How Long Do Bears Hibernate?

How long bears hibernate depends on where the bear lives. From mountaintops to tropical forests, believe it or not, bears of the same species living in different environments will hibernate for different periods of time. Some bears don’t hibernate at all, while others can stay in their dens for up to eight months.

Learn more about who’s most likely to be snoozing during snowy weather and who can be seen lumbering through their forest homes year-round.

How Do Bears Change During Hibernation?

• Slowed Breathing
• Slowed Heart Rate
• Slightly Lower Body Temperature
• Lower Energy Use & Production
• No Need To Eat, Drink, Or Produce Waste

Bears – The Super Hibernators

Torpor, light hibernation, carnivore lethargy – there are a lot of ways to say that bears are not “true hibernators.” One of the main differences between states like torpor and the way say a bat spends the season of snow and ice is how easy they are to wake up. Bears can wake up quickly in response to a perceived threat, like a flood or predator.

As scientists learn more and more about their winter denning habits and unique physical adaptations, however, many now consider bears to be super hibernators.

The 5 Stages Of Bear Hibernation & Activity

1. Hibernation – Dormant, But Can Waken Quickly
2. Walking Hibernation – Awake, But Eating & Drinking Less
3. Normal Activity
4. Hyperphagia – Putting On The Pounds
5. Fall Transition – Eating Less, Sleeping More

Types Of Bears That Hibernate

You can find hibernating bears everywhere, from the Arctic to North America to Asia. The colder the climate and the scarcer the food availability during wintertime, the more likely the species is to den up and the longer they do it. So, who are these super hibernators?

American Black Bears

According to Bearwise.org, American black bears “inhabit forests of at least 40 of the 50 states.” So, while inhabitants of the southernmost states and Mexico may forgo their long winter sleep, northern black bears can hibernate for over seven months.

Fun fact, male and female bears hibernate separately. Females often den sooner and leave later in … Read the rest of the story.