The black bear, a stocky mammal, often seems heavier than it actually it is in reality.
Retour aux pensionnairesThe average weight of a female black bear is 70kg and a male black bear is 135kg but exceptionally have observed up to 290kgs. Perhaps you have had the occasion to view one of these exceptions at the Refuge Pageau. Our Joseph arrived as an orphan and lived his whole life at the Refuge Pageau until his passing at the venerable age of 24 where his weight at the end was around 320kg. In the wild, we rarely view a bear pass the age of 15 years old
Mothers give birth during the months of January & February in their dens whilst hibernating. At birth a cub can weight as little as 225g!
Did you know that whilst the majority of bears are black, they may also be brown, dark brown, blond, cinnamon or blue-black. Cubs may also be born albino and be completely white.
Every year bear cubs are admitted to the Refuge Pageau as orphans. As we receive them when they are already weaned, it is easier to release them. Avoiding bottle feeding an orphan is a big step towards their release! We provide them shelter for a full year and we release then once they are aged one and a half years old in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Agents
