Bear at Oakland Zoo enter ‘torpor’ season

OAKLAND, Calif. (CBS, KYMA) - Bears living at Oakland Zoo have begun to enter their torpor season, an annual winter sleep similar to hibernation, keepers said Friday.

The zoo wrote on social media, "These silly boys and the black bears are entering torpor season, a winter sleep where they lower body temperature, heart rate, and metabolism to conserve energy. Though less visible from Nov-Mar, this supports their health and natural behaviors."

According to Oakland Zoo, black bears, grizzly bears, and brown bears go into a deep sleep during the winter months, called torpor.

While hibernation typically lasts for longer periods of time and involves "more intense physiological changes," bears are able to wake from torpor "easily and frequently," according to wildlife experts.

Footage taken by Keeper Leslie shows grizzly bears lolling around in their habitat at the Bay Area zoo.