Brown Bears: Features of Growth and Development

Brown bear is found in taiga forests, mountains and conifers, abundant in a windbreak. In a permanent habitat, a large population can settle. In the midst of winter, brown bears are born in the female. How is their development and maturation? What happens after a small brown bear appears in the light?

It should be noted that the mother of the bear does not have a constant pair. In the mating season, which begins in late spring, several males claim to be the spouse. During this period they are extremely aggressive, fiercely compete with each other, fights often end in the fatal outcome of one of the rivals. The winner forms a pair with the female, but the union lasts no more than a month. Then the bear remains alone, and in winter, usually in January, brown bear cubs appear. Most often there are two of them, and they are quite tiny. The weight of one bear rarely exceeds 500 grams.

In the first two months, brown bear cubs do not leave their den, staying all the time under their mother's side. It was during this period that the family is most vulnerable. Since brown bears do not belong to protected rare species, with the exception of some, the hunting season is open for them. Berlogues with cubs often become a desirable object for hunters. In places where a significant population of bears live, the "bear trails" are very noticeable, in which these animals are found.

A newborn brown bear cub is born with a rare woolen covering, with covered ears and eyes. After 2 weeks, the ear holes are completely formed and the eyes open. The first exit from the den occurs at 3 months. By this time, brown cubs reach the size of an average dog and weigh from 3 to 6 kg. All this time they eat exclusively milk, but with the beginning of summer there is a new food - vegetable. Imitating mothers, the cubs begin to try new ones for themselves - roots, berries, nuts, wild oats, worms and other insects. During the first year of life, the animals do not depart from the mother. They continue to live with her, spending one more winter together.

Having reached the age of 3-4 years, individuals are considered sexually mature and begin to lead an independent life. But they reach full maturity in 8-10 years. The matured brown bear is a large forest beast weighing up to 300-400 kg. However, one species is known, called "Kodiaki" and inhabiting Alaska, in which males weighing up to 750 kg are found.

Color is often brown, but can vary from straw yellow to dark, almost black. Fur is very dense, thick, long. Moreover, in the inhabitants of the northern latitudes the wool is longer than that of the southern inhabitants. The tail is short, hidden under the fur. Long black claws reach 10 cm in length.

Having become an independent adult animal, the brown bear begins to look for a separate territory, and in males their personal area is larger than that of females by 7-10 times. Despite its formidable appearance, these animals feed on plant food and invertebrates, scrounging subcutaneous fat during the summer. But if the bear does not gain enough weight, he can wake up in the middle of winter and go hunting. They are extremely aggressive, attack everyone who meets them on the road, and pose a serious threat to the person.