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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Many different species including bats, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and hedgehogs can all benefit from this types of shelter, however different species have different needs.
For example mammals such as hedgehogs need larger entrances than smaller creatures such as tiny insects. That is why this page is separated by target species, to help ensure that your hibernaculum will be appropriate for whomever you are trying to help.
Warning! "Frost Line"
Warning! "Frost Line"
Some of the resources on this page mention specific depths to dig down to for certain designs or species. This is generally based on the frost line for the areas where these organizations or people are working.
To ensure the safety of your target species, double check online or with local resources to find your areas expected frost line.
The frost line or frost depth changes depending on factors such as local soil type and latitude.
In the USA, frost lines vary from 0-8 ft, but further North and South, at the poles, "the freezing depth is so deep that it becomes year-round permafrost, and the term "thaw depth" is used instead. Finally, in tropical regions, frost line may refer to the vertical geographic elevation below which frost does not occur.[2]"
This Page
This Page
Scroll down to learn about hibernacula according to the species or groups they are supposed to help shelter.
You can continue to scroll further, to the Maps section for Frost Line maps and other useful resources.
Types of Hibernaculum by Target Species
Types of Hibernaculum by Target Species
Bats
Bats
Natural Caves as Hibernaculum
Natural Caves as Hibernaculum
Natural caves have long been used as hibernaculum by bats and other species, however now some human intervention may be needed to help keep them clean and safe for bats.
Plastic and other pollution can be dumped or washed into caves, so cave cleanups may be necessary. To reduce human disturbance, bat gates can also be installed.
Abandoned Mines as Hibernaculum
Abandoned Mines as Hibernaculum
Though these may pose great danger to humans, they can provide vital shelter for bats and other species. Much like natural caves, these may require some clean up and gates to prevent curious humans from wandering in and disturbing the bats while they are at their most vulnerable.
1:26 minute video "Take a quick trip into a cave with biologists conducting a winter bat hibernaculum survey in northcentral Pennsylvania."
Hibernaculum Types & Features to Fight White-Nose Syndrome
Hibernaculum Types & Features to Fight White-Nose Syndrome
2:10 minute video "Assistant manager of Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge visits a bunker of the former Loring Air Force Base located on the refuge on April 30, 2013. The bunker was transformed into "Bat Bunker No. 1" to house 30 little brown bats during the winter of 2012-13 to research white-nose syndrome in bats and the possible use of artificial hibernacula to study the disease and increase bat survival rates. Read more about the bats here: https://bangordailynews.com/2013/05/1... "
12 second video "Venting air from a bat hibernacula in Pennsylvania to create conditions less favorable for the fungus that causes the deadly white-nose syndrome in bats. Credit: Gregory Turner"
Bugs
Bugs
9:09 minute video shows "how to create a bug hotel, how to create a wildlife garden, how to create a wildlife hibernaculum, how to encourage biodiversity in the garden, create a deadwood wildlife habitat, how to boost the ecology in your garden, hibernation of wildlife in your garden, the garden food chain, wildlife garden, wildlife gardening, insects, invertebrates, amphibians, frogs, toads, newts, rodents"
You Will Need
You Will Need
A Snag or freshly cut-back Tree
Safety Glasses & Ear Protection
A Cordless Drill (or one with an extension cord)
Small Loppers
Branches
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, traffic, and pesticides, so they need all they help they can get right now. One way to help is to create a hedgehog house or hibernaculum to help them survive our cold winters!
Designs can use a range of materials, so here we show two fairly different methods to give an idea of the basics that will help keep your local hedgehogs cozy all winter.
1:33 minute video showing how to make a simple hibernaculum with natural materials only.
You Will Need
You Will Need
A quiet, sheltered site which gets some sunlight - near a pond is ideal, but not required
Sticks and Branches, even some Logs
Leaves and/or Dry Grass
2:36 minute video showing how to make a hedgehog hibernaculum with found materials that may already be lying around, as well as some natural materials.
You Will Need
You Will Need
A quiet, sheltered site which gets some sunlight - near a pond is ideal, but not required
Large Plant Pots
Soldering Iron or Wood Burnishing Tool to make entry holes if using plastic pots
Lumber of varying length
Cloth or Felt
Vegetation such as trimmed evergreen branches
Reptiles & Amphibians
Reptiles & Amphibians
7:32 minute video "Learn how to build a hibernaculum to provide a safe place for reptiles and amphibians to shelter over the winter. The ideal time to build a hibernaculum is late summer or autumn, but you can build one any time of the year. "
You Will Need
You Will Need
A quiet, sheltered site which gets some sunlight - near a pond is ideal, but not required
Shovel
Brocken Pots
Pipes
Bricks, Rocks, and/or Broken Tiles
Sticks and/or Logs (rotting wood is fine, but avoid treated lumber)
Leaf Litter
Local Wild Flower Seeds (Optional)
How-To & Maintenance
How-To & Maintenance
Creating Reptile/Amphibian Hibernacula and Refuges "Tree roots, deep leave litter, compost heaps, log piles and rock piles are locations that can be great refuges and over-wintering sites (hibernacula) for reptiles and amphibians - providing habitat, cover, locations to bask, and food.
