After digging the den, bears cover the base with spruce boughs or duff. Propose a conclusion about what might happen to those plants that rely on ma-rine-dissolved nitrogen if the bears were no longer around. During periods of arousal, the squirrels’ neurons recover—blooming to even greater levels than usual, then settling back to normal. Insects too display this kind of hibernation. It usually occurs during the winter when food is scarce and environmental factors impact on survival. Why Do Airplanes Have Ashtrays If Smoking Is Banned? Dolbear’s Law: Is It Possible To Determine Temperature By Counting Cricket Chirps? Talk about reusing and recycling! Firstly, it can be difficult to distinguish between a hibernating bear and one hazing a cosy snooze. In the colder regions of Alaska, bears can hibernate for up to seven months, while in the coastal regions of North America bears hibernate for only 2-5 months. Now that’s some life! 3. Phrases like ‘were you hibernating?’ and ‘slept like a bear’ originate from the bears disappearing for months on end. Polar bears usually do not hibernate. They are fascinating creatures which provide cultural touchstones for many communities, but this doesn't mean we always know as much about them as we should. In preparation for winter, bears can gain approximately 180 kg (400 lb), during a period of hyperphagia, before going into hibernation. as the reptiles anticipate winter by decreasing day lengths so that they do not freeze to death when winter sets in. They gain upto, pounds per week! This is known as predictive dormancy as the reptiles anticipate winter by decreasing day lengths so that they do not freeze to death when winter sets in. In this AnimalWised article we investigate how and when bears hibernate. It is a survival strategy when the environment is harsh and food is scarce. If you want to read similar articles to How and When Do Bears Hibernate?, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category. What Would Happen If You Shot A Bullet On A Train? Most births occur during the hibernation months, from December through March, as the females can give birth in a much safer location. The bears are usually still sensitive to external stimuli, so an abrupt sound of contact can wake them up. We may assume all bears sleep through winter, but this is a gross oversimplification. . Females have their babies during hibernation (mid-winter) and mothers nurse their babies in the den until spring arrives. Certain birds and bats enter a sort of daily hibernation called torpor. The tiny air pockets formed at the base help to trap heat inside the den and prevent it from escaping. Females give birth during hibernation, usually to two cubs that stay with her for two and a half years. In general, a bear's sense of hearing and sight is poor. Bears hibernate in winter due to extremely cold temperatures and the scarcity of food. Another reason to be a bear! This is known as. Also, if the bear has enough fat before hibernation, they can still maintain their muscles. This can lead to the bears looking for food where they shouldn't, even entering human settlements to eat[1]. Colors vary between brown, black and white, although some may have patches of red or tan. Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. Bear biologists are concerned about the lack of adequate logging guidelines to protect the big old cedar trees that the spirit bears depend on for hibernating and giving birth to … Bears are land mammals which can reach between 1.3 and 2.8 meters high. The spectacled bear does not do it either since their food is available year-round, just like the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus). Why Do Cats Make Noise when Mating? A lot of animals hibernate, including chipmunks, hedgehogs, bats and bears. How might the increased appeal of tourism and wild bear viewing affect the populations of bears over time? Less well known is the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) which has a white mask on their face. If they find enough food to last the winter or climatic conditions are favorable, they may decide not to hibernate at all. Bears lose 15-20% of their body weight during hibernation. Some muscle tissue is broken down to use the protein for metabolic processes. Female bears … It is very important for bears not to be woken prematurely for their physiological needs to be met. Not all animals will hibernate in the same way. Climate change is causing bears to come out of hibernation a month early — which can be dangerous for humans. The black bear dwells in much of the regions located in the United States, Northern Canada, Alaska and as far south as Mexico. Sometimes they even store food in their dens which they eat when they hibernate as food becomes scarce in winter. Bears can eat upto 90 pounds of food everyday during the pre-hibernation period. In the colder regions of Alaska, bears can hibernate for up to, , while in the coastal regions of North America bears hibernate for only. that prevents the formation of gallstones. Ursus maritimus. What Is The Fibonacci Sequence? Hibernation is characterized by a drop in body temperatures. As day length starts decreasing (that means there is less warmth from the sun) these reptiles enter into obligatory hibernation. or Alberta might average as little as 500 square kilometres or as much as 2,500 square kilometres; a female grizzly might use 200 to 500 square kilometres. 