The hibernation period of turtles is mainly influenced by environmental temperature. Generally, most turtles enter hibernation from late autumn to early winter, approximately from the end of October to early April of the following year. During this period, as the temperature gradually decreases, the physiological functions of the turtles also adjust accordingly to adapt to the cold winter environment. Specifically, when the external temperature drops below 10°C, turtles will begin to look for suitable places to hibernate; when the temperature further decreases to below 5°C, turtles will enter a deep hibernation state, during which they are almost inactive.
When the temperature remains around 15°C for several consecutive days, fasting and colon cleansing can be performed on the turtles. This step aims to prevent food and fecal matter from decaying inside the turtles during hibernation, which could lead to illness. This process lasts for about a week.
It is worth noting that although there is a general range for the hibernation period of turtles, not all turtles in every region will enter hibernation at the same time. This mainly depends on local climate conditions and the species of turtle. For example, in northern regions, due to lower and longer-lasting winter temperatures, the hibernation period for turtles may be relatively longer; while in southern regions, due to milder winter temperatures, the hibernation period may be relatively shorter, and in some years, they may not fully hibernate at all.
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