Summer time and it’s holiday season

by Jill Mundy

Oh those lovely lazy, hazy, days of summer. As far as a bear is concerned, it’s often too hot to be in the sun so they will seek out cool shady spots and, ideally, spend some time swimming or just languishing in water.

 Hot spots

Rivers and lakes are a good source of food too, and a bear will catch and feed on many salmon each day, building up fat stores for the winter months ahead. But the feeding doesn’t stop there… Bears are great foragers and their diet will be topped up with plenty of berries and nuts, wild plants and, depending where the bear is living, will include things such as insects, small mammals and birds’ eggs. 

Due to the number of weeks bears spend hibernating over winter, they need to eat a lot during these summer months. Putting on weight and building fat stores will keep them going while they are in their sate of stasis. Excessive eating and weight gain is known as “hyperphagia” and while we as humans would generally be advised against this practice, for bears it is crucial.

The large weight gain contributes to making the bears feel the heat, so visitors to National parks and conservation centers may well see bears taking advantage of whatever water sources they can find. Anyone living close to bear country will know they need to keep outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs covered or they may find a bear has sneaked in while they were out!

Of course, bears have a thick furry coat and this is made up of two layers, with the layer closest to the skin particularly designed to insulate them through the cold weather. As temperatures rise, these hairs are shed, as are some of the outer guard hairs, and bears can often appear a little scruffy during this time. The hairs will grow back again though in time for the arrival of winter.

The early summer months of May and June are when many bear species are mating. Males will travel up to 15 miles to find female territories, following scent trails laid down by the females. Females will travel up to five miles outside their territories to advertise the fact that they are ready to mate. As males will lose weight during mating season, adding to the weight loss over winter, it is even more important for them to “binge” and put on weight once they get into July and summer rolls on.

Tourism is at its prime during the summer and visitors to parks and forests where bears are prevalent should heed the warnings and safety advice given by the park managers in order to enjoy their time there without risking danger.

Colder climates

What about polar bears? How do they cope with summer? Polar bears do not hibernate in the same way as other bear species. They spend a good amount of time in dens but do not enter the sleep-like state necessary for other species. 

The winter months are when polar bears are most active so in summer, they try to expend less energy, spending lazy days sleeping in cooler shady spots. When it comes to foraging for food, many are content to wait on the sea ice until prey comes close enough that they can quickly grab it. Various whale species migrate to these areas during summer and a polar bear will swiftly pounce on an unsuspecting baby whale for a meal.

And, as we read regularly now, sea ice is melting more and more rapidly as a result of climate change, meaning polar bears also spend a lot of time foraging for food along the shoreline. Birds, their chicks and eggs are a major source of prey; sometimes they may be lucky enough to find a discarded carcass, caribou for example, after wolves have taken their fill; and they have adapted to taking birds from under the water or hunting for seals at night when the temperature is cooler.

Due to the bears spending time on the shoreline, they are often more visible than they are during winter, so adventure/tour companies take advantage, offering sea trips to see them along with whales, walrus and seals, as well as the sea birds. 

So while we all enjoy summer outings and vacations, polar bears are our counterparts, taking life at a slower pace for a large part of the time and making the most of cool evenings. Bear species living in warmer climes make the most of the shade too, but are more active, preparing themselves for the long winter ahead.

Photo: Musicaline , Wikicommons Photo: Kandukuru Nagarjun, Wikicommons