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Sic Sic Sickle
THE ARCTIC GROUND SQUIRREL AND HIBERNATION
by: J-D

In farthest reaches of the artic tundra in northern Canada lives the artic ground squirrel, more commonly referred to as the "Sic Sic" by th indigenous people. Interestingly enough, the artic ground squirrel hibernates for approximately 8 months out of the year. There is one problem though... a thick layer of permafrost keeps this squirrel from burrowing deep into the soil in which soil temperatures reach -15 degrees C. In order to hibernate, the ground squirrel actually keeps it's body temperature at -2 degrees C. Why? It would cost the squirrel 10x more energy to keep it's body temperature at just 0 degrees C. But how does it surivive without cells bursting? Lack of nucleation sites. In simpler terms, the artic ground squirrel produces glycerol to lower the freezing point of it's cells. But if tempuratures drop too quickly, the squirrel might flash freeze since adreneline triggers the production of glycerol over a stretch of time. So, in other words, the arctic ground squirrel may flash freeze becoming a "Sic Sic Sickle".

Interesting fact: Scientist have found that animals which hibernate spontaneously awake and warm up to 37 degrees C for a day or so, then cool back down. Why considering the fact that this would cost the animal half of it's fat reserves? The supporting hypothesis: To sleep (and dream). In fact, REM sleep patterns have been observed. The question remains, what would a squirrel dream of... nuts? xD

Source: Discussed in lecture for BIO 250