Sometimes I will walk out there at night with a head lamp and their eyes light up. Of course the thermal imager picks them out easily but that is not as much fun.

You are the coolest Jelly ever @LuckyGuy. Except for Auggie.
And Andrew.
And Ben.
And any other names people add to this list.

Deer don’t hibernate.