When animals sleep through the winter how do they eat?

Animals that hibernate, such as bears and ground squirrels, do not eat during their winter sleep; instead, they rely on fat reserves accumulated during the warmer months. Some animals, like certain species of rodents, may enter a state of torpor, waking occasionally to eat stored food. Other animals, such as some birds, migrate to warmer areas where food is available. Overall, true hibernators do not eat at all during their prolonged sleep.