Siblings will often stay together for several years before venturing off on their own. Though it is not unusual to see sub-adults engaged in playful activity, their main goal is to gain enough fat reserve to carry them through winter hibernation. A bear will spend 60% of its time feeding upon emerging from its winter den. The bears pictured here are 4 year old siblings. The bear on the left is a female and to her right is her twin brother. These same bears can be viewed during their third year of life by following the picture link below. Though they may stay together for one or two more years before venturing off on their own, she will become sexually mature between 5 and 7 years old, at which time they will have to separate. Males will not mate until sometime later when they are able to compete with larger males for an available female. **In 2001, these siblings separated and have been viewed in different locations on their own, yet they are not far from one another. The female may have mated and if she gains an adequate fat reserve, could return with cubs next spring. We will see the male less often as he becomes independent and moves into more secluded areas. Not only will he have to survive the trials of mother nature and fierce competition of other male bears, but he will now be viewed by hunters as a desirable trophy. Male bears need to be especially solitude from both man and other bears if they are to survive their adult years.