Diary entry for Feb. 27: Mary Alice and I went for a ride on Armenia Mountain looking for signs of spring. We found the roads muddy and the forest still appeared dead. The only sign of spring was smoke coming from a maple syrup shack. Mary Alice questioned me as to why we weren’t seeing any deer.

My answer was that most of the deer were sleeping. This led to talking about how animals sleep, which depends on whether the animal is a prey species, or a species that is preyed upon.

Since deer are nocturnal, they do most of their sleeping during the day. Deer do not go into a deep sleep because they are animals that are preyed upon. They doze off for a few seconds or minutes. Although their eyes might be closed, their noses and ears are working perfectly. This allows them to rest but still able to smell and listen for any danger. Deer lay down to sleep but in such a way that they can use their senses to their full potential.

After they nod off for a few minutes, they will open their eyes and scan the surrounding area. If the coast is clear, they will go back to sleep. Whitetail deer will occasionally stand up and scan the area for danger and make sure there are no threats in the area. When deer sleep, they will be lying down, typically with their legs folded up next to them or slightly under them, their bodies can be erect so they can hear and smell.

In colder weather, deer can sleep with their heads tucked towards their back legs. If the deer is exhausted, their heads could be straight out in front of them. These are not the only positions in which deer lay down, however, they are the most common. Deer will also bed down in a family group.

When snow is on the ground it can be seen how the deer bed down, with each deer facing a different direction that offers the most protection.

Sleep is a constant among all animals, but not all animals sleep the same way. Horses are endowed with an elaborate leg and hip system, which enables them to sleep while standing. Veterinarians call this a “stay apparatus” that prevents movement of the leg and upper joints during sleep. A locking mechanism of the knee allows the horse to put weight on one back and one front leg, while resting on the other side. When in this sleep stance a horse’s head is down; the bottom lip will be drooping, and one hip will be sagging.

Horses sleep standing up because they are flight animals and, by that, I mean to a horse needs to be ready to flee quickly to escape danger. However horses that feel secure about their environmental conditions lay down to rest.

Enough sleep is essential for all animals.

Scientists have proven that sleep-deprived rats die quicker than even those deprived of food. Larger animals, such as horses, cows, deer and bear, sleep only two to four hours a day; while smaller animals such as opossums, skunks and bats sleep up to twenty hours in a twenty-four-hour period.

Scientists have proven that if we humans don’t get enough sleep, our judgment and moods are affected. Not only are we grouchy but our health is affected as well. Many chronic health problems can be traced to lack of sleep. Adult humans need eight hours of sleep a day, teenagers require nine and a half hours a day, the elderly need five and a half hours a day and small babies need sixteen hours of sleep a day because sleep facilitates their growth and brain development.

The definition of sleep is not about lying down and closing your eyes. Sleep, according to the Dorland’s Medical Dictionary, is a period of rest for the body and mind, during which will power, and consciousness are suspended, while bodily functions are partially suspended.

Fish have a designated period of rest in which awareness for their surroundings substantially decreases, however, fish do not enter a period of unconsciousness, in which they are completely unaware of the world around them.

Dog owners know that dogs sleep and even dream. When dogs are in a deep sleep, they can be seen moving their legs or can be heard whimpering. Dogs sleep about ten hours in a 24-hour period.

I can’t imagine why I have suddenly become drowsy. Perhaps I will take a nap.

Bill Bower is a retired Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Officer. Read his blog and listen to his podcasts on the outdoors at www.onemaningreen.com.