Bear Den in Cottonwood Tree

March 29, 2018 4:52 PM

"In Spring black bears are occasionally seen in this tree. This year a black bear was first observed on the 23rd of March, and has been seen most evenings since. Look at the large hole in the trunk and you might see a bear poking its head out [wide view]. If you are lucky you might see it climbing out on the branches or up and down the trunk."

One of several webcams operated by Glacier National Park.

The still image updates every minute or so. As of posting the occasional bear's ear is visible (not to be confused with Bears Ears National Monument [previously]).

posted by edeezy (17 comments total)

No bear currently. I am sad!

That's a very tall tree, though, I didn't realize bears liked to den that high.
posted by tavella at 5:08 PM on March 29, 2018 [2 favorites]

Oh, wait, I think I did see an ear! I thought it was part of a tree, but on refresh it was gone.
posted by tavella at 5:14 PM on March 29, 2018

VISIBLE NOW!
posted by senor biggles at 5:39 PM on March 29, 2018 [1 favorite]

Why oh why are bears likely to maul us when ALL WE WANT TO DO IS LOVE THEM

I will never get to scritch a bear behind the ears, and that is tragic.
posted by tzikeh at 6:26 PM on March 29, 2018 [8 favorites]

Bear paw currently visible—looks like he’s trying to wave the cam away
posted by kinnakeet at 6:34 PM on March 29, 2018

never approach closer than 100 yards to a bear

Unless you're walking up the road and you look up and see a family (mom + this year cubs and that one cub from last year) 50 feet off the road and they are headed your direction or maybe not you're just not sure because you just noticed them. Then you make a judgement about their vector and the separation and how far mom is from the cubs and if the cubs are headed up trees and I saw them two days ago and recognize her goofy ear and her tracking collar and that one fat cub and just keep walking and hoping your dogs don't go nuts and say softly "hey bear good bear we're just walking by don't worry about us we'll be gone in a second hey bear good bear" and then you hope they have moved on when you're there on your way home.
posted by achrise at 6:47 PM on March 29, 2018 [7 favorites]

Still there! Or back, whichever.
posted by helpthebear at 6:49 PM on March 29, 2018

The bear's expression suggests it's thinking of hitting its natural "snooze" button and hibernating for just a little while longer…
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:56 PM on March 29, 2018

FYI, if you're interested in why I mentioned bear tracking collars (not gonna link to the Facebook account, it's in the article).
posted by achrise at 7:38 PM on March 29, 2018 [1 favorite]

Right now the webcam is showing a great example of the classic "black bear eating raisins at midnight" which Dad always claimed was his favorite television show.
posted by TreeRooster at 7:46 PM on March 29, 2018 [4 favorites]

Black bears are not likely to maul you, unless maybe it's a sow with cubs.

Brown bears on the other hand...
posted by elsietheeel at 9:33 PM on March 29, 2018 [1 favorite]

Back to visible! I didn't realize that bears took so long to wake up after hibernation, I thought they woke up starving and went off to eat, but apparently it takes weeks of being slow and snoozy before they are ready to face the eating season?
posted by tavella at 9:09 AM on March 30, 2018

Jeez, all I keep seeing is a butt, an ear, and a hind paw.
posted by elsietheeel at 1:34 PM on March 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Snow! Guess the bear is scrunched down where it is a little cosier.
posted by tavella at 6:44 PM on April 1, 2018

Ohhh! A few hours after I complained about not seeing much, I watched the bear extricate itself from the den and then climb all around the tree to stretch and claw and then go straight back in for another nap. It was pretty great. Such a pretty rufous color as well.

(I have scritched a black bear many times in my life and I have to say... bears have oily fur and it stinks and sticks. Repeated hand washings were required.)
posted by elsietheeel at 12:02 PM on April 2, 2018

Hooray - they are now doing live video streams!
posted by archy at 3:59 PM on April 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

There was a head, and now there is a foot. That bear is like me on a lazy Sunday morning. Just rolling around in bed and snoozing.
posted by tavella at 10:26 AM on April 9, 2018