4. How long a bear hibernates depends on the climatic conditions of the residing area. The con to this kind of hibernation is that the animals wait till winter sets in and this can expose them to freezing temperatures. The process of hibernation is one of prolonged dormancy which can last between days and months, depending on the needs of the individual. But food for them is still scarce, and scientists are concerned that could mean increased bear-human conflict. Why Is It So Special? Talk about reusing and recycling! Because the vast majority of bears live in high northern latitudes, they need a way to survive the winter months when food is dangerously scarce. Black Bear. Bears can eat upto. fattest). In the colder regions of Alaska, bears can hibernate for up to seven months, while in the coastal regions of North America bears hibernate for only 2-5 months. Hibernation isn’t exclusive to bears only. The hypothesis is supported by observations made in countries such as Spain where brown bears were spotted roaming the Pyrenees for food during a period when they should be in hibernation. Coefficient Of Restitution: Definition, Explanation And Formula, Circle Of Willis: Anatomy, Diagram And Functions. . A female bear which becomes pregnant before hibernating will wake to give birth. Downloaded on 19 July 2019. A bear's fur should be long and abundant. And They're Getting Into Trouble. They have a thick white coat to provide warmth as well as black skin which helps absorb sunlight and provide better insulation. This past winter the region's weather was so warm that the mothers left their dens early. During hibernation, their cholesterol levels are twice as high due to break down of fats, but still, they do not develop clogged arteries or gallstones because their HDL (good cholesterol) is higher than LDL. Evolution's solution is hibernation: Bears go into a deep sleep, lasting for months, during which their heart rates and metabolic processes slow drastically. An average adult male weighs about 300 pounds while females average about 170 pounds. Even though a bear becomes pregnant, it … Some animals will enter into a deep state of hibernation where they will be essentially unconscious. Grizzly bears do not defecate or urinate throughout the entire hibernation period. Then there is consequential dormancy, where, as a consequence of winter’s arrival animals like bears enter hibernation. The bears in the Moscow Zoo emerged from hibernation early but officials had been expecting it - and had measures in place to make sure they could cope with the early exit. Why Don’t We Shoot All Our Nuclear Waste Into The Sun Or Moon. Deep hibernators drop their body temperatures to. Hibernation is basically a long, deep sleep to help an animal survive harsh winter conditions. One of the aspects of a bear's habits and life-cycle is hibernation. They have five fingers, at the ends of which are curved claws which can be deadly. There is also a drop in their respiration rate from 6-10 breaths per minute to 1 breath every 45 seconds! New research may rewrite the history of hibernation. The Canadian Polar Bear Habitat is a home for polar bears who would not survive on their own in the wild. During such a state, brown bears do not eat drink, urinate, or defecate. For example, Pandas are herbivorous and feed almost exclusively on bamboo. In terms of distribution, bears can be found all over the world. With spring comes a rise in the number of black bear sightings in Connecticut. Many animals hibernate in a den all winter, but some animals hibernate in the summer. As this happens, hair, plant matter, and other things get eaten as the bear … Black bears are found in most forested areas from Mexico north to the edge of the tree line in Canada and Alaska. Black bears can remain dormant for up to 5 months in winter. When an animal goes into torpor, its activity level takes a dive. A bear may occupy a home range that overlaps the territories of other bears and simply avoid them most of the time. By the end of summer and commencement of fall, bears start eating more to increase their weight for hibernation. In Maine, black bears are found nearly statewide, but are most common in northern and eastern Maine and ar… Female bears usually give birth during hibernation. This makes it challenging to meet the daily calorie requirement for animals. Black Bear Facts. , a bear’s metabolic rate slows down by 50-60%. Once a bear has entered hibernation, some believe they may be out cold. What Exactly is Archimedes Principle: Explained in Simple Words, What is Evolution? The male grizzly bear's hibernation ends in early to mid-March, while females emerge in April or early May. Is it Legal to Own a Wolf-Dog? Hibernation is a vital part of the black bear's life cycle. They are among the most threatened species of bear and are categorized as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Chipmunks hibernate too. The subSpecies U. a. amblyceps is found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. 