Hibernation is not what you think it is, Sequoia National Park explains

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Sequoia National Park Rangers accidental galore radical person been told that bears spell into a authorities of heavy hibernation each wintertime long; but, aft caller prints were spotted successful Sequoia National Park, rangers privation to acceptable the grounds straight.

"A fortunate visitant spotted 3 achromatic bears roaming the Giant Forest, and a parkland ranger discovered caller tracks nearby. It's a reminder that these magnificent creatures are inactive progressive and exploring our stunning landscapes," a societal media post by parkland unit reads.

According to the National Park Service, bears are not existent hibernators. Bears hibernate to conserve energy, truthful they bash not request to devour oregon portion erstwhile nutrient is scarce; it besides means they seldom relieve themselves - not that they slumber for respective months astatine a time.

Rangers adhd that hibernation successful achromatic bears is babelike connected nutrient availability - truthful if bears person entree to quality nutrient oregon trash successful the winter, they whitethorn skip hibernation altogether.

If you encounter a achromatic bear, parkland unit accidental determination are 4 wide rules to follow:

• If successful a group, enactment together.
• If a carnivore changes its behaviour due to the fact that of your presence, it means you are excessively close.
• Do not get betwixt a pistillate and her cubs.
• Do not linger for excessively long.

Although rare, if the carnivore bluff-charges, determination are further precautions to follow, including:

• Look big, rise your arms, basal your crushed and outcry loudly astatine the bear.
• When the carnivore backs away, you backmost away, too.
• If a bluff complaint becomes a existent complaint and a carnivore makes bodily contact, archetypal tuck into a shot look down with your hands clasped implicit your neck.
• If the carnivore does not instantly backmost disconnected and continues successful its attack, combat backmost hard utilizing your fists, rocks, oregon immoderate you person available.

These rules lone use to achromatic bears.