‘Restless’ bear cubs get first climbing lesson outside Tahoe cabin. See video
After months of hibernation, black bears and their cubs are on the move in California.
A new video shows a pair of “restless” bear cubs roughhousing in their den under a Lake Tahoe-area home before heading outside for a late-night climbing lesson.
The Bear League, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Tahoe-area bears, shared the first videos of mama bear Ursula with her “sassy” twin cubs, Polaris and Arcturus, via its Facebook page in March, The Fresno Bee previously reported.
The Bear League’s CubCam team gets “very attached to the families we follow each winter with den cameras,” the league said in the caption of a video posted Tuesday, April 7, on Facebook. “But we know in every case, the day will quickly arrive when mom decides it’s time to head out into the big world outside the den.”
It’s “a predictable cycle” each year, the league said.
When do black bears leave their dens in California?
Black bears start hunkering down in dens between October and December, and remain inside for several weeks or months, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
These “highly efficient hibernators” find shelter “under fallen logs, in vegetation thickets, high up trees, in crevices or even under decks and patios,” the state wildlife agency said.
Bear cubs are usually born in January and February.
The bears emerge their dens in the spring, usually between March and May, so they can start “actively searching for food,” the department said.
“The cubs get restless, so mom takes them outside to teach them probably the most important lesson they will learn in their first year — how to climb,” the Bear League said in Tuesday’s post.
Video shows bear cubs leaving den under Tahoe cabin
In the video shared by the Bear League on Tuesday, bear cubs Polaris and Arcturus can be seen playing in the crawlspace under the Tahoe home as mom rests nearby.
Eventually Ursula yawns and lumbers out of the den, with the cubs following.
“She took Polaris and Arcturus out late one night recently to give them their first climbing lesson, showing them briefly how it’s done,” Bear League officials wrote. “Then she took them out in the daytime and nursed them in the open air, ever watchful.”
“Finally, she told the kids it was time to go,” the league said. “Just that simple.”
Video shows the mother bear peeking her head out from the den and then wriggling out of it, signaling for the cubs to follow her. They seem to hesitate just for a moment before following her away from their nursery.
“It’s a cycle that has repeated for thousands of years, long before humans built homes in the forest where the bears live,” the league said. “We wish Ursula, Polaris and Arcturus the best out in the scary human world that they inhabit.”
Several people commented on the video, wishing the cubs well and joking about their fed-up mother.
“I have so enjoyed being able to watch (the cubs) up to this point,” Facebook user Kerry Colleen Boyce said, describing their “natural progression” as “fascinating.” “Hopefully they’re able to reach adulthood as well without anything happening to them.”
“Going to miss watching this family!” Facebook user Nancy Kee wrote in a comment. “Part of me is so excited for them going out into the world and the other is scared for them. Stay safe, beautiful family.”
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks on people are rare are rare in the United States, according to the National Park Service.
In most encounters between bears and people, the bears are typically trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
- Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
- Stay calm: Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
- Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
- Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
- Hike in groups: Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
- Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
- Don’t drop your bag: Keeping your bag on your back can keep bears from accessing food, and provide protection.
- Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear.
- Don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
- Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
