Bear rut effected by weather?

[mustelid_master]

Q: If a spring is slow to arrive and unseasonably cold, say June 1st of a given year has May 20th snow levels and temperatures, will the bear rut be delayed? Or is it go-time regardless of temp and snow conditions?

 

[mike.adams.467]

In my opinion, the rut is going to happen when it normally does, be it deer, elk, bears, moose, etc. Generally speaking, of course, but it seems to hold true.

 

[medvedyt]

on my experience the rut of the bears (grizzly and black) is less affected than the moose or caribou ones.

 

[BRWNBR]

Bears do not “rut”. Bears are induced ovulators. Their ovaries drop once they begin to breed. Sows are what’s called receptive to breeding. That is what most folks confuse with rut. She is not ovulating or in estrus like a deer.
A buck can one and done a doe. A boar will stay with a sow sometimes for a week or two breeding her many times to ensure she’s fertilized.

If bears had a rut boars would kill them selves trying to find all the sows in a couple weeks, because bears are nomadic and spread out so much. Animals that rut, typically build harems or become more social animals.