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The true time of plenty for bears is the berry season。 Then they feast
ravenously on huckleberries； blueberries； kinnikinnic berries； buffalo
berries； wild plums； elderberries； and scores of other fruits。 They
often smash all the bushes in a berry patch； gathering the fruit with
half…luxurious； half…laborious greed； sitting on their haunches； and
sweeping the berries into their mouths with dexterous paws。 So
absorbed do they become in their feasts on the luscious fruit that
they grow reckless of their safety； and feed in broad daylight； almost
at midday； while in some of the thickets； especially those of the
mountain haws； they make so much noise in smashing the branches that
it is a comparatively easy matter to approach them unheard。 That
still…hunter is in luck who in the fall finds an accessible berry…
covered hillside which is haunted by bears； but； as a rule； the berry
bushes do not grow close enough together to give the hunter much
chance。
Like most other wild animals； bears which have known the neighborhood
of man are beasts of the darkness； or at least of the dusk and the
gloaming。 But they are by no means such true night…lovers as the big
cats and the wolves。 In regions where they know little of hunters they
roam about freely in the daylight； and in cool weather are even apt to
take their noontide slumbers basking in the sun。 Where they are much
hunted they finally almost reverse their natural habits and sleep
throughout the hours of light； only venturing abroad after nightfall
and before sunrise； but even yet this is not the habit of those bears
which exist in the wilder localities where they are still plentiful。
In these places they sleep； or at least rest； during the hours of
greatest heat； and again in the middle part of the night； unless there
is a full moon。 They start on their rambles for food about mid…
afternoon； and end their morning roaming soon after the sun is above
the horizon。 If the moon is full； however； they may feed all night
long； and then wander but little in the daytime。
Aside from man； the full…grown grisly has hardly any foe to fear。
Nevertheless； in the early spring； when weakened by the hunger that
succeeds the winter sleep； it behooves even the grisly； if he dwells
in the mountain fastnesses of the far northwest； to beware of a
famished troop of great timber wolves。 These northern Rocky Mountain
wolves are most formidable beasts； and when many of them band together
in times of famine they do not hesitate to pounce on the black bear
and cougar； and even a full…grown grisly is not safe from their
attacks； unless he can back up against some rock which will prevent
them from assailing him from behind。 A small ranchman whom I knew
well； who lived near Flathead Lake； once in April found where a troop
of these wolves had killed a good…sized yearling grisly。 Either cougar
or wolf will make a prey of a grisly which is but a few months old；
while any fox； lynx； wolverine； or fisher will seize the very young
cubs。 The old story about wolves fearing to feast on game killed by a
grisly is all nonsense。 Wolves are canny beasts； and they will not
approach a carcass if they think a bear is hidden near by and likely
to rush out at them； but under ordinary circumstances they will feast
not only on the carcasses of the grisly's victims； but on the carcass
of the grisly himself after he has been slain and left by the hunter。
Of course wolves would only attack a grisly if in the most desperate
straits for food； as even a victory over such an antagonist must be
purchased with heavy loss of life； and a hungry grisly would devour
either a wolf or a cougar； or any one of the smaller carnivora off…
hand if it happened to corner it where it could not get away。
The grisly occasionally makes its den in a cave and spends therein the
midday hours。 But this is rare。 Usually it lies in the dense shelter
of the most tangled piece of woods in the neighborhood； choosing by
preference some bit where the young growth is thick and the ground
strewn with boulders and fallen logs。 Often； especially if in a
restless mood and roaming much over the country； it merely makes a
temporary bed； in which it lies but once or twice； and again it may
make a more permanent lair or series of lairs； spending many
consecutive nights in each。 Usually the lair or bed is made some
distance from the feeding ground； but bold bears； in very wild
localities； may lie close by a carcass； or in the middle of a berry
ground。 The deer…killing bear above mentioned had evidently dragged
two or three of his victims to his den； which was under an
impenetrable mat of bull…berries and dwarf box…alders； hemmed by a cut
bank on one side and a wall of gnarled cottonwoods on the other。 Round
this den； and rendering it noisome； were scattered the bones of
several deer and a young steer or heifer。 When we found it we thought
we could easily kill the bear； but the fierce； cunning beast must have
seen or smelt us； for though we laid in wait for it long and
patiently； it did not come back to its place； nor； on our subsequent
visits； did we ever find traces of its having done so。
Bear are fond of wallowing in the water； whether in the sand； on the
edge of a rapid plains river； on the muddy margin of a pond； or in the
oozy moss of a clear； cold mountain spring。 One hot August afternoon；
as I was clambering down a steep mountain…side near Pend'Oreille lake；
I heard a crash some distance below； which showed that a large beast
was afoot。 On making my way towards the spot； I found I had disturbed
a big bear as it was lolling at ease in its bath； the discolored water
showed where it had scrambled hastily out and galloped off as I
approached。 The spring welled out at the base of a high granite rock；
forming a small pool of shimmering broken crystal。 The soaked moss lay
in a deep wet cushion round about； and jutted over the edges of the
pool like a floating shelf。 Graceful； water…loving ferns swayed to and
fro。 Above； the great conifers spread their murmuring branches；
dimming the light； and keeping out the heat； their brown boles sprang
from the ground like buttressed columns。 On the barren mountain…side
beyond the heat was oppressive。 It was small wonder that Bruin should
have sought the spot to cool his gross carcass in the fresh spring
water。
The bear is a solitary beast； and although many may assemble together；
in what looks like a drove； on some favorite feeding…groundusually
where the berries are thick； or by the banks of a salmon…thronged
riverthe association is never more than momentary； each going its
own way as soon as its hunger is satisfied。 The males always live
alone by choice； save in the rutting season； when they seek the
females。 Then two or three may come together in the course of their
pursuit and rough courtship of the female； and if the rivals are well
matched； savage battles follow； so that many of the old males have
their heads seamed with scars made by their fellows' teeth。 At such
times they are evil tempered and prone to attack man or beast on
slight provocation。
The she brings forth her cubs； one； two； or three in number； in her
winter den