Harms said bears in Alabama don’t really hibernate. During the few cold days of winter, he said bears will do like humans and stay inside, sleeping in their dens until the weather warms up again. The bears have put on the fat for the winter and rarely travel far from the den area until spring.
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Where are bears located in Alabama?
In recent years, black bears have steadily immigrated into northeast Alabama from northwest Georgia, primarily to DeKalb, Cherokee and Etowah counties, and have established a small, but viable population in that region of the state.
What kind of bears are in Alabama?
Black bears (Ursus americanus) are historically native throughout the entire state of Alabama (Cowan 1970, Edwards 2002, Scheick and McCown 2014).
Do bears hibernate in the South?
Hibernation lasts up to 7 months in the northern regions but is shorter in the South. Bears that find food year-round in the South may not hibernate at all. To survive long winters without eating, drinking, exercising, or passing wastes, hibernating bears cut their metabolic rates in half.
What months do bears start to hibernate?
GPS data has also shown that bears often move into their dens, even traversing long distances, in advance of the first significant snow storm. Once the availability of fall foods fade, they will enter their den and begin hibernation (typically later in November, and December).
Are black bears aggressive?
In most cases, black bears are relatively shy, only acting aggressively as a last resort. Nevertheless, the most effective way to avoid a bear attack is by preventing encounters in the first place. Just because black bears can be less dangerous than other large carnivores doesn’t mean fatal attacks don’t happen.
Are there mountain lions in Alabama?
In Alabama, no mountain lion/vehicle collisions have been confirmed for at least 60 years and there is no self-sustaining population of mountain lions currently known in Alabama. Resident populations appear to have been extirpated from Alabama in the mid-1800s.
Are there any wolves in Alabama?
The U.S. state of Alabama is home to these known indigenous mammal species.Four of these native species have become extirpated within the state, including the American bison (Bison bison), cougar (Puma concolor), gray wolf (Canis lupus), and the elk (Cervus canadensis).
Are there any Panthers in Alabama?
There are no black panthers, not in Alabama or anywhere else in North America.There has never been a confirmed black mountain lion, aka panther, puma or cougar, Felis concolor, the primary big cat of North America. The normal color is tan, brown, or rust.
Does Alabama have alligators?
In the 1970s, the American alligator in Alabama was put on the endangered species list because they were hunted to near extinction. But in the past 50 years their population in the state has grown to the point where hundreds of annual complaints about them are reported.
Do bears hibernate in Tennessee?
Bear Behavior
Mating usually takes place in July.Bears in the Smokies are unusual in that they often den high above the ground in standing hollow trees. Bears do not truly hibernate, but enter long periods of sleep. They may leave the den for short periods if disturbed or during brief warming trends.
Do Florida black bears hibernate?
Do Black Bears Hibernate? Black bears are not true hibernators. Instead, they experience what is often called denning, ursid hibernation or carnivore lethargy. This period of reduced activity occurs in all black bear populations.
Do Georgia black bears hibernate?
Not in the strict definition of hibernate. During the winter months, bears in Georgia usually will enter into dens and their bodies will enter into a state known as torpor. This action is driven primarily by temperature and food availability.
What happens if you wake up a hibernating bear?
Their body temperature drops. Their breathing and heart rates slow. Their body also starts to burn calories slower. These changes allow the bear to survive longer on its own body fat.
Where do bears go when they hibernate?
They usually dig a den which they may use for several consecutive years. Natural caves or rock fissures sometimes also serve as retreats. Before the winter sets in, the bears cushion their dens nicely with grass, leaves, ferns, moss and lichen.
Are black bears hibernating now?
When the weather grows cold and the food supply finally dries up, they will retreat to their winter dens. Males bed down around mid-December and emerge in mid-March; females, which give birth during the winter and stay with their cubs for two years, remain in their dens longer, from late November to mid-April.
What smell do bears hate?
Bears Dislike the Scent of Anything Pine Related – Including Pine Oil. While bears love anything sweet (yes, even honey) they have often been found to steer clear of anything pine-scented. Bears dislike the scent of any pine-scented cleaners that contain pine.
What does it mean when a bear stands up?
Standing up on its hind legs allows a bear to get more information from its senses of smell, sight and hearing. It is a sign of curiosity, not aggression.
Will black bears eat you?
Black bear attacks on humans are rare but often begin as scuffles with dogs, experts say.Predatory attacks on humans by black bears are extremely rare, but experts are offering insight as to how some of them may start after a woman was killed in Canada by a black bear while searching for her dogs.
What big cats live in Alabama?
“Alabama has two native cats. The first and largest is the mountain lion, also called a cougar, catamount, painter, puma or panther,” Marks wrote. “Cougars are tawny brown to grayish in color, weighing from 75 to 120 pounds, and can reach a length of about 6½ feet, nose to tail.
Are there lynx cats in Alabama?
The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is common throughout the United States. This medium-sized wildcat reaches a mature weight of 30 to 40 pounds and measures 31 to 48 inches long, from nose to tail. Their lifespan is 12 to 15 years. In Alabama, bobcats inhabit a number of regions and often live in close proximity to humans.
