Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water, cool baths help bears adapt to warmer summers

Bears need baths too, but not to wash dirt from between their hairy toes. Instead, taking a dip in a cool pool of water helps the large, furry mammals reduce their body temperature.

“Grizzly bears are big, heat sensitive animals,” said Ryan Long, associate professor of Wildlife Sciences at the University of Idaho. “They need a way to deal with that to go about their business.”

Turns out, a cool dip in a pool of mountain spring water is the perfect solution during hot summer days. As the climate warms, temperature-controlling plunges may be especially important for females with cubs and those that are pregnant. That’s because when pregnant or lactating, female bears generate more heat.

“As long as they have access to cool water, they’re expected to do just fine,” Long said. “Without those bathtubs, they would be in bad shape.”

Read more: https://missoulian.com/outdoors/cool-baths-help-bears-adapt-to-warmer-summers/article_9f50ab90-9f96-50da-9a39-66c10cd30860.html