This Bear Tucking Itself in for Hibernation is the Precious Moment You’ve Been Looking for

While we humans spend all year preparing for pumpkin spice lattes in the fall, bears prepare for something far more serious: sleep. Black bears tuck themselves away for up to seven months to hibernate, just like this one in Yellowstone featured on @nationalparknews on Instagram. Its den looks cozy enough, but hiding away in this dark cavern takes more effort than you might think.

What, Exactly, Is This Black Bear Doing?

Black bears spend the entire year preparing for torpor, a lighter sleep during which their metabolic and heart rates go down. Their body temperature also decreases during this state, allowing them to conserve energy. They search for caves, holes in trees, and rock crevices to protect them during this time. While they’re not fully asleep, they are vulnerable. The black bear in this video has found a hollow tree in which to tuck away, keeping it well-hidden through the winter.

What we’re seeing is the final stage before this black bear settles down for the season. Bears fill their dens with vegetation, which serves as natural insulation. Greenery, such as evergreens, is popular, but this bear opts for woody underbrush. Either one will do, and bears use what’s available depending on their environment.

It’s Cramped But Cozy

No two bear dens will ever look the same. Black bears like this one look for holes big enough to squeeze into, unlike grizzlies, who dig their own dens. The den of a black bear can be up to four feet in diameter. The space would be cramped for any other animal, but a bear like this fits perfectly. Bears use dens more than once, but the same den is rarely used by the same bear each year. If a bear is disturbed, it may move to another den out of caution.

This black bear won’t bring anything with it, so there’s no need for a larger den. During torpor, bears don’t eat meaning there’s no need to bring food inside. During the spring and summer, they eat enough to survive off their fat reserves. They don’t need water during this hyperphagia stage, so protection from the elements is the only requirement for a den. It’s cramped, but bears have enough room to move around. Since torpor is not a deep sleep, this black bear will occasionally move around to avoid bed sores and muscle cramps.