Do Bears Have Friends? We Asked One to Find Out.

You’ve bought questions; the bear has solutions. Bear Month 2026 is right here, and that implies that our resident bruin recommendation columnist is as soon as once more fielding your queries about bear biology, security, and extra. Learn on for the newest, or take a look at the remainder of our Bear Month tales.

Q: Do you’ve got buddies?  — Fred Rogers, Pittsburgh, PA

A: Introverts get such a nasty rap. Do I worth my “me” time? Sure, in fact. Like many bears, I’ve an elaborate fur-care routine, and naps are crucial to me. However does that should imply I’ve no buddies? Come on.

Certain, we bears spend a variety of time on our personal. The principle purpose is that we’re so gosh-darned hungry. It may be onerous to carve out sufficient territory to feed a single grownup bear, not to mention a pair of friendos. That stated, we do know our neighbors, and we have now distinct preferences. There are some bears we don’t thoughts hanging out with—and a few we’ll invariably give the chilly shoulder.

Take it from me. There’s this one bear (his title is Bear) who stole a deer carcass from me again in 2013. I made it fairly clear again then how I felt about that type of conduct. And but, each time I see him, he asks if I need to get lunch someday. I reply within the politest method I understand how, which is by making an attempt to claw his face off. You’d assume he’d get the trace.

Typically, although, I contemplate myself an amiable fellow. I’ve a greatest buddy (additionally named Bear) that I wish to fish with. When Bear is having a tough day on the water, I’ll flip him a salmon or two. And on the very (very) uncommon events when my fishing luck is down, he’ll return the favor. I typically greet my siblings once I spot them, and I even used to see my mom every now and then earlier than she handed, relaxation her soul.

All that stated, I can solely communicate for my folks (the grizzlies), so I chatted with modern-day bear whisperer Ben Kilham. Kilham has been researching and rehabilitating black bears within the Northeast for many years.

“Bears do have buddies,” he stated. “They produce other bears they like to be round.” Black bears are thought to know as much as 25 of their fellows and hold observe of them all year long. Nearly all bears work together with others commonly, although Kilham added that the common girl bear tends to maintain a extra complicated social calendar.

“Females have dwelling ranges and have to lift cubs,” says Kilham. As such, they’ve to interact within the sophisticated politics of territory upkeep. Which means extra social interactions—and extra alliances. “However male black bears may even share meals and produce other males that they journey with,” Kilham says.

A few of these relationships begin as early as childhood. Nearly as quickly as yearlings break free from their mother and father, they begin befriending different children. They’ll comply with one another round, wrestle, and play collectively. Because the years go by, in addition they keep in contact.

“Bears talk by scent,” Kilham says, “So that they know all of the bears round them within the forest, and every bear is aware of the place all of them are.”

So, simply because I’m holed up in my nook doesn’t imply I don’t have a crew. We’re leaving messages for one another on a regular basis. It’s kind of like texting. However with urine.

See? I’ve loads of buddies. So get off my again and let me return to sleep.

– BEAR