Winter hibernation of a bear, or why does a bear suck its paw?

A winter hibernation of a bear, yes, everyone knows that a bear is an animal that traditionally hibernates in winter. Since ancient times, people have formed the opinion that during hibernation, the bear sucks its paw. It was implied that the bears do this because of hunger. Over time, the expression “paw suck” has become a catchphrase, which is often used in the modern world, meaning to lead a poor life. So what do bears actually do during hibernation and how does it happen? In this article we will talk about it.

When Winter hibernation of a bear start?

Bears hibernate from mid-autumn or early winter. Winter hibernation of bears is directly related to the weather and ambient temperature. Therefore, it is difficult to name the exact month when bears hibernate. This usually occurs with the formation of a permanent snow cover and when the temperature is consistently below freezing. Before the onset of such weather conditions, bears simply wander around their possessions.

Why do bears hibernate?

Bears hibernate to wait out the harsh, hungry winter. After all, the basis of the diet of these animals is plant food, which is very difficult to find with the onset of a cold winter. Therefore, in the summer, bears eat well and put on fat in order to survive the winter in hibernation.

How does a bear prepare for hibernation?

The bear prepares for hibernation by eating heavily and accumulating significant reserves of nutrients in the form of subcutaneous fat. The hibernation of the bear takes place in the den, which he himself prepares in order to comfortably spend the harsh winter period in it.

Before hibernation, a bear equips a den in a secluded hard-to-reach place, usually under fallen trees or in root holes. It happens that bears can occupy caves and gorges of rocks. Occasionally, the beast can dig a shelter for itself right in the ground. Having found a good place for wintering, the bear often returns there year after year.

Bear in hibernation

The hibernation time of bears varies from several months to six months. It mainly depends on the climatic conditions. In the southern regions, where winters are mostly snowless, bears may not hibernate at all, but they still gain fat reserves, because the food supply is significantly reduced in winter.

Bears sleep in different positions, some are comfortable on their sides, while others lie on their backs. Usually bears sleep alone. The exception is she-bears with cubs, they hibernate together. With the advent of spring, already grown cubs leave the den with their mother. By the way, female bears with cubs live much longer in dens than single individuals. Least of all are old males in dens.

The hibernation of a brown bear is not too deep; in case of danger, the animal will wake up and leave the den, poisoning itself in search of a safer place. It happens that the bear does not have time to hibernate to gain the necessary reserves of fat, then he can wake up in the middle of winter or does not go to bed at all, but begins to wander in search of food. Such bears are called connecting rods, they are very dangerous because hunger makes them ruthless predators that even attack humans. Most often, such bears do not survive until spring due to lack of food.

The degree of slowing down of metabolic processes in a bear in winter is much less than, for example, in hedgehogs, whose body temperature drops from 33 ° C to 2 ° C during hibernation. During hibernation, the body temperature of a bear drops from an average of 37 ° C to 31 ° C, so it is easily and quickly restored after waking up. It happens that even during hibernation, the body temperature of the animal reaches normal values. During sleep, the body feeds on fat reserves accumulated the day before.

Some species hibernate for part of their pregnancy, in which case birth occurs immediately after emerging from hibernation. For example, hibernation in polar bears does not occur every year, and they fall into it for only a few months. Most often pregnant females do that. The polar bear dens on the mainland or on the islands. also falls into hibernation In addition to the brown bear, the Himalayan bear, although he prefers to equip the lair at a height, in the hollows of old trees. However, not all types of bears hibernate, for example, the giant panda does not sleep at all.

Hibernation occurs not only in bears, but also in other mammals, such as the badger. By the way, this is the only representative of the Kunya family that hibernates. For example, a stoat from the same family does not go to bed in winter. Also, many species of rodents, insectivores, some species of bats, frogs and others fall into hibernation.

Hibernation in animals is of 3 types: daily (in hummingbirds and bats), seasonal (in mammals, rodents and insectivores), irregular — usually occurs when adverse conditions suddenly occur. By the way, with regard to seasonal hibernation, it happens not only in winter, but also in summer. Such hibernation is typical for animals living in deserts and occurs during especially dry periods.

Why does a bear suck its paw?

A funny opinion that a bear sucks its paw was formed for a reason. Only in reality the bear licks its paws in a dream. But he does this not from hunger, but because during hibernation the skin on the bear’s paws is renewed and flaky, and he simply reacts in this way to the itching caused by this process.

Bear after hibernation

The bear after hibernation is thin and hungry. During hibernation, bears lose all their accumulated fat reserves. They wake up from a feeling of hunger and the onset of spring warmth. The exit of a bear from hibernation is closely related to the climate. Where heat comes early, the bear wakes up from the first days of spring, and somewhere does not leave the den until mid-April.

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