As the weather gets colder, some animals are taking a season-long snooze. Learn about them in the Hannibal Parks & Recreation nature program Hannibal Hibernators.

The free program for all ages will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center.

Hannibal Parks & Recreation interpreter guide Gale Rublee will lead the program. “What is hibernating all about? From woodchucks to ground squirrels to our famous Sodalis Myotis bats, hibernating is where it’s at to survive the winter,” Rublee said.

There are several animals that hibernate – skunks, bees, snakes, squirrels and groundhogs to name a few –  but bears and bats are the most well-known. Rublee said that without the ability to hibernate, a lot of animals would freeze and die.

Rublee is a certified Interpreter Guide and member of the National Association for Interpretation and Association of Missouri Interpreters. She has more than 25 years of experience as a nature educator. She is a founding member of the Mississippi Hills Master Naturalists chapter in Hannibal and is coordinator and teacher for the Bluff City Theater Youth Education in Theater Initiative.

Reservations for the nature programs are recommended by calling 573-221-0154 or emailing mlrichards@hannibal-mo.gov.