A) Bears hibernate during winter, but aren't sleeping the whole time. Hibernation for bears simply means they don't need to eat or drink, and rarely urinate or defecate (or not at all). ... Bears do wake up, however, and move around inside the den. It's kind of like your dog sleeping.

Do hibernating bears wake up?

While many people think of hibernation as a deep sleep, that's not exactly correct. In fact, bears can wake up and move around their dens during this time. That's especially true if they sense danger.

Do bears come out during hibernation?

In the same way, there are no fixed times for the start and end of the winter resting period. Bears sometimes become active during short, warm periods and dig for roots in the frost-free forest floor, then disappear back into the den with the new onset of winter.