PIKE COUNTY, Pa. — There’s a new addition to Pennsylvania’s live cam network covering its expansive animal kingdom, and we can bear-ly contain our excitement.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is keeping tabs on a mother bear and her cubs nestled under a deck in Pike County, and is offering an up-close look at the sow and her offspring 24/7.
The female black bear was discovered by the homeowner at the end of December or very early January, WNEP reports. A game warden visited the property and also saw one “really, really small cub.”
You can see what goes on in the den by visiting the live bear cam.
On its website, the Game Commission said it was grateful for the enthusiastic cooperation of the homeowner in allowing this peek into the lives of the black bears. But it cautioned that people should not approach hibernating bears because disturbance can lead to den or cub abandonment.
“Bears are wild animals, and like all wild animals, can react defensively if they feel threatened,” the website states. “While bear attacks are very rare, it is important to respect the space of all wildlife to prevent negative encounters.”
The camera is expected to be up until late March or early April when the bears leave the den. At that point, the sow will take her cubs to a large wooded area and teach them to climb and search for food, according to the Game Commission.
Here’s what to know about the baby cubs:
- They’re usually born in January
- Litters usually range from one to five, with three the most frequent in Pennsylvania
- Newborns are about nine inches long and weigh 10-16 ounces at birth
- It takes about six weeks for their eyes to open
- They’re typically weaned by about seven months old
- By the fall, they should weigh 60-100 pounds
Mama did a good job with the hiding spot, with the Game Commission noting that it's not uncommon for female bears to use dens with less overhead shelter than they have under this deck.
And in case you’re wondering how mama bear fit there in the first place? The Game Commission says black bears can squeeze into surprisingly small spaces because they lack collar bones. So if they can fit their head into a space, they can get their body in as well.
