Be Bear Wise this Spring

Be Bear Wise this Spring

What bears do in March

March at a Glance: Some black bears leave their dens to walk around, stretch their legs, and then go back to sleep. Other bears leave dens for good. Bears emerge skinny, groggy and thirsty and soon go looking for roughage. Newborn black bear cubs keep growing in their dens. Yearlings that denned up with mom last fall celebrate their first birthday. Bears get new "shoes."

Resetting the Bear Snooze Alarm

Hibernating bears may temporarily leave their dens and go for a short walk before curling up and going back to sleep. Bedding in the den might consist of several inches of grasses, moss, leaves, pine needles, and tree branches.

Some Black Bears Leave Dens for Good

In March, many full-grown male bears emerge from their winter dens. Bears in poor condition and survived the winter may also have left their dens. Why would a bear den up in poor condition? It might be injured, or a freeze or wildfire damaged acorns and berries, making it challenging to pack on the pounds needed to stay healthy all winter.

Bears are Skinnier, Groggy and Thirsty

Since bears can lose more than thirty percent of their body weight over their long winter's fast, you'd think they'd make a beeline for the nearest food source. But most bears emerge drowsy and lethargic and spend their first few days drinking lots of water, eating snow if there is no water available and cleaning out their systems before starting to prowl around searching for food. It's not uncommon for bears to continue to lose weight the first few weeks they are back out into the world.

Bears will soon be nibbling on plants that provide some roughage and help clear their kidneys and digestive system (what people think of as fiber) for the same reason. Bears eat lightly at first and look for old berries, rose hips, acorns, and winterkill carcasses. Eventually, bears will search for more substantial meals, so now is a good time to ensure anything around your home and property that could attract a hungry bear is stored out of sight, smell, and reach. Click to learn how to be BearWise at home.

Black Bear Cubs Are on the Grow

By six weeks old, bear cubs have more than doubled their birth weight and weigh about two pounds. Black bear cubs' bright blue eyes open (they'll turn brown later), and their sharp little teeth and claws emerge. Cubs may begin to crawl around a bit inside the den. Fun fact: both eyes don't always open at the same time.

This six-week-old bear cub, carefully held by bear biologist Rich Beausoleil, is part of a long-term research study that will help biologists better understand reproduction, cub development, and survival. The cub's mother will be measured and fitted with a new GPS collar before both are returned to the den. One look at those claws, and you can see why BearWise cautions you never to disturb or pick up bear cubs!

"Professionals know how to obtain the necessary information with the least disturbance. That's why we repacked the den entrance with snow and removed all signs that we were ever there. Those extra steps are essential to reduce stress and our impact on the new family while collecting the essential data we need."

– Rich Beausoleil, Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife

Yearlings Celebrate Their First Birthday with Mom

Most bear cubs born last spring denned up with their moms. A mother bear and two or three half-grown cubs can make for a snug fit inside a den, but everyone stays warm. No birthday treats, though; yearlings must live off their fat reserves like adult bears. Black bear families will stay together until the end of May or early June when cubs will strike off independently. Grizzly bear cubs typically stay with their moms for two or three winters.

Bears Get New Shoes

A bear's thick paw pads often slough off over the winter (think of a good pedicure) and get replaced with nice new ones. All bears have relatively flat feet and tend to be a bit pigeon-toed. Their paw pads are tough and get quite a workout when bears are active, so no wonder they need new "shoes" occasionally.  Special thanks to BearWise for this material.  Learn more at www.BearWise.org.

Source: Be Bear Wise this Spring