Why Do a Few Degrees Matter?

Bats live or die by how they adapt to temperature changes. Bats seek out comfortable temperatures with abundant prey, hunkering down to hibernate during cold weather or migrating to warmer areas. Bats also may enter a state of torpor during temperature extremes, when the weather is too cold or too hot or their food supply is reduced. Torpor is a physiological state during which heart and respiratory rates are reduced. It can last a few minutes, hours, or even weeks during hibernation.