Life and death of the Westbury bears

Abstract

Remains of the middle Pleistocene cave bear, Ursus deningeri Reichenau, recovered from the cave deposits at Westbury-sub-Mendip near Bristol, England, are described. The age structure of the samples, based on evidence of dental eruption and wear stages, indicates that females both gave birth in the cave and sought shelter there with yearling cubs. The presence of two size classes in the permanent teeth also points to use of the cave by adults of both sexes. Wear stages on the deciduous teeth suggest that neonates were able to feed at times outside the cave during their first spring, while still using the cave as a den.