Hibernation… what’s that?

[Apple Junkie]

Apparently, these guys did not get the memo. It's December 5, 17 degrees and they are still out and about. Two adults, two cubs seem to have a taste for apples. At least one cub is getting after the last remaining apples, successfully because there is not one left hanging.

 

[weekender21]

I’ve seen brown bear tracks on Kodiak island in January. I don’t think hibernation is as simple as the definition taught in grade school.


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[John-W-WI]

I completely agree with @weekender21 I've had bears hit standing corn a lot throughout the winter. Not daily, but it sure seems to me that they get up and move around once in a while. I used to think they went to sleep and didn't move for months. I don't think that anymore.

 

[Apple Junkie]

It seems you guys are right. The thinking that bears go into a deep, winter long, hybernation is more myth than reality. Ya learn something new all the time.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

As a victim of bear damage here - you have my sympathy. Once they locate a food source, they won't let it alone. Ours are still roaming around too - destructive b-tards.

 

[Big Snow Man]

They just take cat naps now ?

 

[bigbuck321]

Two weeks ago I found two bears sleeping in standing corn fields while running coyotes. They will stay there all winter.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

I get pictures of them all throughout the winter. I see them while in stand as well. They are a bit lathargic but they still get up and eat, poop, and drink if there is a puddle somewhere, usually on sunnier, warmer spells. But for the most part they rest.

 

[cavey]

Some sleep hard others dont. Right now with this rain a few will wake and move if too wet... That happens with the bears that den up in the culverts along the interstate near my place. Same with some of the open ground den'ed up bears. I have my electric fencer still on around my bees just because of this fact. Often it seems like mothers with yearlings pop out for awhile too, early on, if its a mild winter.

 

[Gator]

I thought they hibernated when there wasn't food. If they have a food source, they will continue to hmmmm not-hibernate.

 

[Big Snow Man]

Can we sum this up to climate change

 

[weekender21]

Can we sum this up to climate change

The brown bear tracks I saw on Kodiak Island was almost 20 years ago. I think the hysteria was called something different back then.


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[Someday isle]

We don’t have bears in our immediate area but they’re moving in and getting close. Lots of sightings this spring so I’ve been educating myself on bears for the near future. I was telling my wife about this thread. She’s a science teacher and knew all about this. It’s called torpor. I did a little research and found this. The link should work.

https://extension.usu.edu/wildlife-interactions/featured-animals/black-bears

 

[John-W-WI]

We don’t have bears in our immediate area but they’re moving in and getting close. Lots of sightings this spring so I’ve been educating myself on bears for the near future. I was telling my wife about this thread. She’s a science teacher and knew all about this. It’s called torpor. I did a little research and found this. The link should work.

https://extension.usu.edu/wildlife-interactions/featured-animals/black-bears

Interesting article. Sounds like the scientists agree with us wildlife guys. They only "kind of" hibernate.

-John

 

[Apple Junkie]

Thanks for adding that link someday. My understading of bear behavior continues to evolve as I get more up close exposure to them. Honesly, I did not expect to run into them after a good hard freeze and deep snow, which we got in spaded in late November here. Good information - thanks.