Creatures That Hibernate for Years

Wood Frog

This tiny frog freezes solid in winter. Its heart stops, and it appears dead—yet it thaws and hops away months later, fully alive.

Alpine Marmot

Found in European mountains, this rodent hibernates for up to 8 months, sleeping through snow-packed winters in underground burrows.

Lungfish

During droughts, it secretes mucus and burrows underground, entering a dormant state that can last up to 4 years without food or water.

Snails (Certain Desert Species)

Some snails seal themselves in shells with a mucus plug and hibernate for up to 5 years in extreme drought conditions.

Painted Turtle

During cold winters, these turtles bury themselves in mud and slow their metabolism, surviving months—and sometimes over a year—without oxygen.

Edible Dormouse

This rodent can sleep for over a year if food is scarce, lowering its body temperature and heart rate to conserve energy.

Tardigrades (Water Bears)

These micro-animals enter cryptobiosis, a suspended state where they lose almost all water, surviving decades without activity or food.