Wildlife Species: BLACK BEAR

The following response is from Andy Timmons, NH Fish & Game Bear Project Leader (dated Jan. 2008):

...[Black bear den] sites are not limited throughout the forests of New Hampshire and bears den in a variety of habitat types. Den choices range from brush piles and rock caves to hollowed out trees or logs (standing or fallen) or ground nests. Of the many dens I have visited during winter, I would say that at least half the time a bear simply curled up in a shallow depression or spruce-fir thicket and let snow accumulate over them. Other common den sites have included brush piles and upturned root wads where a bear has excavated underneath. It would be very difficult to identify an active bear den during the winter. Once snow accumulates, it is nearly impossible to recognize a den because nothing is evident but a frost hole. As the denned bear respires, the warm air melts a small hole in the snow that will be evident from the outside. However, if you picture a brush pile covered in snow, there usually are hundreds of holes that look very similar. Occasionally, the vegetation around the entrance of the den will be broke off and busted branches with stripped bark will be noticeable. Bears often gather vegetation to make a bed in the bottom of the den. Dens which have been excavated in dirt are obvious once the snow melts. Dens located in brush piles are less obvious.

Bears do not use the same den a second time. This is not to say that another bear may not choose a den previously used by another bear but this is still somewhat rare. I think this simply reflects that dens are not hard to come by leaving little need to reuse the same area. As far as waking a bear if you are out and about on you land, I would not be too concerned. In most instances you will never know the animal is there. The bear will hold tight and only flee the den it felt pressured. Additionally, sows are very reluctant to leave cubs. They will sit quietly and hope danger (you) pass. I only had one female that had cubs of the year run out of a den and it was after I had injected her with the needle containing the immobilizing drug. Point being, she allowed me to get within a couple of feet of her and only ran after I had been there for several minutes. Bears are very reluctant to make themselves visible by running. Males are more likely to run if disturbed but again takes somewhat serious confrontation to cause them to flee. There first defense is to lay low and hope they are not detected. In these instances, females will not try to defend young and males will not try to defend territory.

Feel free to explore your property this winter. You won't bother the bears and they surely will not bother you.

- Andy Timmons, NH Fish & Game Bear Project Leader (Jan. 2008), used with permission

• NH Fish & Game Wildlife Profile on Black Bears - natural history, ecology and habitat needs

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