Brown bear is found in taiga forests, mountains and conifers, teeming with windbreaks. In permanent habitats, a large population can settle. In the midst of winter, the female has brown cubs. How is their development and growing up? What happens after a small brown bear cub is born?
It is worth noting that the mother bear does not have a permanent pair. In the mating season, which begins at the end of spring, several males claim the role of a spouse at once. During this period they are extremely aggressive, compete fiercely with each other, fights often end in the death of one of the rivals. The winner will pair with the female, but the union lasts no more than a month. Then the bear is left alone, and in winter, usually in January, brown cubs are born. Most often there are two of them, and they are very tiny. The weight of one teddy bear rarely exceeds 500 grams.
In the first two months, brown cubs do not leave their dens, remaining all the time under the side of their mother. It was during this period that the family was most vulnerable. Since brown bears do not belong to protected rare species, with the exception of some, the hunting season is open for them. Dens with cubs often become a desirable target for hunters. In places where a significant population of bears lives, “bear paths” along which these animals are found are very noticeable.
A newborn brown bear cub is born with a sparse coat, with covered ears and eyes. After 2 weeks, the ear holes are fully formed and the eyes open. The first exit from the den occurs in 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 a new food appears - vegetable. Imitating the mother, the cubs begin to try new goodies for themselves - roots, berries, nuts, wild oats, worms and other insects. During the first year of life, the animals do not leave their mother. They continue to live with her, spending another 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. An adult brown bear is a large forest animal weighing up to 300-400 kg. However, one species is known, called "Kodiaki" and lives in Alaska, in which males weighing up to 750 kg are found.
The color is most often brown, but can vary from straw yellow to dark, almost black. The fur is very dense, thick, long. Moreover, the inhabitants of the northern latitudes have a longer hair than 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 search for a separate territory, moreover, males have their personal area more than females 7-10 times. Despite their formidable appearance, these animals feed on plant foods and invertebrates, feeding subcutaneous fat during the summer. But if the bear has not gained enough weight, it can wake up in the middle of winter and go hunting. They are extremely aggressive, attack everyone who meets them on the way, and pose a serious threat to humans.
