Bears In Winter? It Does Happen

Above, a bear at Yellowstone Bear World in Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One doesn't usually think that bears can be active during the winter months. Most people think they are in deep hibernation.

Here's a story of a bear sighting in Yellowstone National Park during the dead of winter.

From KBZK Bozeman News:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — If you’ve lived in bear country for any time at all you probably know the importance of carrying bear spray in the backcountry. Now, a Yellowstone National Park bear biologist says you may need to consider carrying it year-round.

Yellowstone hiker Devinne Curbow said she and some friends saw a grizzly in the wild the last weekend of January in the park. “It was pretty astounding,” said Curbow.

In the photo, you can see the bear on a mostly snow-free hillside. Curbow is not revealing the exact location because she says she believes the bear has a den nearby and doesn’t want curious bear watchers to disturb the animal.

“We get reports of bear activity every month of the year,” said park bear biologist Kerry Gunther.

He told MTN that seeing a bear in January or February can happen. it’s just not very common. If you’re thinking it has been a warm winter and maybe that is waking up the bears, Gunther has some insight.

“You know hibernation is really based more on a seasonal reduction in food availability,” he said.

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