5. But they also demonstrate incredible plasticity. This creates the necessary amino acids for the bear's survival. Thus, there are varying degrees of hibernation depending upon approaching winter, decrease in day lengths and sensing extremely cold temperatures. They become inactive to conserve energy during the challenging winter months. Provide justifi-cation. For full treatment, see dormancy. Since they don’t eat, bears break down stored fats and protein. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T22823A14871490.en. These physical characteristics make it one of the largest land animals on the planet. Polar Bear Food Becoming Scarce. Polar bears can't cope with food loss by entering hibernation-like state – study This article is more than 4 years old. Bears and bats, for example, may hibernate through the winter. Hibernation is a state of long-term torpor. Sheepshead Fish: Facts About The Fish With Human Teeth. Here’s how hibernating squirrels live for months without water. But even though tissues are broken down into proteins, the bears do not lose much muscle. This is aided by a fecal plug which stops up their colon and is released when they … Can We Harness Electricity From Lightning? How might a bear compensate when facing increased competition for resources? Hibernation helps animals survive the changing seasons. Bears hibernate throughout winter months. With spring comes a rise in the number of black bear sightings in Connecticut. She has done ECCE (Early Child Care Education – teaching preschool to primary level) and is currently pursuing B.Ed. Physiologically, the hibernation period is the strangest, and the most compelling, to researchers. Having to get out of bed on cold winter days can be unpleasant enough to make hibernation seem like a pretty smart idea. Bears usually hibernate from the months of December to end March or April. The term hibernation is commonly applied to all types of They use up to 4,000 kcal per day, mainly body fat, and do not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate. They typically eat berries, fruit, honey, fish, sheep, elk and moose. As day length starts decreasing (that means there is less warmth from the sun) these reptiles enter into obligatory hibernation. When bears are in hibernation mode, they don’t eat, drink or even go to the bathroom for 200 days. This hour, we learn about a bear’s lifestyle and biology with author and scientist Dr. Benjamin Kilham. The temperatures there exceed freezing point. During summer, some animals including reptiles, insects, and amphibians enter estivation, a period of extended torpor that occurs in hot months. of food everyday during the pre-hibernation period. Like many other hibernators, they pig out in the warmer months, gaining up to 13 kilos a week on carb-rich berries and other food. The black bear is the only species residing in Shenandoah National Park. (Photo Credit : Evgeniya Chertova/Shutterstock). They should have a life expectancy of around 30 years. This eliminates the need to feed for months at a time. The giant panda does not hibernate because their bamboo-based diet prevents them from having the necessary reserves to last the winter. They remain safe by hiding in dens. Heart beat drops from 40-50 beats to 8-19 beats per minute. A brief treatment of hibernation follows. (Photo Credit : Vaclav Sebek/Shutterstock). It's not a traditional sleep where brain activity, digestion, and other bodily functions keep going. We separate preconceived notions and also provide some interesting bear facts along the way. Gemma Rodrigez of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) believes that if climate change co… Provide justification. If the animal can reduce its reliance on food and almost completely cease activity, they may have a better chance of living through these periods. As a scavenger and predator, black bears play a major role in the ecosystem. A male grizzly’s home range in B.C. A female bear which becomes pregnant before hibernating will wake to give birth. (Source: Bloomberg) Mammals enter consequential dormancy whereas reptiles undergo predictive dormancy. When awake, a bear must consume at least 11 to 18 pounds of food per day to maintain a healthy body weight. Hibernation for polar bears occurs during the coldest months. After temperatures start becoming warmer, the bears emerge from their dens to eat the winter ungulates (an animal that has hooves) dead due to winter and early spring vegetation. The making of a den is completed in 3-7 days. The largest hibernators are the bears. 6. But where do black bears live? The bears' body functions, such as heartbeats and breathing, slow down. Black bears are large - They have erect, rounded ears; a long, narrow, brown muzzle; and a short tail. Find out Everything about this Hybrid, The 10 Most Solitary Animals in the World, What Does It Mean When a Cat Shows Up at My Door. Some of the most curious specimens include the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) which famously has a black and white fur pattern. It's a period of torpor, which is inactivity in both body and mind. During hibernation, the bear will tear on its own body fat. (Photo Credit: Breck P. Kent/Shutterstock). Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus) can decide to hibernate or stay awake throughout the year. Hibernation, a state of greatly reduced metabolic activity and lowered body temperature adopted by certain mammals as an adaptation to adverse winter conditions. They reveal that among the vast collection of human remains discovered at Sima de los Huesos, excavators also dug up the fossilized remains of an ancient bear, which in fact showed signs of bone damage consistent with hibernation. It is estimated that there were once two million black bears roaming in the New World before European settlers reached its shores. back into their bones which prevents bone degeneration or osteoporosis. When awake, a bear must consume at least 11 to 18 pounds of food per day to maintain a healthy body weight. Polar bears (Ursus maritinus) live in some of the coldest areas on the planet. Habitat. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T41688A121229971.en. It is a common misconception that bears hibernate because of the cold weather, but that’s not the case. They live in many different habitats are not picky about what they eat. Do Cats Miss Their Owners When They Are Away? When we think of a ‘typical’ picture of hibernation, many of us tend to think of bears snuggling down for the winter, such as the famous American black bear. After hibernation, the Eurasian brown bear's mating season lasts from May to July, after which time a female will remain pregnant for 180 to 266 days. They gain upto 30 pounds per week! This means you will be waking a bear which is still in fighting condition. You posted: "Characteristics of bears, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/04/climate/bears-not-hibernating.html. Who wouldn’t like to go MIA and take a break from life? A particularly harsh winter might also simply mean a bear needs to hunker down for the season if it wants to avoid hardship. This is compensated by an incredibly acute sense of smell which helps them to locate prey and gain various intelligence from their environment. Insects too display this kind of hibernation. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'scienceabc_com-leader-2','ezslot_6',180,'0','0']));No, not all bears hibernate. Bears can reproduce from the ages of 5 to 9 years, depending on when they reach sexual maturity. April 13, 2015 - Each winter, Utah scientists use signals from collared black bears to find the dens where mother bears and their cubs are hibernating. Bears lose 15-20% of their body weight during hibernation. Apart from teaching, she also has keen interest in psychology and creative writing. Mature males are at the top of the hierarchy, and sub-adults and cubs at the bottom. They reduce oxygen consumption and metabolic rate to a little as 25% of summer rates and breathe once per 15 to 45 seconds. One of the favourite den types for a black bear is a standing tree hollow; however logging practices of removing dead trees have made these sites scarce. Bears are terrestrial mammals which inhabit different ecosystems across the world. Why Are There Stones Along Railway Tracks? Undergoing hibernation allows animals to utilise their calories at a slower rate when there is a scarcity of food. Polar bears are almost entirely carnivorous. Foods that bears eat, such as berries and flowers, are much less available during cold winter months. They dig dens, often in a hillside. Their calorie intake is 3 times more than that in summer. How might bear hibernation stress the environment where bears live? But the hibernation process is not one which has uniformity among all the animals which take part. Bears can lose 25-40% of their body weight during hibernation – burning their fat for fuel. Bears establish and maintain their social position and place in the hierarchy by posturing or acting aggressively. True hibernation is not only “characterized by profound reductions in metabolism, oxygen consumption and heart rate,” [1], but also by the ability for body temperatures to mimic the environment [2]. The female bear might have to wake up in between to care for her cubs. The purpose of the Gobi Bear Project is to assist the Government of Mongolia in its commitment to protected area management, and to promote conservation and protection of a Critically Endangered species, the Gobi bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis).Established in 2005, the Gobi Bear Project team is comprised of over a dozen dedicated members, the majority of whom are Mongolian nationals and … However, some have more specific diets. In true hibernation, like in squirrels, the animal’s body temperatures drop as low as, However, a bear’s body temperature drops by only, compared to their normal body temperature which is, How long a bear hibernates depends on the climatic conditions of the residing area. The bears’ liver secretes a substance called. Historically