A tidy log pile surrounded by good cover will gradually become over grown and will mature into a good refuge.
On a larger scale rubble, logs and soil can be mixed to create hibernacula - raised or partially buried in the ground (illustration below from Great Crested Newt Conservation Handbook, available from Froglife www.froglife.org)."
Snake Hibernaculum
Snake Hibernaculum
You Will Need
You Will Need
A well-drained site which gets plenty of sunlight from the South - near a pond is ideal, but not required
Shovels or Heavy-Duty Digging Equipment
Cinder Blocks to create an access/exit ramp and access holes and/or Big O Pipe
Rocks, Bricks, and/or Broken Tiles
Drill with Drill Bit
Geotextile - enough to wrap up the 'cinderblock access ramp'
Roofing Metal
Gravel
Sand
Field Stone - for the upper level, to help absorb heat from the sun.
Brush Pile
Local Wild Flower Seeds (Optional)
"Snake hibernacula provide safe spaces for snakes to spend cold Canadian winters.
Scott Gillingwater, Species at Risk Biologist with the UTRCA, provided the following steps to build a snake hibernaculum on your open property:
1. Choose a well drained site that is south-facing to ensure plenty of sunlight. You want the heat of the sun to warm the site for a few hours each day. This is especially important in the spring.
2. With an excavator or by hand, dig a hole below the frost line, generally 2 - 2.5 metres deep.
3. Make the entrance shaft for the snakes by lining up cinder blocks or by adding big-0 pipe (or both). Be sure to drill multiple holes along the lower half of the big O pipe, larger than the diameter of any snakes that might use it so they have easy access to and from the pipe. The entrance(s) will extend from the surface into the concrete debris placed below. If using cinder blocks, you will want to create an approximately 45 degree angle on one side of the hole to easily place the lined entrance blocks. Wrapping the lined up cinder block shaft in geotextile will reduce movement and infiltration of substrate.
4. Place large concrete debris of various shapes and sizes into the hole, around the shaft outlet for the snakes (at the base of the cinder blocks and/or O pipe). Take care not to crush the cinder blocks or big O pipe. Although this will look messy, the gaps created between the concrete debris will be where the snakes spend the winter underground.
5. Build up the concrete pile to at least one metre high. You can then do one of two things: 1) add small pieces of concrete and then a gravel layer over the concrete pile, or 2) use other materials such as roofing metal to cover the concrete debris. This will prevent the sand in step 6 from filling in the important gaps within the concrete debris pile.
6. Add a thick layer of sand/soil over top of the gravel layer / roofing metal. This layer will help insulate the concrete debris chamber below.
7. Add field stone around the entrance to act as a heat sink (an area warmed by the sun) and cover for snakes, and to reduce thick growth of vegetation.
8. Adding a brush pile along the back and/or sides of the hibernaculum will provide additional cover for the snakes during the active season, as well as upon emergence from the site each spring. The snake hibernaculum and associated brush piles will provide habitat for a large diversity of reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, and insects." - UTRCA
Resources
Resources
Calculate Digging Depth
Calculate Digging Depth
Pavement Interactive: Calculation of Frost Depth "Some equations and variables in this section are expressed in English units only due to their source."
How-To's & Maintenance
How-To's & Maintenance
Europe
Europe
UK
UK
Amphibian Habitat Management Handbook 🐸"is a resource for a range of range of users including conservation professionals and interested volunteers." ... "The natterjack is a conservation priority and a habitat specialist with very different ecological requirements to the other native amphibians. Hence a section of the handbook is dedicated to this species. The pool frog is currently subject to a reintroduction project and is not covered by the current handbook." This document includes information about protecting and maintaining hibernation sites.
Maps
Maps
Couldn't find frost line maps for most places, so scroll up to Resources to learn to calculate frost depth, or check with your local gardening or other organizations for local frost line depths.
North America
North America
Canada
Canada
USA
USA
Arizona
Minnesota
MN Department of Labor and Industry: Frost Depth Study (PDF) scroll down to second map for frost depths.
Washington
Pavement Interactive: Calculation of Frost Depth scroll past the math and data section to maps 3-5 for some Washington state frost line maps.
Related Topics
Related Topics
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