She had a peaceful and friendly demeanor when I saw her, and she was mostly focused on eating her snack. I felt lucky to witness such an impressive creature right in front of my eyes! I also felt a bit conflicted about Molina's situation. While I know it's the best set-up to ensure her health, I imagine that she might enjoy exploring new mountains, caves and forests in the mountains of Asturias, just like I do.
Cantabrian brown bears live in a few regions around the world. In Asturias, the Cantabrian brown bear population is split into two groups. There is a group in the eastern part of the region and a group in the western part of the region. The bears in these groups inhabit a mountainous landscape filled with oak forests, limestone peaks and walls, caves and glacial lakes.
Cantabrian brown bears don't eat much meat! In fact, they prefer to feast on nuts, berries and plants that are local to the region. In the fall, these bears search for hearty acorns, chestnuts and hazelnuts to fill them up. In the spring and summer, the bears add more fruit into their diet like cherries, berries and the apples I mentioned before.
Cantabrian brown bears are smart about using the limestone of the mountains in Asturias. For example, if they are in trouble, the bears can use their climbing abilities to scale tall limestone walls to escape danger. The bears also use the caves that have formed in and around these mountains. These caves serve as prime hibernation spots for the winter. (After the bears have filled up on acorns and chesnuts in the fall, of course!)
