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Where do black bears make their winter dens?
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bear
Grizzly bear in Jasper National Park, western Alberta, Canada.
Black bears become dormant during the winter months to conserve energy. To survive this period, they construct dens in a variety of locations, including:
- Rock crevices
- Underground burrows
- Under tree roots
- Hollow trees
- Brush piles
- Open-ground beds1
Before entering these dens, bears must accumulate significant body fat during the late summer and fall to sustain them through their winter fast.1