Watch as bear tucks itself into den for winter hibernation in Yellowstone. ‘Bedtime’
A sleepy bear was spotted settling into its den for hibernation in Yellowstone National Park — and some thought it looked like it was tucking itself in.
“Have you ever seen a bear tuck themself in for their winter hibernation?” Yellowstone Safari Co. and tour guide Grant T. Johnson asked on Instagram Dec. 2. “We were amazingly lucky to watch this Black Bear gathering a bit more bedding and insulation for their den yesterday in Yellowstone.”
The video shows the bear meticulously collecting straw, twigs, and other materials and pulling it into a den it appears to have dug out beneath a log. The bear is barely visible once it snuggles into the den.
“It’s Bedtime For Yellowstone’s Bears,” a caption on the video reads.
“Bears aren’t true hibernators, in the most technical sense of the term, but rather enter a state of torpor, or extreme inactivity, in the winter,” Johnson wrote in the posts. “Still, it’s unusual to see them emerge from their dens at all once they tuck in during autumn. Sleep well, little buddy, and we’ll see you in the spring.”
Several people commented on the video to share their delight at the bear’s behavior.
“Fascinating to watch how carefully the bear prepares the bed,” someone said.
“This is adorable, the gestures of humans and our animal brothers and sisters are so alike, we just speak different languages ….” someone else said.
Others joked that they relate to the bear’s sleepy wintertime state.
“That’s funny,” someone said. “I’m also in an extreme state of (torpor) during the winter months.”
This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Watch as bear tucks itself into den for winter hibernation in Yellowstone. ‘Bedtime’."
