The time that a bear spends in his house - a den - is commonly called hibernation. During this period, it is difficult for an animal to get food for itself. Long sleep allows you to slow down metabolic processes and use the fat reserves accumulated during the year as a source of energy.
Bears begin to prepare for wintering in the middle of summer. For six months, they need to find a place for their future home, equip it and build up subcutaneous fat.
What are dens
The bear is an excellent weather forecaster. He feels for a long time what the coming winter will be like. If severe frosts are expected, the predator builds a dwelling as deep as possible. In case of warm weather, the den can even be located on the surface of the earth.
It takes a bear several hours to build a riding den. On the ground or in the snow, the animal creates a flooring of coniferous branches, wood and bark. Then he breaks down young trees, creating a kind of hut. The height of such a house can reach one and a half meters.
A semi-soil den is built on the site of a large uprooted stump. The bear expands and deepens the pit to a comfortable size and lines the bottom of the future dwelling with branches, needles, bark, grass and moss. A thick layer of sod is thrown over from above.
The most solid houses are considered to be unpaved dens. They are housed deep underground, keeping the predator warm. Often, near the entrance to such a den, you can find trees and shrubs covered with yellowish hoarfrost. This effect creates the hot breath of the bear when it comes into contact with the cold air.
How a bear builds his home
Most often, the bear chooses remote areas, preferring to settle away from people. But there are exceptions when a den can be found in a haystack or an abandoned house. Fortunately, this phenomenon is very rare.
The main construction tool of a bear is its claws. Their length reaches 13 cm, which makes it possible to dig a hole in a few days. Depending on which paw the predator worked more actively, the den can deviate in one direction or another.
The entrance of the bear house is quite narrow. Gradually expanding, it passes into the main "room". The length and width of the den allows you to comfortably fit in it. The height of the ceiling is equal to the distance from the animal's feet to the withers. Such a margin is necessary in order not to rest your head on it while lying on the floor.
Having started construction, the bear climbs into the hole with its head and goes deep inside, moving like bellies: resting on its front paws and straightening its hind legs. Excess land is thrown sideways.
As a safety net, some bears build several dens close to each other in order to be able to move. If a predator likes a house very much, he can use it for several years in a row. The most durable dens are built under the roots of birches. Such houses can be inherited and serve their owners for more than a dozen years.
