Hey Yogie, Time to wake up yet?

[Goshawk]

So, when do the bears start moving around in the western washington area?
I've yet to see anything at the game trail cams besides the worlds fattest raccoons!

[crowinghen]

We saw a bear Christmas Eve in a clear cut sunning itself.

[Skyvalhunter]

They can't afford to hibernate these days wolves will go in there their dens when they are sleeping and kill them

[jackelope]

They never stop moving around.

[PastorJoel]

A week ago I found fresh bear scat and a small blacktail carcass.  Kitsap County.

[Jonathan_S]

Usually see a few on trail cam around April 1st.  I'm sure they're up and about earlier but I think movement in places with "real winter" is late March-early April

[Alchase]

They never stop moving around.

 

In western Washington, they do not hibernate like in colder climates. Sows with cubs will stay denned longer.
They may snooze a few days at a time, then up and looking for food, rinse repeat. Coastal bears do not hibernate at all, and remain active all winter.

[n_mathews13]

I guarantee you they are hunkered down right now though

[Goshawk]

My last bear photos were in the end of November. Since then I'm zero for three so I was wondering if they took a long nap, or if my neighbor gave them a dirt nap.

Hope they make. I gave said neighbor a pass a couple years ago for spotlighting a clear cut since he was only trying to find his two hounds. Claimed he was 'coon hunting. I though his 300win mag an odd 'coon round but it was season and I know he does own hounds. His dogs had been making a habit of running my calves until I hauled them off to the animal shelter THREE TIMES!

Since then more than one of his neighbors have complained about seeing him out a night with a suppressed rifle and spotlight. Should have made the arrest and let him sweat it out for a few days.

[The scout]

Before this big snow I was out checking cameras and kicked a bear out of its den. I had walked near it and saw a few beds that had broken off huck branches in them for padding. Then kicked the animal and looped around and looked back and there was about a 3’ hole dug into the hillside. This was in the mason unit. I have never seen a den like that on the westside. Usually they make big bird nest beds with lots of huck in the bottom of them.

[crowinghen]

Before this big snow I was out checking cameras and kicked a bear out of its den. I had walked near it and saw a few beds that had broken off huck branches in them for padding. Then kicked the animal and looped around and looked back and there was about a 3’ hole dug into the hillside. This was in the mason unit. I have never seen a den like that on the westside. Usually they make big bird nest beds with lots of huck in the bottom of them.

Interesting!
 So many bear out that way!