collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Do west side bears hibernate?  (Read 12456 times)

Offline ellensburgpo

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2008
  • Posts: 1807
  • Location: Dry Side/Right Side
  • Groups: DU, Delta Waterfowl, NWTF
Do west side bears hibernate?
« on: March 27, 2013, 01:08:41 PM »
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.
KCCO

 The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.
Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms, 1929

Offline bobcat

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 39214
  • Location: Rochester
    • robert68
Re: Do west side bears hibernate?
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2013, 01:27:39 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: March 27, 2013, 01:56:28 PM by bobcat »

Offline ellensburgpo

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2008
  • Posts: 1807
  • Location: Dry Side/Right Side
  • Groups: DU, Delta Waterfowl, NWTF
Re: Do west side bears hibernate?
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2013, 10:21:07 PM »
Makes sense. I was thinking with the lack of snowfall there would be plenty of food around.
KCCO

 The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.
Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms, 1929

Offline fly-by

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 564
  • Location: Snoqualmie, WA
Re: Do west side bears hibernate?
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2013, 09:23:35 AM »
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.   

Offline JackOfAllTrades

  • Rasbo said I Ain't Right.
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 6509
  • Location: Lynden, WA.
  • Μολὼν λαβέ
Re: Do west side bears hibernate?
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2013, 09:32:40 AM »
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.
:yeah:    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
The NRA says I'm a Master!
Colt's, Ruger's, Dan Wesson, & Kimber are my friends!
Proud to be a U.S. Navy Veteran.

If you never follow your dreams, you'll never go anywhere.

Critical thinking keeps people from freaking the hell out every time some half baked blogger forgets his meds. Unlike some of you, I do not have TawkethOutOfAnus© syndrome.

Offline mtman

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 395
  • Location: Washougal
Re: Do west side bears hibernate?
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2013, 07:15:49 PM »
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.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

E WA waterfowl guide by ellensburgpo
[Today at 05:19:57 PM]


Winthrop - Winter Range Road Closures by timberfaller
[Today at 05:14:47 PM]


Anyone use game carts? by Stein
[Today at 05:12:33 PM]


No upland with dog during deer and elk season? by McQuackin
[Today at 04:52:38 PM]


2025 blacktail rut thread by SeaRun1
[Today at 03:58:39 PM]


Pack wheel by Tbar
[Today at 03:58:15 PM]


2025 deer, let's see em! by bigmacc
[Today at 03:45:16 PM]


Mushroom ID Thread by RobinHoodlum
[Today at 03:39:43 PM]


Mt. St. Helens Goat by Gonehuntin01
[Today at 03:23:04 PM]


West side antler buyers by mikey549
[Today at 02:56:08 PM]


Where do the bulls go? by mikey549
[Today at 02:49:14 PM]


My new BB Gun by JDHasty
[Today at 02:41:00 PM]


Comment against Ski Resort expanding into Colockum elk/deer habitat by Boss .300 winmag
[Today at 02:11:14 PM]


Supreme Court Declines to Hear Corner-Crossing Case by Tbar
[Today at 01:43:14 PM]


Looking for Taxidermist Recommendations by Tball77
[Today at 01:23:25 PM]


Duck Boat Blind by metlhead
[Today at 12:44:56 PM]


Let’s see ur heavy pack out pics by Mtnwalker
[Today at 12:43:03 PM]


Shadypass road / fs5900 closed by Transka
[Today at 11:48:56 AM]


New property cams checked by finnman
[Today at 11:36:13 AM]


Desert unit 290 October buck hunt by Mtnwalker
[Today at 11:32:12 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal