The American Black Bear Breeding
In July, male black bears, known as boars, scent
mark their territory in the Great Smoky Mountains. This they do by rubbing
and scratching their scent glands against trees. This communication is
an invitation to female bears in search of a mate. Female bears are called
sows, and begin searching for mates at three to five years old. Once
in heat, they will mate with more than one partner for a period of two
to three weeks. Each of her male companions will do the same.
The older female Black Bear comes into heat only after
her cubs are old enough to be out on their own. Once mating reoccurs,
her fertilized eggs do not implant themselves in her womb until late
fall as hibernation season nears. This process of fertilization and implantation
is called delayed implantation. After delayed implantation, the embryos
attach themselves to the mother bears womb and development continues
through much of her hibernation period. Two hundred twenty days after
conception the bear cubs are born while the mother is still hibernating.
More Black Bear Info:
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