May is “Be Bear Aware” month. Do you know why?

Spring’s warmer weather brings bears out of hibernation. Bear cubs, born during the winter, are now learning to find food with the help of their mothers—and they need a lot of it. At birth, a black bear cub weighs 8 ounces (the same as one glass of water). Obviously, the cub will get much bigger. But how quickly does a black bear grow? Does it grow more quickly than a human baby, or more slowly?

Focus Wild Arizona Activity Sheets: From 2006-2013, each issue of the Department’s Arizona Wildlife Views magazine featured a new education article. These articles were intended for younger children and include some vocabulary and a fun activity. All of these articles are now available on our website.