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Why does the bear suck paws and sleep in the winter?

People have long been interested in the question of why a bear sucks a paw. This statement arose in ancient times. Over time, the expression "sucking paw" has meant life is half starved and firmly rooted in our vocabulary. Today this phrase can be heard everywhere. Why did people call such an association? And all because bears do not eat in winter. And earlier people, constantly watching them, were sure that it was from hunger that the animals suck their paws when they fall into hibernation.

Why does a bear suck a paw during sleep?

Bears, living in areas ranging from temperate to arctic climate, fall asleep in winter. This is the distinguishing ability of these animals. This happens because the snow covers a lot of food from the bears. And animals feed not only meat. Their main food - roots, berries and in general everything that can be used for food.

As you know, during the hibernation, bears do not feed. And in order not to die of hunger, they suck their paw, because it contains a lot of fat. This is the most popular version of the people. The bears really fall asleep, covering their forelegs with their muzzle. Often they find themselves in the mouth. And in the spring, when the bears come out of their den, their paws are all in the rags of old leather. Apparently, that is why people have such an opinion.

Bear's hibernation

Scientists have long found out how the bear sleeps in the lair and why the bear sucks its paw. As it turned out, he just does not do the latter. Bears fall asleep, because in winter they can not feed themselves. The weight of an adult beast is from 150 to 700 kilograms. Before the winter bears have time to work up a lot of fat. It is spent in winter in a dream.

In this state, the bear's organism passes to an economic mode of existence - anabiosis. The breathing and heart rhythm of the beast are greatly slowed down. And often from the side it may seem that he does not breathe at all. But this is only an appearance. The condition of anabiosis helps bears to reasonably consume oxygen, which saves subcutaneous fat. Namely, he feeds the sleeping beast in winter.

Does the bear really suck the paw?

Bears really suck their paw. But only those that grow in captivity. And moreover, mostly bear cubs. But this habit can remain in the adult beast. The reason is that the cubs, having been born, feed on mother's milk for a very long time. And if their appearance in the light coincided with the hibernation of the mother, then for a few months the little ones practically do not take the nipples out of their mouths. And the latter are located in the groin and armpits of the bear.

The young ones sleep on the soft maternal skin, and do not engage in anything other than feeding. Bear milk is very nutritious and fat. Therefore, the cubs grab it for several months. Occasionally, the mother's nipples drop out of the mouth. In the whole body bear cubs are sensitive receptors, signaling the loss. Therefore, hungry kids do not stay.

The cubs automatically poke into the body of the parent until they find the nipple again. In captivity, cubs lack such maternal warmth, and they replenish it by sucking their own paw. Apparently, this is associated with their mother's nipple, surrounded by hair. Moreover, in the arms of the parent, the cubs spend several months. And in zoos, attention to them is not around the clock. And often they have to feel their loneliness.

Why are the bears' hands after winter in rags of leather?

Why does a bear suck a paw in winter? To be more precise, the animal gnaws at it. On bear paws incredibly durable skin. And this is understandable, since their weight is on average 350 kilograms. For spring, summer and autumn, the skin has time to harden much. This allows the bears to move quickly on any surfaces, not injuring their paws. But when the animals go into hibernation in winter, the skin begins to renew.

The formation of a new layer causes the strongest itch. And the bears automatically begin to gnaw their paws, tearing away the old skin and releasing a new one. If the animals did not do this, they could feel such a strong discomfort from which they could wake up. And since there is not enough food to get in the right amount, the bears in the awakened state become evil and dangerous. Therefore, gnawing paws is laid in them by nature for quiet sleep.

How sensitive is the dream of the bears?

Since ancient times, people wondered why the bear sleeps in winter. Why does he suck his paw at this time? Bearish sleep is very sensitive. If next to his birch there is a noise, even a wolf howling, then the animal can wake up. Bears do not suck paws, but, since their sleep is sensitive, they feel the itching and discomfort that arise during the moult.

Most of all, this affects the paws. And then the bears in half-sleep bite off old skin, releasing a new one. But they do not wake up. And at the time of gnawing, the limb is partially in the mouth of the beast. Therefore people have a question about why a bear sucks a paw.

Do all the bears sleep in the dens?

Not all bears sleep in cozy lairs, sheltered from snow. You can meet animals lying on the ground. Hunters, if they manage to take a picture, upload photos to the Internet, where the body of the bears is partially outside the den, or even on flat snow. But even in this state, their paws often end up in the mouth.

Perhaps these moments also make people wonder why the bear sucks. But in the lair or outside it, molting and natural reflexes in animals are firmly entrenched. Therefore, even during the strongest sleep bears gnaw the old skin from the paws to avoid itching and discomfort.

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