Are Bears Hibernating Yet With Montana’s Mild Winter?

It's been an incredibly mild winter thus far in Montana this year. With the wacky weather we have been experiencing, it got me thinking that some bears might not be fully settled in for the season. With very little snow on the ground, I have been spending more time outside using our yard, which backs up to the mountains, while walking my dog. Sure enough, I came across two fresh piles of bear scat. That pretty much confirmed my suspicion. Bears are still moving around in parts of the state.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, bears usually head into their dens because food sources become scarce, temperatures drop, and snow begins to cover the ground. In a typical year, bears in Montana den for about five to six months, usually from November through March. We are well past that.

That said, bears do not truly hibernate in the same way some other animals do. Grizzly bears in particular enter a state called torpor. This is more like a very deep sleep than full hibernation. The bears can wake up fairly easily if conditions change, which makes their winter behavior more flexible.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has noted that unusually warm and wet conditions have kept some bears active longer than expected, especially in western Montana. Some bears may even be forced to leave den sites because of flooding in dens or natural shelters and then search for new locations.

While most bears are still expected to den as winter continues, residents should not assume bears are fully gone just because it is January. The reminder from wildlife officials is simple. Stay bear aware. Secure anything that might attract wildlife, remain alert while spending time outdoors, and give bears plenty of space.