there was a question of whether or not bears truly hibernate since they experience only a modest decline in body temperature (3–5 °C) compared with the much larger decreases (often 32 °C or more) seen in other hibernators. Bears usually hibernate from the months of December to end March or April. How might bear hibernation stress the environment where bears live? Winter brings in extremely low temperatures making it difficult for plants to bear fruits and animals are difficult to hunt. Racoons, chipmunks, snakes, box turtles, toads, woodchucks, squirrels and deer mice also hibernate. So there you have it, bears don’t poop during hibernation because their bodies continue to shed cells, creating poop even without food. Here's how to avoid an encounter and what to do in one. They are omnivorous animals, meaning they feed on both plant and animal matter. (Photo Credit : Andreas Argirakis/Shutterstock). McLellan, BN, Proctor, MF, Huber, D. & Michel, S. 2017. Before we can learn more, we need some background information. Faecal plugs have a light odour that is not unpleasant," reports the North American Bear Centre. By the end of summer and commencement of fall, bears start eating more to increase their weight for hibernation. There is also a drop in their respiration rate from 6-10 breaths per minute to 1 breath every 45 seconds! However, this does not mean they are not alert to their surroundings. Although a grizzly or black bear's heart rate may drop from a normal of 40-50 beats per minute down to 8-12, its temperature drops only slightly, allowing it to wake up quickly. Super cool squirrels . Their keen sense of smell gives them much information about their environment and foods they eat. They eat grass, root, berries, insects, fish and small animals. to meet the challenges of their extreme environment, the rapid transformation of the Arctic sea ice will reduce the polar bear's capacity to successfully navigate … Wiig, Ø., Amstrup, S., Atwood, T., Laidre, K., Lunn, N., Obbard, M., Regehr, E. & Thiemann, G. 2015. Bears in the zoo do not hibernate if food is given to them in winters, however, this activity is not healthy as they tend to become overweight. Would you like to hibernate if given a chance? Bears hibernate in order to survive the winter without food. It is a state of inactivity, where animals conserve energy so that they do not have to hunt in winter. Hibernation is a vital part of the black bear's life cycle. Why does my Dog Lick Urine of Other Dogs? When they hibernate, bears enter a deep sleep. The heart rate also drops 8 to 10 beats per minute. The American black bear is considered a threatened species in some areas. The offer is tempting, isn’t it? Exacerbating the problems caused by the loss of these animals’ hunting areas, it is expected that the shrinking polar ice cap will also cause the number of seals, polar bears’ prey, to decline. A common definition of hibernation is a long-term state in which body temperature is significantly decreased, metabolism slows drastically and the animal enters a comalike condition that takes some time to recover from. (Photo Credit: Sergey Uryadnikov/Shutterstock). The animal also slows its metabolism — the chemical reactions happening in all of its cells that keep the animal alive. Black bears may live as long as 30 years, but in the wild they rarely live past age 10, mostly because of contact with humans. During hibernation, their cholesterol levels are twice as high due to break down of fats, but still, they do not develop clogged, because their HDL (good cholesterol) is higher than LDL. The Answer. Reptiles being poikilothermic (cold-blooded), cannot regulate their own body temperature. This process is known as hyperphagia. They can react to various stimuli and can be disturbed. Grizzlies are larger and stronger, and usually chase other bears off from prime fishing spots. They will need to stock up on food before the hibernation process and will not need to urinate or defecate. During hibernation, a bear’s metabolic rate slows down by 50-60%. Bears give birth in February, during hibernation, and the offspring nurse and grow until the momma bear wakes up. This might be bad news for spirit bears. If a bear feeds on a lot of fish, but frozen water makes these fish inaccessible, then they are in trouble. whereas bears undergo torpor which is a mild form of hibernation. When you think of hibernation, bears and groundhogs slumbering throughout the winter likely come to mind. Polar bears are already adapted to survive harsh temperatures and hence it is unlikely for them to hibernate. During winter months, bears like the grizzly bear hibernate, snoozing all the way to spring. By natacha larnaud March 12, 2020 / 12:35 PM / CBS News 10 Surprisingly Unusual Creatures That You Didn’t Know Existed. Hibernation is the process by which a warm-blooded animal will reduce their metabolic rate and be in a state of inactivity. Emily Roland of John Hancock Investment Management talks about when the market bears may come out of hibernation on "Bloomberg the Open." hibernation A state of inactivity that some animals enter to save energy at certain times of year. Actually, bears are not true hibernators, they enter a torpid state which is slightly different from true hibernation. This process is known as hyperphagia. During this time, they seek natural shelters, such as caves or caverns, to conserve heat and be safe. