New Study Shows Why Grizzly Bears Prefer Hiking Trails msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BRETT FRENCH
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.
âGrizzly bears are big, heat sensitive animals,â said Ryan Long, associate professor of Wildlife Sciences at the University of Idaho. âThey need a way to deal with that to go about their business.â
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. Thatâs because when pregnant or lactating, female bears generate more heat.