Video: Bear Gets One Last Back Scratch Before Hibernation

It’s time for bears to head into their dens and spend the next few months tucked away from the harsh winter conditions. But first, this bear has one last itch he has to scratch.

This trail camera footage, captured by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, shows a chubby black bear heading for its den to sleep the next few months away, but first, one last back scratching session is needed.

Clearly, by the size of its big bear gut, this bruin is ready for a long winter snooze. Denning black bears enter a state of torpor, a modified form of hibernation. This drowsy condition allows bears to defend themselves (and their cubs) more effectively in case a predator visits the den.

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