So what if you happened upon a bear in a den? The Wildlife Division folks advise that you leave it alone.
Oh really? Like I would climb down in a den with a 400 pound bear and try to wake it up?
Hardly.
But you never know if you’re out and about in the woods and might stumble upon a bear’s den. As cold weather approaches, animals, especially bears, feed heavily and put on extra fat to be able to endure winter. And along about this time, bears say, “Good night, folks. I’m going to take a nap.”
Not all bears enter dens. Some stay semi-active throughout the winter. Most bears, however, will find a safe, relatively warm spot to hole up. Ideally, bears find a cave of some sort, protected by the elements, but according to our Game Biologists, they can use a variety of spots for their dens, including brush piles, pine straw, cavities in large trees, rock outcroppings, ground nests, debris piles and sometimes beneath porches or in unsecured crawl spaces, and that’s a little concerning.
“The mailman just came and, by the way, there’s a bear under our porch.”
To prevent a bear from denning under an occupied dwelling, the Game Department suggests that crawl spaces, mobile home underpinnings, and porches are closed and secured prior to December 1st each year.
Most commonly, female bears who will later give birth in their dens spend the entire winter in a lair. Males might hole up for a bit, but are apt to wander about from time to time.
That’s why the Wildlife Division suggests you be aware of potential bear dens. Sometimes den locations are revealed by signs of fresh digging or heavily traveled trails into brush or thickets. Be cautious if you are burning trash and debris on your property that there are no bears in the pile. They would not take kindly to someone setting their bedroom on fire.
If out and about in the woods, whether hunting or hiking or talking a dog for a stroll, just be aware of the potential of running up upon a bear. If you happen to accidentally stumble upon a female bear and cause her to abandon the den, do not approach the den. Leave the area immediately and put your dog on a leash and lead it away.
Most often when left alone the female will return to the den, although the sow may not return until night. Do not go back to the den area as additional disturbance may cause the bear to leave again and not return.
Also, if you hear a strange noise in rocks or brush, it could be bear cubs. They can be active and noisy in the den. That’s another hint to get away, immediately.
To be on the safe side, avoid hiking in dense brushy thickets or young cutover timber stands. If you must work in these areas be mindful of brush piles, gullies with debris piles, or storm damage areas with thickets of limbs/root balls. If your dog is with you, always maintain it on a leash.
When given the chance, bears will avoid confrontation with dogs or humans, but if they feel threatened or if they sense that their cubs are threatened, they can be very dangerous animals.
That, my friends, is why the Wildlife Division urges that you be aware of possible bear dens and leave them alone.