Are black bears true hibernators?

• A. Yes
• B. No; they do not enter a true state of hibernation
• C. They hibernate for 9 months
• D. They hibernate only in cold winters

Answer: (B)

Black bears don’t enter true hibernation. Instead, they go into a state of torpor during winter denning, where their metabolism slows and their body temperature drops only modestly. They can wake easily, move around, and even nurse cubs or leave the den if disturbed. Because this is a lighter, reversible dormancy, the duration isn’t fixed to a specific number of months and isn’t strictly tied to the cold of winter. The idea that they hibernate for a fixed period like nine months or only in very cold winters isn’t accurate.