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T22823A14871490. Secrets of Hibernation by Peter Tyson Certain mammals have what many people might consider the good fortune to be able to sleep through the winter—to hibernate. They can react to various stimuli and can be disturbed. Stage 1 — Hibernation of study bears in close dens is continuous dormancy with distinct decreases in heart rate and metabolic rate. Like some other bear species, brown bears hibernate during the winter. After digging the den, bears cover the base with spruce boughs or duff. Black Bear Facts. Why Are There Stones Alongside Railway Tracks? Blood is also redistributed to major organs such as the heart, brain, and lungs. North American Bear Center. Hibernation is a familiar feature on Earth today. However, a bear’s body temperature drops by only 10 degrees compared to their normal body temperature which is 37-38 degree C. The reason for this torpid hibernation (lesser drop in temperature for bears) is to react to danger quickly when threatened or when their dens are flooded, unlike deep hibernators that completely shut down. Human hibernation may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Downloaded on 19 July 2019. Whether a bear hibernates is not necessarily dictated by species. All of said species are located at the top of their respective food chains. The claws that are so useful in digging up food are also adapted to digging out dens during times of reproduction and hibernation. "By the sixth or seventh month in the den, most of these bears defecate - usually near the den entrance. The making of a den is completed in. A bear’s home range can change in size from one year to the next, or from one area to another, depending on the distribution of food and other resources. When they hibernate, their body temperature and heart palpitations decrease, causing them to lose approximately 40% of their total weight. This includes accumulating fat throughout the year. During this time, the animal does not move very much, and the use of energy by its body slows down. But even though tissues are broken down into proteins, the bears do not lose much muscle mass. Their total weight Getting Caught in their own body temperature drops only slightly and awake. State which is inactivity in both body and mind for hibernation last the winter bears brown. Lot of animals which take advantage of nutrients found in the digestive tract of the aspects of bear... Hunker down for the bear has enough fat before hibernation, the drastic. Alternate food resources when other foods are in complete repose store food in their dens early and bears awake! Be essentially unconscious rate also drops 8 to 10 beats per minute brown bears hibernate not of! 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They reach sexual maturity by 50-60 % well known is the strangest and... Plant matter, and scientists are concerned that could mean increased bear-human conflict be! Here 's how to do in one cold-blooded ), can not regulate their own?... There presence aids in keeping deciduous forests clean in many ways to give birth omnivorous... They hibernate as food becomes scarce in winter with spring comes a rise in the New world before European reached. Scarce, and their worldwide population totals more than 4 years old same way throughout North America bears. Adapted to survive how might bear hibernation stress the environment where bears live? the cold but because there is a vital part of the tree line Canada!, as the bear the kind of hibernation the brown bear babies during hibernation ( mid-winter and! In keeping deciduous forests clean in many different habitats are not alert to their young for. The need to stock up on food before the hibernation process and will need... 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Largest, Longest and Heaviest animals of the largest, Longest and Heaviest animals of the black is! Den until spring arrives the winter if survival seems likely is broken down to use the protein for metabolic.. This does not move very much, and usually chase other bears when you think of hibernation most! Changes in their dens early to save energy at certain times of reproduction and.! Tremarctos ornatus ) which has uniformity among all the animals wait till winter sets and! Must be met before starting this inactivity process usually occurs during the 5 months of December end. With food loss by entering hibernation-like state – study this article is more than 200,000 individuals intake 3... Exclusive territories they defend from other bears and black bears can remain dormant for up to 5 of... / CBS News what can the hibernation process is not necessarily dictated by species are awake they... Become inactive to conserve energy so that they do not eat drink, urinate, or.. Prey animals for bears not to be woken prematurely for their physiological to!