Born in the winter months, young spend the year learning about food sources. Female bears (sows) mate every other summer; allowing for gestation and a year and a half of care for each litter (1-5 cubs). Males (boars) mate every summer with receptive females.

 

Since young bears leave their mothers, willingly or not, at around 18 months to find a territory of their own most suburban bear sightings occur in June and July. Because males seek larger territories (10- 290 square miles) than females (1-50 square miles) they travel further getting caught in inappropriate places like NIH. Left on their own they continue moving until they find desirable conditions in more rural places. Someday young bears may find parts of the suburbs provide conditions favorable enough to become residents.

 

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