Berries are important foods throughout the black bear range. The most commonly eaten berries in northeastern Minnesota are sarsaparilla berries, juneberries, cherries, dogwood berries, blueberries, and raspberries. Many other berries…
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Green vegetation and flower parts are important foods in northeastern Minnesota from spring to fall. In April, flower parts of aspen, willow, maple, ash, and hazel are the main foods….
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Black bear mothers give birth in January and stay with their cubs for 16-17 months. Family bonds remain strong right up to the day of family breakup. In the days…
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Few animals play more than bear cubs do, but why they play remains a mystery. Scientists have suggested that young animals might play to: stimulate development of the brain increase…
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Early May Only patches of snow remain. Greenup begins. Cubs’ legs are long enough to follow mother. Mother leads them to feeding areas where she takes advantage of nutrient-rich spring…
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Because bears are intelligent animals, much of their behavior is based on learning rather than instinct, so responses may vary. Vocalization Situation Mother’s Response Pulsating hum Nursing (or, rarely, when…
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When a mother black bear leads her cubs away from a den, her usual destination is a big tree where the cubs can take refuge from danger. Around Ely, that…
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Bears around Ely typically leave their dens in early to mid April. In years with sparse snow, some bears leave as early as March 24. Mothers with unusually small cubs…
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Water in dens is a problem, especially for mothers with cubs. Newborn cubs that are too young to walk in January, February, or early March can be killed from exposure…
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By the end of February, cubs are 4 to 6 weeks old and usually weigh 2-3 pounds. They have dense fur almost an inch long. They can thermo-regulate to some…
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