Zoologists now recognize that the Kodiak bear does not truly hibernate but is better called a winter sleeper.

The bear, on the other hand, maintains a normal body temperature and his breathing is reduced to four or five complete respirations a minute. When you are in deep slumber, your breathing rate is about the same. The bear’s heartbeat is slower than normal but he is semiconscious. His sleep is not always uninterrupted, as he can be routed out of his winter home without too much difficulty.