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Black Bear Cubs


Black Bear Cubs
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-21
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/50 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bear photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-01-11 13:21
Viewed: 1582
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi All,
Today I was thinking about some of Lucy and my favorite subjects, the black bears. January is when these little twins were born, as are the next generation for this year. When born they weigh about a half of a kilogram and are blind. By the time we see them in May, they weigh about 8 kilograms. Here is the year of a black bear from "bear.org".

Typical Year for Black Bears

January: The full moon in January is sometimes called the ‘bear moon'. Black bear cubs are generally born in January. The mother bear licks them clean, keeps them warm and moves into positions to make it easier for them to nurse.

February: All bears continue to hibernate. Newborn cubs continue to grow as mother bears care for them.

March: Hibernation continues. The testosterone (sex hormone) levels of adult male black bears begin to rise.

April: The snow melts and bears leave their dens. Adult males leave their dens first while mothers with cubs are the last to leave their dens. Food is very scarce. Adult males begin to roam. Most other bears remain lethargic (sluggish), eating mainly aspen catkins and willow catkins (pussy willows). All bears lose weight at this time of year.

May: Green plants begin to grow and trees begin to sprout leaves. The bears' lethargy (sluggishness) ends. They begin to eat sprouting grass, emerging herbs and young aspen leaves. Cubs taste what their mother eats, but swallow very little or it. They still rely on their mother's milk. Mother bears that are nursing young cubs continue to lose weight. Other bears slowly begin to gain weight.

June: Green plants mature and toughen, making most of them inedible for the bears. Ant pupae become abundant and bears add them to their diet. Mating season begins and males roam widely to find females without cubs. Cubs begin eating solid food, especially ant pupae from logs their mother opens for them. Mothers stop losing weight. Others bears gain weight slowly.

July: Cherries, blueberries, serviceberries, wild sarsaparilla berries and raspberries ripen and become major foods. All bears gain weight rapidly if these berry crops are good.

August: Viburnum berries, dogwood berries, wild plums, hawthorn berries, mountain-ash berries, and hazelnuts (their favorite) ripen. All bears continue to gain weight.

September: Acorns ripen. Berries and hazelnuts become scarce. Where acorns are abundant, bears feed and fatten on them. Other bears begin losing weight. Cubs stop nursing. Bears begin to become lethargic (sluggish) and some enter dens to begin hibernation.

October: Most bears enter their dens and begin a light hibernation. Cubs born last winter will share their mother's den.

November: Hibernation deepens. A hibernating bear's heart rate slows to as low as 8 beats per minute. Breathing becomes as slow as one breath every 45 seconds. Eggs fertilized in the late spring or early summer implant in the uterus and begin to develop.

December: Hibernation continues. Cubs will sleep through their first birthday (in January) without celebrating.
CeltickRanger, Maite, Evelynn, eqshannon, jaycee, pekkavalo1, bahadir, xTauruSx, bobair, siggi, boreocypriensis, eng55, ferranjlloret, valy67 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To bobair: Thanks BobAdanac 1 01-11 18:41
To Maite: ThanksAdanac 1 01-11 14:41
To Evelynn: OHOHAdanac 1 01-11 14:38
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Critiques [Translate]

hello Rick

my 20th and last critique of today it goes to your wonderful photo
of these Black Bear cubs, shot with a fine POV and appropriate vertical framing,
excellent sharpness and details of all the image, wonderful eye-contact
of the Black Bear cubs with you, also educational notes on the Black Bear's life,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2009-01-11 13:46]
  • [+]

How cute!!!! Weren't you afraid of bumping into the mother? The shot it's really worth a lot! I love it!
Thank you very much for this marvellous document, Rick.
My best regards
Maite

"Supernatural!" Micheal Stipe...Very cool shot Rick. I have seen a cinnamon brown once...but they are a black bear apparently......these young ones were trying to hide but youclick on the spot....I saw you lurking on dot Org a while ago:-)"Ve intelligence folks. Ve got our vays!" Ja!
Bob

Hi Rick,

My husband just called you a name...again! I hope you aren't getting a complex or something!!! : ) We would so love to see bear cubs like these. Black bear cubs always look so thin and gangly legged at that age. It is a great capture. How special to see twins. Where was mom? How close to the road (and vehicle) were you? Thanks for sharing and interesting note too.

Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-01-11 15:17]

Hi Rick,

You get to see and photograph the most wonderful things. I figure these cubs were about 6+ months old when you took this shot. They are darling. You captured them in great positions with one climbing the tree and the other standing on the branch. The faces are adorable. A terrific and most delightful picture.

Jane

Hi Rick,
Very nice capture of these Bear cups climbing on a tree; great POV and composition, sharp fine details, natural habitat and colours.
TFS
Pekka

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2009-01-11 17:42]

Hello Rick

What a wonderful shot/pose. I really envy your bear shots. Looks like I will have to pay another visit to Waterton - I was there on a foul day - and still saw a bear!

James

Hello Rick, a lovely shot of these baby black bears.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

Hello Rick, great shot of these cute bears. Regards,
Deniz

Hi Rick,
like you said in your review to Anna,who doesn't like the young or babies of mammalian species.These bears are very appealing and do look so very innocent as this capture shows so very well.Did they spot you and climb up the tree or were they already up it at the time when you came across them?I like the eye contact that this photo shows and it looks like they were as curious of you as you were of them.The point of view is so very bear like with them in the tree as they were.The colour and details are all good and it looks like they didn't climb very high as this looks at about eye level.A photo that is a joy to see and thank you Rick for sharing. Bob

Rick,

That is a very cool capture and a very informative note as well. I've never seen a bear climb a tree before but it sure looks like those guys have no difficulty doing it. No wonder climbing a tree is NOT recommended when trying to run away from a bear :) Anyways, very nicely done Rick. TFS.

Best Regards,

Martin

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2009-01-12 0:35]

Hello Rick,
An excellent shot.Color and detail are very good, and a great pose you captured on this bear cubs. I think it is very well framed.
Best regards Siggi

Hi my dear friend Rick, a splendid shotof these cute bears. Their movements well captured by you. TFS and have a great new week.
Cheers,
Bayram

very nice composition , perfect details and light , beautiful natural colours ,
septimiu

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1138 W: 32 N: 1161] (3574)
  • [2009-01-12 9:17]

Hi Rick,
Beautiful capture of this cute pair.They are looking into your camera.Details,exposure and composition are wonderful.Excellent work!
Thanks for posting.

Hola Rick!
Impressionant!!!!!!!!
The animal paradise, very very very interesting document. TFS. Ferran

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2009-01-14 14:41]

What cute little baby bears :-)
Very good sharpness.
Superb composition.
Excellent DOF.

Well done,
Joe

Hello Rick !
They are sooo cute ! I always love to see babies playing, whatever animal it is;, and those lovely baby bears make no exception. I love their poses and the looks on their faces, they look playful and friendly. I also love the natural colors, the composition of the picture, the POV. Very well done !
Valérie.

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