Untangling the influence of ambient temperature &amp; photoperiod surrounding hibernation activity in American black bears (<em>Ursus americanus</em>)

Hibernation behavioral ecology remains understudied due to challenges in researching this cryptic physiological state. However, understanding relationships between physiological and environmental cues during hibernation is important for predicting behaviors in a changing climate. We examined behaviors of temporarily captive American black bears (Ursus americanus) exposed to natural environmental fluctuations surrounding hibernation. We analyzed 22,000+ hours of continuous video recordings of four female black bears, categorizing 45 behaviors. We used generalized linear mixed models and AIC model selection to analyze behaviors in relation to environmental (e.g., temperature, photoperiod) and physiological (e.g., body mass changes, hibernation stages) factors. We found a strongly supported interaction between photoperiod and temperature in 3 of 5 physiological stages in driving active behaviors, revealing potential drivers for hibernation onset and arousal. Photoperiod and temperature inf..., , # Untangling the influence of ambient temperature & photoperiod surrounding hibernation activity in American black bears (*Ursus americanus*) Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.7pvmcvf6z](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7pvmcvf6z) <br /> The Royal Society Proceedings B Publication DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2026.0374 ## Description of the data and file structure This dataset was collected as part of the Black Bear Research Center (BBRC) at Virginia Tech, studying captive American black bears to examine physiological and behavioral aspects of hibernation. Behavioral data was obtained from camera monitoring systems positioned within enclosures to record bear activity throughout the time the bears were present at the BBRC. These video observations were used to characterize and quantify behavioral patterns associated with different hibernation states. #### ### Files and variables #### File: mcode.csv ##### Variables [Units] * date: date at the Black Bear Research Center (BBRC) * behav: observed be..., ,