Females reach reproductive age between 3 and 8 years and have cubs at 2 to 4 year intervals until age 20. Breed in June, but embryo implantation is delayed until hibernation. Two to four cubs are born in den and weigh about 10 oz. . Suckle as mother sleeps. They weigh 4 to 8 pounds when they leave in spring.
Cubs leave mother in second year.
Females settle near mother's territory but males may disperse 100 miles away. An 18 year study of 18 million visitor-days to BWCA revealed not a single attack on humans, but there have been recorded attacks. Loud noises will usually scare bears off. If we see cubs, be very careful. See the Bear Center WWW site on our trip homepage for more information.