How did the grizzly bear survive the winter without eating?

But get this: bears have microbes in their guts that, during the winter months, convert urea to nitrogen to make new amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein (link). With that, they are able to maintain lean body tissue in the comfort of their own dens without eating or eliminating waste.

What happens if bears don’t eat enough before hibernation?

The bears need to ingest enough calories to continue metabolizing fat and prevent their bodies from breaking down muscle. If they’re unable to find enough food relatively quickly, the risk is a deadly nitrogen build-up in the bloodstream.

How long do bears go without food during hibernation?

Different species of bears hibernate for slightly different lengths of time, based mostly on their climate. Black bears can hibernate for up to seven and a half months without drinking water, eating food or defecating. Grizzly bears typically hibernate between five to seven months.

How do bears go so long without food?

Although black bears are said to hibernate without eating, drinking, urinating, or defecating, most bears in northern regions remain in dens so long that they develop extra large fecal plugs. By the sixth or seventh month in the den, most of these bears defecate—usually near the den entrance.

How do bears survive the winter?

A) Bears hibernate during winter, but aren’t sleeping the whole time. Hibernation for bears simply means they don’t need to eat or drink, and rarely urinate or defecate (or not at all). There is strong evolutionary pressure for bears to stay in their dens during winter, if there is little or no food available.

How do bears survive hibernation without water?

Hibernating bears enter a shallow torpor with a decrease in body temperature of only 10 degrees. It’s metabolism and hear rate slows down. But it doesn’t need to eat, drink or pass waste. In order to survive, fat in the bear’s body breaks down into water and calories for the body to use.

How do bears go without water during hibernation?

Hibernating mothers can even suckle their young without leaving their den for a drink. They obtain their water by metabolizing fat reserves, which does produce waste. However, instead of urinating and defecating, hibernating bears recycle that waste. Hibernating bears develop a “fecal plug” or “tappen” in their rectum.

Do bears eat while hibernating?

Grizzly bears and black bears generally do not eat, drink, defecate, or urinate during hibernation. Bears live off of a layer of fat built up during the summer and fall months prior to hibernation. Waste products are produced, however, instead of disposing of their metabolic waste, bears recycle it.

Do bears hibernate because of cold weather?

It is a common misconception that bears hibernate because of the cold weather, but that’s not the case. During hibernation, the bear will tear on its own body fat. It’s easier than finding food during the 5 months of hibernation. So what is the purpose of hibernation?

How do Bears prepare for winter?

When Bears Prepare For Winter. As the summer season ends, the air becomes crisp, leaves change and fall from trees, and bears become more active. They’re on the hunt for food. During the fall months, bears eat and drink nearly nonstop. They need to put on weight to prepare for winter and hibernation. This process is called hyperphagia.

How do animals survive the cold winter?

Animals have several ways of surviving the cold winter. Some animals will migrate to warmer areas while others go into hibernation like the brown bears. You would think that the hibernating bear is totally out. You would also think that its muscles and bones would weaken after months of hibernation.

How long do Mexican black bears hibernate?

Mexican Black Bears, who live in warmer climates, may only have a few weeks every year of harsh winter. Therefore, the Mexican Black Bear sometimes only hibernates for less than a month. Black bears have a typical hibernation period of five months, but they may stay in hibernation for up to seven months in particularly harsh winters.