Scientists say rising temperatures in the north are affecting the way arctic squirrels hibernate, which could have serious consequences for this species.

These little furry creatures survive the harsh arctic winters by burrowing underground and hibernating for eight months before feeding and reproducing in the spring. Because males go through seasonal puberty each year, they usually wake up about a month earlier, so they’ll be ready to mate when female arctic squirrels or ground squirrels reappear.

But in a new study published in the journal Science, researchers have found that over the past 25 years, in response to the spring thaw, female squirrels have ended hibernation about 10 days earlier, while males have not was.

“If this continues, the females will be ready to mate before the males are physiologically able to mate with the females,” said lead study author Cory Williams, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Colorado State University and arctic squirrels has been studying more than 15 years.

Researchers clarified that this could mean fewer “date nights,” which could impact reproduction.

Mr Williams said that because male squirrels end their hibernation earlier, they are less sensitive to environmental cues than females. He mentioned that changes in female hibernation behavior have not had any impact on squirrel populations so far, and that males may adapt in the future to stay in harmony with females.

“Due to ecological interactions, it is incredibly difficult to predict the long-term consequences of climate change on ecosystems, but it is clear that Arctic systems are changing rapidly,” the professor noted.

Other possible consequences of a shorter hibernation period are greater threats to squirrels from predators such as foxes, wolves and eagles.

Not all negative

However, the study does not only bring bad news. A shorter period could also mean that squirrels don’t have to use as much stored fat and energy during hibernation. Starting feeding earlier could also lead to healthier offspring.

Other changes observed by the researchers are that squirrels delay the timing and duration of heat production during hibernation in response to the slower freezing of the permafrost.

While hibernating squirrels drastically reduce their lung, heart, brain and body functions, they use energy to generate heat from stored fat to avoid freezing to death, even when their body temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius.

The authors of the study analyzed 25 years of air and ground temperatures measured at two locations in the Arctic region of Alaska. During the same period, they also measured the abdominal and skin temperatures of 199 squirrels.

“These Arctic systems are changing relatively quickly,” Williams said, noting that other studies have shown them to be warming four times faster than the global average.

“Our study really shows that this is happening, and fast, and that we should expect these ecosystems to change over time,” the professor added.

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