Hibernating Black Bears?

PineCone

PineCone

New member
Do Black Bears go into hibernation later if the weather is very warm?
Or, do they go to sleep at the same time every year no matter what the weather?
My sister in law in NW CT has had a few close encounters with Black Bears in the woods around her house last year.
The bears just run away but she is scared of them.
Yesterday she had 70 degree weather and asked me if this would cause the bears to be up and around.
The whole northeast has had almst no winter so far.
Can anyone answer this quetion for her?
Thanks.
PC
 
black bears go into hibernation based on the amount of sunlight,temp,ect,once they go in they will stay till spring,grizzlys will go in and out as weather permits.
 
I think this will make the bears go into hibernation later, but, I was under the impression that their life cycle depended on hibernation, as far as having litters etc.
 
great article,i was wondering about them using a different den every year,is this the same with b bears everywhere?
 
It's tricky making generalized statements about wildlife because as soon as you do, someone will prove it wrong. That being said, generally, black bears will use a different den each year. But, while I was in Alaska, the locals would find a bear den then go back to that den each year during the winter. Some years there was a bear in it and some years not. Of course, when they found a bear in the den, it became table fare.
 
There is one ridge(north facing) on our place that the bears seem to den on every year,i have killed one digging its den there and I have seen them go in and out of thier dens in April,I know where a BIG multicolored sow was denned last spring with a year old cub,she would come out for about 1/2 hour at a time to feed and then return to the den for an hour.
 
Our bears up here in Truckee will hibernate fitfully in a warm winter with little snow. They crap out for a while then get up and roam around on garbage day when it it turns warm. We have been below freezing since before Christmas and I haven't seen a bear since early December but we had one scratching on our deck post at about 1:30 AM two weeks ago. (Fresh tracks and hair stuck in the splinters) Pretty sure from his tracks he is living under the neighbor's deck back where the deck runs along side the garage, forming a kind of deep cave. And no,I aint going back there to look.

An open crawl hole under a house or a hiddie hole under a deck is an invitation for a bear to move in if the racoons haven't beat them to it.

Its starting to warm up a little in the daytime so we may start seeing a few more. Usually on Tuesday which happens to be garbage day.
 
I know that females ussualy go in to hibernation earlyer then males. Because of the life cycle. But the males often will stay out as long as there is easy food. This is the theory behind the six day hunts in Pen. They hunt later and are trying to cull some of the males but aloow the cubs to be born to give alot more hunting oppertunities.
 
The black bears here will often come out during warm spells. I see a track or to during the January thaw every year, most of these tracks are big boars, and I think some of them whind up getting wet beds in the warm conditions. I have seen tracks in the snow as late as Christmas even in cold weather. I started a cat track with a hound a few years back when I got into hearing the dog was treed, but it was 150 lb bear not a cat. I dont know were the dog cut the track, but there was 3 feet of snow on the ground and it was about 12 degrees. That bear sure stuck out in a winter setting.
 
Bears in Pennsylvania I believe hibernate when they need to and are out and moving around when the weather permits. So I don't think are PA black bears truly hibernate in the true scents of hibernation. I don't think are bears plug up like many northern bears. I have found many den sites that the bear would go out side of and defecate all winter.
If they need to hibernate I think they could sleep the winters away, I don't think they need to.
I also think that has a lot to do with the size of PA black bear .
 
Here is what i've seen and believe.

Black bears "are" and "are not" true hibernators,depending on "climate","climate/food source",and pregnant females.

climate: In the far north and in some of the western states,where they have bitter cold and deep snows,bears tend to be true 'hibernators.' If bears in these areas, would awake and do much moving around,they would burn more fat off than they would gain,and most likely die from loosing body heat.They are not going to expend more energy and body fat than they could gain.These bears would have to have a 'food source' to replenish the fat,that they would burn off,while roaming around trying to find food.In deep snows and bitter cold,this is not likely.These bears i call "true hibernators" because of,harsh weather,deep snows,and available food.

climate/food source: In much of the lower 48,the climate will vary,from warm,mild,very cold,and deep snow.When we have warm/mild winters,male bears and non pregnant females,will roam around,eating availble food sources thats high in protein and fat.This year,we had a fairly mild winter and an abundance of acorns.I have noticed that the bears have been out and feeding,most of the winter so far.From what i have observed,and many other pennsylvanians,all black bears here,are not 'true' hibernators.If the winters are mild and there is food thats high in protein and fat,the bears will not den up,like true hibernators.They will be out and about,feeding all year around.


Pregnant females will den up early,and not move around so much like the males.I know one female that i kept track of,didn't leave with her cubs untill mid may.Bears in pennsylvania may breed from the latter part of may and up untill the middle of july.Sow bears,'do not' all den up at the same time,or do they leave the den with the cubs at the same time.The cubs may be born at varing times,just like other wildlife.Sow bears do den up,because of cub bearing and nursing,untill it is big enought to travel.
 
yote tote nailed it, when bears burn more calories looking for food than they take in, they lay up, sows with cubs or that are gonna have cubs den up for the winter, males seldom do here in wv, bear tracks in jan. aren't uncommon.
RR
 
I live in bear country too. Ive seen tracks in late winter several times. Jan, and Feb. Always large tracks. 400+lbs, not like you see in November. I have read that larger males will get up and wander for food as needed rather then den up like females with cubs.
 


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