General

Hibernation had protected the bear though the worst of the winter chill, and though the ground was still white and icy, it was time she ventured out in search of what she needed.

General

All through the winter the bear slept on, her metabolism ticking over just enough to keep her alive. Periodically she would rise in a sleepy trance to turn and adjust her body position before being tugged back into slumber. The fat reserves of the fall were depleting and her belly swelling. Soon it would be time to deliver her cubs. The wintry chill was being ebbed out by the warmer breeze of early March, the days were lengthening and the precipitation was no longer snow.

By Angela Abraham, @daisydescriptionari, October 31, 2014.