Bear cubs get more motherly love when their moms are protected from hunters

Twenty-five years ago, brown bear mothers in Sweden rarely spent more than 18 months raising their cubs. Today, it’s not unusual for moms to devote 2 1/2 years to their cubs before they go off on their own. What’s behind this new passion for parenting? Researchers attribute it to a hunting regulation that protects mother bears and their cubs. Detailed data on brown bears living in Swedish forests show that when moms feel under the gun, their... + full article