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We tested spatial memory retention in a long-term, free-living hibernator, the Columbian ground squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus), using a field-based spatial maze over two consecutive active seasons. Ten individuals were tested before and after a 9-month hibernation period and compared with eight naive individuals. Maze-solving performances\u2014time to exit, path sinuosity and navigational errors\u2014were analysed over 10 consecutive trials using Bayesian nonlinear learning curves to separate retained memory from relearning. Strikingly, post-hibernation individuals with prior exposure to the task significantly outperformed naive individuals by 41\u201398% across all metrics, with initial performance after hibernation approaching pre-hibernation asymptotes. We show that spatial memory survives prolonged hibernation in the wild, supporting the hypothesis that neural plasticity during hibernation reflects adaptive retention rather than memory loss.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1098\/rsbl.2026.0220","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T00:20:42Z","timestamp":1791332442000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Memory on ice: spatial memory is retained over a 9-month hibernation period in Columbian ground squirrels"],"prefix":"10.1098","volume":"22","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-2472-4057","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana\u00efs","family":"Beauvieux","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University, Australia\u2014Berwick Campus 1 , Berwick, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jeremy","family":"Werner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University, Australia\u2014Berwick Campus 1 , Berwick, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5562-6316","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"F. 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