Why Sloth Bear Need Dens

Many people have heard that bears use dens. However, most are unfamiliar that different species of bears use dens in different ways. In this interview, we ask Wildlife SOS biologist Thomas Sharp about sloth bears and their unique use of bear dens.

When most people think of bear dens, they think of places that bears go to hibernate. Do sloth bears use dens to hibernate?

Sloth bears do not hibernate and therefore do not use dens in that capacity. Sloth bears use dens to give birth to and raise cubs, that’s why we call these dens “natal or birthing dens”. They also use what we call “resting dens”, which are sometimes called “day dens”. These dens are used for sleeping in the daytime as sloth bears are generally active during the night and at twilight.

Bear dens are very diverse in terms of what is called a ‘den’. Can you give some examples of the variety of places that make up sloth bear dens?

Natal/ birthing dens are usually naturally occurring caves. If caves are not present, the mother bear digs out a den to give birth. There have been cases that sloth bear mothers have used old, abandoned houses as a natal/ birthing den.

Resting dens can be made up of all sorts of things such as naturally occurring caves, crevices between large boulders, between tree roots, under fallen trees, or even under bushes and shrubs.

Can you give some examples of the different purposes sloth bears use dens for?

Sloth bears use dens to give birth and raise cubs called natal/ birthing dens. They also use resting dens to sleep during the day.

Do sloth bears share their dens with other bears or animals?

Other species will use the same dens as sloth bears, sometimes even at the same time. The most common species sloth bears den with, or near, are Indian crested porcupines. Except for a mother with cubs, sloth bears tend to den alone, although some dens are used by several different bears, just not at the same time.

Do sloth bears tend to use the same den year after year?

If the den is a naturally occurring cave, sloth bears tend to return to the same dens but only use them for a day or two before moving on.

How does studying bear dens and denning behaviour help to conserve wild sloth bears?

Denning is an important part of a sloth bear’s life cycle. Wildlife SOS continues to study sloth bears, understanding that the protected areas where they reside are relatively small. We now realise how important it is to protect caves and other parts of their habitats that they use for denning. The naturally occurring caves provide sloth bears a place to avoid people as well as the hot climate during the day.

Anything else you find interesting about sloth bear dens?

Sloth bears are the only bear species to use some sort of resting den every day throughout the year. Denning probably provides sloth bears protection from predators, such as tigers, during the day. Other bears, such as sun bears and Asiatic black bears, that are better climbers, will sleep high up in trees. Sloth bears are comparatively poor climbers, so they make use of dens.

Wildlife SOS has been studying sloth bears and their denning habits to protect their habitats in the wild. If you wish to support our efforts, please consider making a donation.

Feature image: Hemanta Bijoy Chakma / Wildlife SOS