Hibernation management is critical for the welfare of temperate tortoise species, with incorrect hibernation conditions causing preventable deaths and serious health problems.
Tortoise hibernation welfare depends entirely on owner knowledge and preparation. Tortoises that are incorrectly hibernated - at wrong temperatures, while underweight, or while carrying undetected infections - may die during or shortly after hibernation. Deaths and serious post-hibernation illness are largely preventable with proper preparation. The Jackson Ratio (weight to length relationship) provides a simple health indicator, and pre-hibernation veterinary examination identifies conditions that contraindicate hibernation. Owners who do not know how to hibernate tortoises correctly should seek guidance from specialist veterinarians or tortoise societies before the first hibernation season.