Bears emerging from dens 2 weeks ahead of schedule

Spring is arriving early across much of the Yukon, prompting bears to wake up from their winter slumberearlier than usual.

Ramona Maraj, aYukon carnivore biologist, said there have been reports and signs that some adult male bears have left their dens.

"In various places of the southern part of the Yukon, they're already out," she said in an interview with A New Day.

"The males come out around March 15, anyway, and so they're just about two weeks early."

Maraj said warmer weather causes meltwater to seep into thedens. That actslike an alarm clock.

"They're not too happy to sit in a pool of water while they're trying to hibertnate."

Males typically den at lower elevations, so they'rethe first to wake up. Maraj said they'll be followed by the lone females, whoden closer to treeline. The mothers with cubs den at the highest elevations and typically come outinMay and June, when berry season is starting.

Maraj expects all of the bear groupsto emerge a bit earlier than usual this year.

Bears that are awake now will bemunching on grasses and sedges and perhaps scavengingfor a frozenmooseor sheep carcass, said Maraj.

With files from A New Day