Climate change could mean fewer ‘date nights’ for Arctic ground squirrels: study

As temperatures rise in the North, scientists say it’s affecting how Arctic ground squirrels hibernate — and it could have serious consequences for the species.
The furry critters survive the harsh Arctic winters by burrowing underground and hibernating for eight months before emerging in the spring ready to eat and breed. As the males go through seasonal puberty every year, they normally wake up about a month earlier so they are ready to mate when the female Arctic ground squirrels