There are bears that do not hibernate. While most bears traditionally undergo hibernation, such as female bears who give birth during this time and their cubs, approximately one-third of the bear population may remain active even during this period. Middle-aged and older individuals, especially males, continue to move around in forests and mountains. So, if there is enough food, bears do not retreat to their winter dens, and you might even encounter bear footprints in snowy mountains when winter is harsher than we’ve become accustomed to in recent years.