The first signs of spring have also arrived at the Oregon Zoo, where two young black bears, Timber and Thorn, have been seen enjoying water games, friendly wrestling, and long moments in the sun after months of winter inactivity. The animals, who were rescued as orphaned cubs in Alaska, are now starring in a scene of vitality in their habitat, where they were recently observed splashing in a tub of over 1,100 liters of water, marking their first bath of the season.
The bears’ behavior coincides with rising temperatures and longer daylight hours, factors that mark the end of their lethargy period. Unlike the deep hibernation of other species, black bears experience a lighter form of dormancy, in which their body temperature remains relatively stable and they can occasionally wake up, especially in mild winters. In temperate climates like Oregon’s, this period usually extends between five and six months, after which the animals progressively regain their activity.
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Timber and Thorn arrived at the center in 2023 after being rescued by wildlife authorities, who determined they would not be able to survive on their own in the wild. Their evolution is also an example of the role of these spaces in the conservation and rehabilitation of species such as the black bear, the most common in North America, but not without threats derived from habitat loss and interaction with humans.
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