14-year-old Ted and his friend Lucky (4) had other dens to choose from at the North-American Bear Center near Ely, Minnesota, USA, but they chose to den together.

All summer, these two males played together in their 2 acre forest and pond. In November they worked together to rake leaves, moss, and grass into this den for bedding. Now, they mostly sleep - sometimes apart, sometimes snuggled up together. When sleeping apart, Ted has awakened and stolen some of Lucky's bedding. Later, when Lucky tries to steal it back, he makes a plaintive whine as if asking fro permission from Ted, one of the largest black bears on record.

Count their breaths as their chests rise and fall. Ted is the one snoring. Compare the inactivity of these two males with the activity of Lily, Hope and Lily's new cubs. This is our first Den Cam with Ted and Lucky, so we're all learning together.