Stranger Among Bears

"Seasons of the Bear" Calendar
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"SEASONS OF THE BEAR" CALENDAR"

12 Months in the Life of Bears

Bears — both brown and black — tend to make their homes in regions where the changing of one season to another is dramatic and unmistakable. Their lives follow the pattern of the seasons, changing to fit and take advantage of what each season has to offer. This calendar follows a year in the life of bears and gives you a taste of 12 months in Bear Country.

JANUARY Bears are tucked away in their warm dens. Cubs are born in an immature state.	FEBRUARY Newborn cubs are nursed every few hours. Their contented humming fills the den.	MARCH The leanest month of the year for bears. Adults are hungry, and cubs are vulnerable.
APRIL Spring moves into Bear Country and new sources of food begin to unfurl and appear.	MAY Mating season arrives for brown bears. Males search for females across vast distances.	JUNE Juvenile bears, in their first year away from their mother, struggle to survive. Many don't.
JULY Mothers and cubs feed on roots, berries and other plants. The cubs continue to nurse.	AUGUST August heralds the migration of salmon. Bears pack on calories and slow down.	SEPTEMBER The last chance to fatten up before winter. Bears engage in eating frenzies.
OCTOBER Bears more active and playful. Intense (but friendly) wrestling matches are common.	NOVEMBER Food is very scarce. Most bears retire to dens in order to conserve energy.	DECEMBER Hibernation season is underway. Nights and days run together for denning bears.

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Watch highlights from this six-part series about Charlie Vandergaw, a man whose unique relationship with wild bears has sparked controversy across Alaska, and now the world.

COOL BEAR FACTS

Subordinate Behavior: A subordinate bear behaves in predictable ways. It may move away if it feels particularly threatened, or sit or lie down as a sign of respect. It may remain motionless, looking the other way, perhaps yawning with feigned disinterest. Grazing also indicates that the bear has no ill intentions.

Ready for a Fight: A grizzly that's ready to fight will approach with its ears raised, listening for signals. It may circle its adversary with its head high, then drop it and begin a series of short, open-mouthed lunges, slapping at the ground or surrounding vegetation. When it's ready to charge, it flattens its ears in order to protect them.

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