What Bears Are Doing in May
MAY AT A GLANCE
- Bears visit all the places where they reliably found food last year.
- Cubs learn how to climb up (and down) trees and learn to “talk.”
- Cubs are still nursing, but start experimenting with bear food.
- Mother bears sometimes leave the youngsters alone (but not abandoned) and travel up to two miles to search for food.
How Big Is that Bear Cub?
Some cubs are born bigger and stronger than others, and litter mates can develop and grow at very different rates. In May, mother bears are still nursing their rambunctious youngsters. Cubs will begin experimenting with bear food, but typically aren’t fully weaned until late summer. A steady diet of their mother’s rich milk helps black bear cubs grow from about five pounds at eight weeks old to somewhere between 40 and 60 pounds by six months.
Close to Home
Mom and cubs hang close to the den at first. Cubs shadow their moms and start learning and mimicking some behaviors and vocalizations. Mother bears have a lot to teach their youngsters over the summer and fall so they’ll grow big and strong and know how to take care of themselves by next summer.
