Animals

Two black bears are roaming around Agawam, defying hibernation expectations

Technically, black bears aren't "true hibernators."

Black bears spotted crossing the street in Agawam. Laurie Hogan via Facebook

December 28, 2016

1 minute to read

Western Massachusetts has seen its share of photogenic bears, but it still isn’t everyday you glimpse two of them crossing the street in the middle of a populated residential neighborhood.

But last Friday in Agawam, residents saw exactly that.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155347293445400&set=a.10151454256515400.468785.740200399&type=3&theater

Two black bears were spotted running across the road in the area of Springfield and Line streets, not too far from Agawam High School. According to MassLive, the bears were a mother and her cub.

And on Tuesday evening, the (potentially same?) two bears were again seen on Springfield Street, this time stopping at a local laundry before heading into a housing development, according to a witness.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202493578098168&set=a.2472794196656.71206.1756461180&type=3&theater

As MassLive explained, bears are not “true hibernators.” Even though it’s winter, they won’t necessarily remain holed up in their dens throughout the entire season, depending on the availability of food. While black bears can go up to six months without eating, drinking, or excreting, their body temperatures never significantly drop. That means they “can rouse easily,” according to the Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game.

Earlier this year, The Boston Globe reported that the black bear population in Massachusetts—currently estimated to be about 4,500—is expected to continue to grow over the next 40 years. A map compiled by the Department of Fish & Game shows sightings are more frequent in the western two-thirds of the state.