Bear Facts 9

 Bears use a variety of sounds for use in communications.

Clicking and grunting are usually signs of a friendly bear. These sounds are usually shared between a mother bear and her cubs or a mating couple. In contrast, huffing, moaning, and shuffling, indicate discomfort for a possibly agitated bear.

Barking is a sign of alarm or excitement, though bears also make them to signal their presence in an area. Popping sounds usually indicated a show of warning, while bellows, growls, and roars are always signs of aggression. Definitely one of the bear facts to keep in mind if you ever encounter one in the wild.

Bear cubs make unique sounds of their own.

Bawling, bleating, and squealing are all signs of distress for bear cubs. In contrast, bear cubs hum when comfortable, such as when they nurse from their mother.

Bears also use nonverbal language.

Bears stand upright on their hind legs as a means of intimidation, as it exaggerates their size and apparent threat. Staring is also a show of aggression, while a stiff-legged approach with heads lowered is a show of non-hostile intent.

Bears show dominance through baring their teeth, as well as extending their necks. In contrast, they submit through lowering their heads while walking sideways or sitting down.

Bears mark their territory.

The most common way for a bear to mark its territory is by rubbing against trees and other plant life to leave their scent behind. Bears may also bite and claw away the bark of a tree to mark territory.

Urinating is another way to mark territory, with panda bears even having unique glands around their anus to leave their unique scents.

Bears have complex mating rituals.

Prospective mates wrestle and even fight each other before mating. Scientists have also discovered that the mating rituals between male and female bears actually cause the latter to ovulate, which makes these bear fights necessary to breed. Talk about tough love.

Bear pregnancies don’t have a set time.

Depending on the species and number of cubs, scientists observed that bear pregnancies typically last between 6 to 9 months. Each female rears up to 4 cubs in a litter.

Since cubs are born blind, they usually stay in the den and do not leave until 2 to 3 months after their birth. These cubs completely depend on their mothers, since male bears do not play a role in raising cubs. Now that’s one for the sadder bear facts.