Brown bears can also be found digging through the ground in search of rodents. Brown bears are methodical feeders who form deep, rutted trails after covering the same ground repeatedly in search of prey. Brown bears have an amazing sense of smell which, under the right conditions, allows them to detect odors and prey more than a mile away. Bears use their strength and length to stand upright to test wind and smells. Brown bears do not have strong mating ties and individual bears are rarely seen with a mate for more than 7 days.
Males often mate with more than one female during breeding season.
Winter dens provide a home for the young. Offspring separate from their mothers around the age of two. After separation, the mother often breeds again immediately and produces a fresh litter of cubs the following year. When food is scarce, it is not uncommon for cubs to stay with their mothers until they are 5 years of age. While in this semi-sleep state, the bear's body temperature, heart rate and other metabolic rates are greatly reduced.