Bear 856 (lower left) follows bear 402 (upper right) downstream of Brooks Falls. (NPS/M. Fitz) Katmai’s female bears go through a somewhat predictable cycle. They go to the den in the fall, hibernate in winter, and emerge in the spring. They mate in late spring and very early summer. They keep their cubs for 2-3 summers, den with them for one more winter and drive their cubs away in the spring. They nurse their offspring while caring for them and don’t go into estrus while nursing. These behaviors happen with regularity and are the “norm.” However, bear behavior is full of surprises.
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