Why does a bear suck a paw
Why does a bear suck a paw
One of the most famous representativesthe fauna of Russia is a brown bear. Few ordinary people have seen it in wildlife, but, nevertheless, information about its habits is widely spread through popular literature and TV shows. And one of the questions that can arise in a person who is interested in the behavior of bears is why they suck paws?
The behavior of a bear, like any otherAn animal is determined primarily by its habitat. In particular, the brown bear lives in a rather severe continental and sharply continental climate, which creates problems for it in finding food in the winter. Therefore, over time, nature has created a mechanism that helps the bear survive the hungry time - it's hibernation. In autumn, a wild animal accumulates subcutaneous fat with the help of enhanced nutrition, and then finds a suitable place for hibernation.
Hibernation can not be equated with ordinary sleep. At this time, the bear is in a kind of half-asleep. And just at this time, popular rumor refers to the so-called "sucking paws." This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the bear allegedly sucks nutrients out of it.
Modern scientists have refuted such views. Nevertheless, rumors that the bear in winter suck paws, have under themselves a real basis. The fact is that in the cold season of this type of animals there is a kind of "molting" - the upper layer of skin on the soles of the feet dies to be replaced by a new one. This causes the bear inconvenience, because of what he licks his paws - this helps reduce the itching and get rid of the keratinized skin areas. This process hunters of former times could take for sucking paws.
In fact, the opinion that the bear is sucking on the paw can be refuted without scientific observation, simply by connecting common sense. After all, the animal can not thus provide itself with food.
However, very small paws can suckbear cubs, which still have similar reflexes. They do it in a dream. Like human babies, bear cubs soothe themselves. In a number of cases, for example, if the bear is fed by people, thus it compensates for the lack of contact with the mother-bear.
Hibernation can not be equated with ordinary sleep. At this time, the bear is in a kind of half-asleep. And just at this time, popular rumor refers to the so-called "sucking paws." This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the bear allegedly sucks nutrients out of it.Modern scientists have refuted such views. Nevertheless, rumors that the bear in winter suck paws, have under themselves a real basis. The fact is that in the cold season of this type of animals there is a kind of "molting" - the upper layer of skin on the soles of the feet dies to be replaced by a new one. This causes the bear inconvenience, because of what he licks his paws - this helps reduce the itching and get rid of the keratinized skin areas. This process hunters of former times could take for sucking paws.In fact, the opinion that the bear is sucking on the paw can be refuted without scientific observation, simply by connecting common sense. After all, the animal can not thus provide itself with food.However, very small paws can suckbear cubs, which still have similar reflexes. They do it in a dream. Like human babies, bear cubs soothe themselves. In a number of cases, for example, if the bear is fed by people, thus it compensates for the lack of contact with the mother-bear. 
