Warm and dry, what more could a bear want?

By now almost all of the grizzlies are in a heavy sleep up in a warm den somewhere in the mountains. Here on the coast the dens are generally between 350 and 1000m in elevation, usually near the transition from the coastal western hemlock to mountain hemlock biogeoclimatic zones. Commonly the den is a chamber excavated by the bear under base of an old growth tree with chamber diameter of 1.5-2.25m and a height of 1.25m. Typically it will be lined with 10-20cm of bedding such as moss, leaves or tree boughs. The entrance opening is approximately 0.75m in diameter. Usually dens are located on well-drained, steep slopes of 20 to 42 degrees often where snow will persist, providing further insulation. Covered by snow, a bear den interior would maintain a temperature significantly above freezing. Not a bad way to spend the wet winters here on the coast.

Check back next month for another interesting wildlife fact.