Male bears will kill the cubs if they get the chance, so when she breeds every other spring/summer, the cubs are run off. They are about 16 months old at the time. However, most of the time, the cubs and sows get back together and she'll have the yearling cubs with her into the fall, but she will not allow them to den with her the second winter of their life and she will have new cubs in February.

There have been exceptions to that denning thought Bernie. MN researchers have come across pregnant sows denning with a previous cub. I was told the cubs were found to be female as well.

Osky

eric, had it right. Moms kick them out the 2nd spring, then mate in June. Probably the main reason the ave. size bear taken in Montana is only 150 lbs. It's all those 2 yr olds who don't know whats what yet AND hunters having a hard time knowing "how big is that bear"? Hard to tell if you don't have something to compare it to.