Because bears are intelligent animals, much of their behavior is based on learning rather than instinct, so responses may vary.
Vocalization
Situation
Mother’s Response
Pulsating hum
Nursing (or, rarely, when warm and comfortable)
Mother maintains position.
Crying
Underneath mother in den but can’t reach nipples
Mother changes position.
Cub in den needs to defecate
Mother licks the cub’s anus and eats the feces.
Cub exposed to cold in the den
Mother uses the paw, chin, or mouth to tuck cub beneath her.
Cub is cold in snow outside the den
Mother rolls over and lets the cub climb onto her belly and snuggle against the skin between her hind legs. She draws her legs up around the cub and covers it.
Bawling
Cub wants to nurse
Mother may comply or not.
Cub wants ant colony or other food the mother has found
Mother usually allows the cub to eat.
Cooing
Cub separated from mother
Mother may come or not.
Yelling
Cub separated from mother
Mother grunts with concern and returns to cub.
Screaming
Cub in danger
Mother comes running and may bluff-charge a nearby person, attack an intruding bear, or retreat.
