Do west side bears hibernate?

[ellensburgpo]

So, do bears that live in western Washington hibernate? I'm sure it makes a difference exactly where, but its so temperate over here I can't imagine why they would have to. Forgive me if this has been covered somewhere else, but its been stuck in my head for a couple days now.

[bobcat]

Yes they do. I believe it's done more as a way to conserve energy at a time of the year when there is a lack of food. Also the sows give birth to her cubs while denned up for the winter.

[ellensburgpo]

Makes sense. I was thinking with the lack of snowfall there would be plenty of food around.

[fly-by]

Depends on your definition of hibernate.   I was seeing a lot of tracks around 3000ft early last February and asked a bio whether these bears were late in hibernating or early getting up.  He gave a pretty detailed response but the short of it was "neither".   Apparently they are not like a ground squirrel that completely shuts down for several months.  They just slow down and sleep alot, but do get up and roam around for short periods during the winter.   He did not say anything about elevation, so this may apply more to lowland and mid elevation bears.   

[JackOfAllTrades]

Depends on your definition of hibernate.   I was seeing a lot of tracks around 3000ft early last February and asked a bio whether these bears were late in hibernating or early getting up.  He gave a pretty detailed response but the short of it was "neither".   Apparently they are not like a ground squirrel that completely shuts down for several months.  They just slow down and sleep alot, but do get up and roam around for short periods during the winter.   He did not say anything about elevation, so this may apply more to lowland and mid elevation bears.

    Some do. Some don't.   http://www.bear.org/website/bear-pages/black-bear/hibernation/190-do-black-bears-hibernate.html
 
I have seen black bears on the west side when snow shoeing in January before.
 
-Steve

[mtman]

Even if it seems like there is lots of food. Bears need calorie rich food witch isn't as abundant in the winter time. Bears can only get 25 to 35 % of the nutrition out of plant mater compared to deer and elks 60 %. The bears only have one stomach that is why a lot of them do hibernate. Once calories in don't meet calories out they start to go in to hibernation.