A webcam recently captured footage of a black bear slowly waking up from hibernation in the bowels of a cottonwood tree. We have to admit, it's pretty adorable.
Glacier National Park has 13 webcams set up around the park, and they are a big hit with the viewing public. On March 23 one camera captured a slowly waking black bear climbing from its den in an old cottonwood tree after winter hibernation.
The video of the sleepy bear emerging from its den garnered more views than any other page in the entire National Park Service. On the Thursday that the park service posted the video, 37,388 people viewed it. Another camera set up to capture a wide angle view of the den earned 12,000 more views.
"We often get screenshots from visitors who watch the cameras each day and sometimes capture wildlife crossing through," said Lauren Alley, Glacier National Park management assistant. "We hear that some people keep the cameras up on their screens at work all day to experience a little piece of Glacier in among their meetings and other workplace stresses."
Bears denning in hollow trees is not unusual, according to Jamie Jonkel, a wildlife specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Even if those dens are high up in the tree.
"Those cottonwood dens are very common. It's a nice little hole in the tree," Jonkel said. "I love when they den in those."
Here's another video of the bear in its tree den. This one shows a little more action from the bruin.
"People use the webcams for different purposes; they want to get that Glacier experience if they can't be there, or people wanting to check them to see what's going on," Alley said.
Even though the camera looks to be set up right next to the bear's den, it is actually more than a football field away (357 feet).
Like what you see here? You can read more great articles by David Smith at his facebook page, Stumpjack Outdoors.
NEXT: Save a Black Bear: Lock up Your Food When in National Parks
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