The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) cub typically remains with its mother for approximately 17 to 18 months. The mother, often called a sow, dedicates this time to teaching and protecting her offspring before they begin their independent lives.
The 1.5 Year Timeline of Dependence
Dependence begins when the cubs are born in the den, typically in late January or early February, while the mother is hibernating. At birth, the cubs are tiny, weighing less than a pound, and are blind and nearly hairless, relying completely on their mother for warmth and nourishment. By the time the family emerges from the den in late April or early May, the cubs weigh around five to ten pounds.
The next year is spent traveling with the mother. They begin to sample solid foods like plants and insects early on, but they continue to nurse until they are roughly 1.5 years old. The family dens together for a second winter. Separation usually occurs in the spring or early summer of their second year, when the cubs are between 17 and 20 months old.
Essential Survival Skills Learned from the Mother
The mother serves as a teacher, imparting knowledge for survival in the wild. She teaches her offspring how to forage by exposing them to various landscapes and demonstrating how to find and differentiate between food sources. This instruction includes identifying berries, nuts, and roots, as well as accessing protein sources like ant pupae in logs.
The sow also teaches her cubs how to recognize and avoid danger. Mothers instruct their young on defense mechanisms, such as quickly climbing trees to escape predators, including other larger bears. Demonstrating appropriate responses to threats, such as vocalizing or standing upright, instills caution in the young bears. The mother typically takes the lead in selecting and constructing a suitable den for their second winter hibernation, a skill the yearlings observe.
Dispersal and Establishing Independence
The family unit dissolves when the mother is prepared to mate again, typically in the late spring or early summer. This is often initiated by the mother, who becomes intolerant of her sub-adult offspring and drives them away. The presence of an adult male bear seeking to mate with the female can also contribute to the family separation.
The newly independent young bears, now called yearlings, face significant challenges as they must establish their own home range and find food without maternal guidance. Male yearlings generally travel greater distances to find a new territory, while females often remain closer to their mother’s territory. These sub-adults compete for resources and learn to navigate social hierarchies with other bears before the next winter forces them to find or construct their own den.