How During hibernation how long can Black Grizzly and Brown bears go without eating drinking or passing waste?

During hibernation, black bears and brown bears can go for extended periods without eating, drinking, or passing waste. They enter a state of deep sleep called torpor, during which their body functions slow down significantly.

Black Bears:

Black bears typically hibernate for 4 to 7 months, depending on their geographic location and food availability. During this time, they drastically reduce their metabolic rate, breathing, and heart rate, allowing them to survive without consuming any food or water. They may lose up to 30% of their body weight during hibernation, relying on their stored fat reserves for energy. As for waste elimination, black bears do not defecate or urinate while in deep hibernation. They may temporarily empty their bowels before entering hibernation, and any subsequent waste products are held in their system until they emerge from torpor.

Brown Bears:

Brown bears, including grizzly bears and Kodiak bears, also hibernate for extended periods, usually lasting 5 to 8 months. Similar to black bears, brown bears enter a state of deep torpor and can withstand long periods without food or water. They rely on their fat reserves to sustain them, and their metabolic processes slow down significantly. When it comes to waste elimination, brown bears generally experience infrequent urination during hibernation, but their bowel movements are significantly reduced. They may only defecate once or twice throughout their hibernation period, typically when their torpor is interrupted or during short periods of wakefulness.

It's important to note that while bears can survive for long stretches without eating or eliminating waste, their hibernation patterns can be influenced by various factors such as environmental conditions, food abundance, and individual variations among bears.