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Black bear cub in a tree

What bears do in May

May at a Glance: All bears visit all the places where they reliably found food last year. Cubs learn how to climb up (and down) trees and learn to “talk.” Cubs are still nursing, but start experimenting with bear food. Mother bears sometimes leave the youngsters alone and travel up to two miles to search for food. Cubs alone aren’t usually abandoned. How Big Is that Bear Cub? Some cubs ...
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BearWise Articles by Category

Be BearWise Outdoors

stay together when hiking in bear country

Headed Outdoors? Bear Safety Tips – Part One

Whether you’re going for a day hike, out for a jog or a bike ride, headed to a campground or just taking your dog out for a stroll, being BearWise outdoors can help you have fun, stay safe and keep ...
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Want to see bears?

Seeing a bear in the wild is an unforgettable experience. If you’d love an opportunity to observe bears, early morning and early evening are good times for viewing and photography. Enjoy bears from a safe and respectful distance. Keep at ...
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Why early summer brings more bear sightings

Early summer is normally a busy time for bear sightings, but this year some people are seeing more bears than usual. There are several reasons bears roam around in June, but only two reasons bear sightings in your area may ...
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Be BearWise at Home

black-bear-in-crawlspace

Will bears find a good winter den at your place?

You’re probably not surprised that a nicely hollowed out tree, dense thicket or handy cave might appeal to a bear in search of a winter den. But did you know the big pile of brush in your backyard, the crawl space ...
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bear at an outdoor grill

Bears’ fall eat-a-thon: what’s on the menu at your house?

In the fall, bears are hard at work searching for plenty of food so they can fatten up for the winter ahead. The hunt for food starts in late summer as berries and fruits ripen and shifts into high gear when ...
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black bear at electric fence

Protecting Chickens, Small Livestock, Bees and More

An important message from your chickens, bees and small livestock... Please Electric Fence Us In Your chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, goats, sheep and bees have asked BearWise to pass along a message: bears are always looking for food, and don’t ...
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The Bear Facts

American black bear in water resting on log

What bears do in March

March at a Glance: Some black bears leave their dens to walk around, stretch their legs and then go back to sleep. Other bears leave dens for good. Bears emerge skinny, groggy and thirsty and soon go looking for roughage ...
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What bears do in February

February at a Glance: Pregnant female black bears give birth. Cubs begin to grow. Bears snug in their dens live off fat reserves, recycle waste and by-products into useful amino acids and heal many injuries. Other bears don’t hibernate at ...
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black bear cubs in den, about 7 to 8 weeks old (Emily Carrollo, Pennsylvania Game Commission)

January / February is birthday time for bears

The fact that bears mate in summer and give birth seven or eight months later might make you think that bear pregnancies aren’t all that different from human ones. But even though bears mate in summer, they’re not officially pregnant ...
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