THE BEAR FAMILY 255 



In the northern and colder portions of their range 

 the grizzly and black bears become dormant in the 

 winter and are said to " hibernate." Retiring to some 

 cave, depression, or hollow tree, the bears sleep with- 

 out taking food for long periods, and are at such seasons 

 safe from harm. If they remained out after the ground 

 became covered with snow, they could be followed 

 easily by their tracks, which are large and noticeable. 

 After an early snow, the hunters often find the tracks 

 of bears which have not yet "holed" for the winter, 

 and easily follow them. 



Bears are said to be plantigrade animals ; that is, ani- 

 mals which walk with the whole sole of the foot on the 

 ground. Their tracks are easily discovered along the 

 margins of streams and on soft ground; and as they 

 pass through the woods they leave other unmistakable 

 signs of their presence by scratching the trees and 

 overturning logs and stumps in their search for in- 

 sects. Their tracks on the ground resemble somewhat 

 those made by the hand, and are easily recognized 

 when once they have been seen. 



The bears are affectionate and playful. The deer, as 

 we have observed, do not exhibit much affection. 

 Many of the deer are polygamous, and the male moose 

 is said to often destroy its own young. The bears, how- 

 ever, seem fond of each other and of their young, and 

 are often seen playing with their cubs. Many pretty 

 stories of the bear's affection for its mate or young, 

 shown even after death, are to be found in the bear 

 biographies. 



By far the greater number of bears killed are killed 

 by woodsmen and trappers, most of the animals being 



