Viewing the spectacular display of maternal protection in this YouTube clip, we can all learn just how important it is not to get in between a Mom brown bear and her cubs. It was captured on a snowy highway in the aptly named Beartooth Mountains, which span south-central Montana and northwest Wyoming. The footage was shot from inside a car, so fortunately, no one was hurt on this occasion. A mother brown bear attempts to get all three of her cubs up onto a snow shelf and away from the road, but one cub is left behind. As the car approaches, she perceives it as a threat and charges. Brown bears are excellent mothers. Let’s explore more about their maternal behavior.
Brown Bear Reproduction
Brown bears have up to three cubs in a litter.
Brown bears (grizzly bears) are found in fairly stable populations in Alaska and western Canada, but their numbers remain small and threatened in the northwestern United States. They tend to prefer open areas such as tundra, alpine meadows, and coastlines. They are among the largest living carnivores on the planet and can grow up to 8 feet tall when standing on their hind legs.
Mating takes place from May to July, creating a fertilized egg. However, this does not implant in the womb until November when the female starts hibernation. She essentially sleeps through her entire pregnancy and wakes up to give birth between January and March. Most mothers have two or three cubs in each litter.
Brown Bears as Moms
Brown bears are exceptionally devoted Moms. The cubs are born blind, furless, and helpless. They remain in a den with her, feeding on her milk. By six months of age, they weigh about 55 pounds and are very cute, much like the cubs shown in this clip.
These mothers have good reason to be so protective. They have a relatively low reproduction rate and only have two or three cubs every five years, so every cub is precious to them. Additionally, male brown bears have been known to target cubs in order to mate with the mother. With such a ferocious Mom, however, the cubs in this clip should be just fine.
