![]() Bears, in contrast, hardly lose any heat at all in their winter dens, but they still qualify as hibernators because their metabolism slows to a crawl. Arctic ground squirrels can temporarily drop their body temperature to -3☌ (27☏) without freezing solid. AR Cell and Developmental Biology 2020 / Knowable Magazine Not coolīears take an approach to hibernation that’s far different from other slumberers. Bears stand out from the rest because of their much larger size.Īdapted from S.M. Several groups of mammals deliberately slow their metabolisms, either overnight (daily torpor) or during the winter (hibernation). How they respond will say much about their commitment to winter naps, and about the deep interconnections between climate and animal behavior. A better understanding of the process could potentially change our approach to a wide range of human conditions, including stroke, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s (see sidebar).īears, too, will have to rethink their concept of hibernation as the climate warms and winters grow shorter. “Hibernation is so complex it requires adaptations at multiple levels,” she says.īear hibernation offers important insights into the workings of large mammals, especially us, explains Gracheva, who coauthored an exploration of the physiology of hibernation in the 2020 Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. The choreography that goes into shutting down a creature this big defies easy explanation, says Elena Gracheva, a neurophysiologist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Adult grizzly and black bears weigh as much as American football players, or more, with the energy and curiosity of preschoolers, but they have no trouble hunkering down for months at time. The roster of animals that hibernate includes all manner of rodents, some amphibians and even a few primates (several species of dwarf lemurs), but bears are literally the biggest hibernators of them all. It’s tempting to say that that they are “waking up,” but hibernation is more complicated and mysterious than a simple long sleep: Any animal that can spend months underground without eating or drinking and still emerge ready to face the world has clearly mastered an amazing trick of biology. Read supporting information for the plan.Every spring, as days in the north stretch longer and melting snow trickles into streams, drowsy animals ranging from grizzlies to ground squirrels start to rally from hibernation. Read the final conservation plan for grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in Yukon. Keep all garbage and food waste in a secure way or bears will be attracted by the possibility of a free meal.Carry bear spray even close to the city, as bears are found in a variety of habitats. Bears are a major consideration for all Yukoners when going outdoors, staying at a cabin or camping for the weekend.Many hunted them, used their claws and skins in ceremony and wove the Grizzly Bear into their dances, myths and legends. Grizzly Bears were an important part of the culture of Yukon Indigenous Peoples prior to European contact.Roots, berries, grasses, sedges, horsetails, moose, caribou and small mammals. They breed for the first time around their 8th year and reproduce every 3 to 4 years. Yukon Grizzly Bears have a very low rate of reproduction. It will spend winter in a den before emerging in spring to search for food. The life of a Grizzly Bear revolves around an intensive search for the most nutrient-rich foods it can find. Habitat: Boreal Forest, Mountain Alpine, Arctic Tundra. ![]() Weight: 155 kilograms (male), 95 kilograms (female).Side profile of the face has an upturned nose or “disk” shape.Lighter tips of the long guard hairs gives the bear a “grizzled” appearance.Generally brown coloured fur but can range from near black to silver-blonde.Conduct viewing responsibly and respectfully.Kluane National Park and Ni’iinlii Njik Territorial Park are good areas for bear viewing. Hiking in the alpine habitat where the vegetation is sparse and long distance views are common allows you to see Grizzly Bears from a safe distance.River travellers in the early spring and late fall have the highest chances of seeing a Grizzly Bear.The Dempster Highway, the Atlin Road, the Haines Road or the Alaska Highway near Kluane Lake are the most likely places for roadside viewing of Grizzly Bears.
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