Team

Hibernation is a winter adaptation that allows animals to conserve energy by reducing their metabolic rate during periods of cold temperatures and limited food availability. In black bears (Ursus americanus), hibernation lasts up to six months, a period when females also give birth. During this period, bears hibernate in dens, which provide a secure and sheltered environment. Although hibernation is a critical period for individual survival and reproductive success, the factors determining den selection remain poorly understood. My project aims to identify the ecological mechanisms and environmental variables driving den selection in black bears, and to assess whether these variables affect cub survival. By identifying the drivers of den selection, results from my study will inform forest management strategies that safeguard critical winter habitat for black bears.