Bear Center Bears Begin Hibernation

Ted, Honey, and Lucky are hibernating. They should resume activity in late March or early April. Ted and Lucky are snuggled together. Honey is in a den with an opening against the viewing window where visitors can watch her from 2-3 feet away.

By next winter, we hope people will sponsor web cams in all the dens (about $4,000 per den) so visitors can watch the bears all winter on bear.org and on high definition monitors in the Bear Center.

This winter, White Wolf Entertainment is sponsoring a web cam in a wild den. In early January, we will install the camera in the den of a young female to see if she gives birth on her third birthday in mid-January. The state-of-the-art camera broadcasts color pictures by day and infrared by night. Activity triggers it to take video instead of still pictures. Cubs become quite active after their eyes open in early March. A second web cam may be placed outside the den so viewers can watch snow accumulate in the beautiful open setting in winter and watch the family spend time in and out of the den for a few days before leaving in mid-April.  —12/27/09

Why Do We Fear Bears?

Excessive Warnings About Attacks

Attacks are rare and excessive warnings about them create unnecessary fear.  

Balanced and factual information about bears is hard to find.  Providing that information is the main goal of the North American Bear Center where the bears themselves provide much of the information through video footage and research data.

Read more: Why Do We Fear Bears?

Vocalizations & Body Language

Black bears use sounds, body language, and scent-marking to express their emotions of the moment.

Amiable sounds are grunts and tongue clicks used by mothers concerned for their cubs and by bears approaching other bears to mate or play.  Cubs make a motor-like pulsing hum when they nurse or are especially comfortable. 

(hear sounds below) 

Read more: Vocalizations & Body Language

What if I see a black bear?

This is probably the most common question we hear. 

The standard answer nationwide is, "Speak calmly and back away slowly."  This is good advice.  It identifies you as a person, shows that you are non-threatening, and gives the bear space.

Is following this advice necessary to avoid an attack?  No.  

Read more: What if I see a black bear?