I honestly don't know. I know their numbers are definitely growing in most parts of their range. I suspect with growing numbers that would be more competition over hibernation spots. However, you'd think a bear of that size could have his choice of places... I have seen bears hibernate is some weird places though. People think they only crawl into caves and go into a deep sleep. Sometimes they do use rocky caves and such but generally they just curl up in a blow down that is thick. Where I hunt them in PA, they use mountain laurel and rhododendron thickets a lot.
