While most bears around Jackson, Wyoming were supposed to be hibernating, one young black bear clearly decided winter was optional. The Cowboy State Daily reported in early January that the subadult bear—most likely around 3 or 4 years old—was spotted wandering around the area well into December, including a Christmas Eve appearance captured by wildlife guide and photographer Jeffrey Soulliere.
With unusually warm, snow-light weather stretching across the entire region…even in Montana….and food still easy to find, the newly independent bear may have been genuinely confused about when bedtime was supposed to start.
Soulliere says it is not unheard of for bears to pop up outside their dens in any month of the year, but this one looked especially comfortable, healthy, and in no rush. Now that winter might be starting to feel like winter, sightings of the bear have tapered off, which means the bear has probably (finally) gone to bed.
This just shows that when the weather acts strangely, even bears can get a little thrown off.
