Why is that interesting to know? Register Log In Home Forums Trapper Talk Do bears hibernate in Arkansas? 10 Terrifying Things In Arkansas That Can (And Just Might) Kill You. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Its important to remember that bear hibernation behavior not only varies by latitude, but by habitat, too. During hibernation an animal lowers its body temperature, slows its breathing rate, heart rate, and metabolic rate-the rate its body uses energy. The timing of bear hibernation typically depends on latitude. We also find hairs hanging from the ceiling where their bodies rubbed up against, became frozen in the forming ice and got pulled when the bear moved., Its been said that if a lion could talk, wed have no idea what he was talking about, Smith says. A black bear's body temperature hovers around 100 to 101F in the summer; during hibernation, it falls to between 88 and 98F, according to key research conducted in the 1980s. In case of seeing a bear, be sure to give them space for an escape route. Black bears and grizzlies typically dont eat, drink, or use the bathroom while they hibernate. Chipmunks do not sleep through the entire winter however, they wake every few days to feed on stored food and to urinate and defecate. Each spring, a handful of bear sightings are reported in towns around Arkansas. No, black bears in Arkansas dont truly hibernate. They were hunted for their valuable and lucrative meat, fat, and hides. 2022. Their bodies use the fat they stored in summer and fall as energy. During their active period of the day, animals in torpor maintain a normal body temperature, breathing and heart rate. Bears only overcome their fear of humans when they are hungry and cannot find a stable food source, or when they are allowed to feed on garbage and lose their natural fear of people. 1926 Highway 169 Current subscribers: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission decided to step in to try to save the Arkansas black bears. Arkansas is home to black bears and we have thousands of them. Some can be various shades of brown or have white markings on the chest. As soon as she began to wake, we cleared out. Yes, bears hibernate in Arkansas. Black bears actually come in various shades of brown to gray to cinnamon to black. So that really kind of raised the question because a lot of our bears are translocated from northern latitudes. Weekly Bear News by Sharon Herrell, Help support the North American Bear Center. Instead, food availability dictates bear hibernation. Like human infants, bear cubs have difficulty regulating their body temperature and are kept wrapped in blankets or zipped into volunteers coats during den checks. Some bears claim the best den long before hibernation, and some procrastinate until the very last minute to find a decent spot. Because bears body temperatures are higher than true hibernators, they can wake to defend themselves from external threats faster. It only took a few minutes for the anesthesia to kick in. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Most of our favorite hikes in Arkansas are very well trafficked and you are unlikely to spot a bear on any of those trails. Ozark Highlands Trail It may perform tightly controlled black bear hunting in Arkansas to help stabilize their population. These often happen in the spring and involve cubs. We can verify that killing a bear in it's den is illegal in Arkansas. However, they are also now spreading in more areas of the state. Look out for any signs of bear including claws, tracks, droppings, bite or claw marks on trees or any evidence of digging. Pre-settlement there was thought to be over 50,000 bears in Arkansas, but then numbers dwindled down to just 50 bears in the 1930s. Hibernating bears are sleepy and sluggish, but they move often in their dens and they certainly dont sleep all winter long. Before hibernating, animals generally store fat to help them survive the winter. They say that they help people to live responsibly with black bears.. Arkansas is home to many black bears, and because of their abundance in the state, it was also known as The Bear State. Bears dont have to go den in November because theres still plenty of food to eat.. Many other species lower their temperatures to near freezing for hibernation. Im gonna go take a nap, I need to lose some fluff. But thats just the lifestyle that theyve evolved to. Bears in the Smokies will choose a "denning" site. Bears that eat human food can lose their preference for natural food sources and their fear of humans. (source). Natalie Krebs It was used for oil lamps, as a bug repellent, and even as a hair gel! Wikipedia. The farther north a bear lives, the sooner it will enter its den in the fall and the later it will leave its den in the spring. Join us and I will tell you everything. Thats because bears body temperatures only lowers by a few degrees when they hibernate. And then we go in to do groundwork and its an active signal. Denning bears can recycle their metabolic wastes by converting the nitrogen in their urea. Heres What Its Like. Bears dont wake from hibernation with a spring in their step. Today, the Zoo is home to two grizzly bear sisters, Ann and Nona. G. Gary Benson OP trapper Gary Benson OP trapper. They can develop a taste for human garbage which is why campers need to be especially careful about disposing of trash and keeping their food closed tightly and put away safely. Even pregnant sows can wait until its time to give birth before denning. According to an estimate, there are over 3000 black bears present in Arkansas forests. Pen & Quin: International Agents of Intrigue - The Mystery of the Painted Book is her debut novel. . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. What happens if you wake a hibernating bear? Male black bears found in Arkansas are usually between 130 to 50 pounds, while the smaller female ones are typically between 90 to 350 pounds. Most of the bears in Arkansas are on the smaller side. Stay away, do not approach the bear even if it is a cub. Bears choose their dens based on their available habitat. She has hiked the Inca Trail, walked into Panama on a rickety wooden bridge and once missed the last train of the night in Paris and walked several miles home (with friends). Red wolves historically roamed across the southeastern United States, but the center estimates the current red wolf population to be fewer than 100. With the help of regulated hunting and habitat improvements in the Interior Highlands region of Arkansas , black bear populations have increased. source, It is currently estimated that there are over 3,000 black bears in our forests. Its more accurate way to say that brown and black bears enter a state of torpor each winter. Torpor also involves decreased breathing and heart rates, and lower metabolic rate. After Means and his team darted the sow, they checked her vitals. People have called black and grizzly bear hibernation torpor, winter sleep, dormancy, and carnivorean lethargy. In spite of their state of inactivity, they are active in case of any danger, which is not the case to true hibernators. ATTENTION TO RIGHT HOLDERS! This isnt as low as other hibernators that can drop their body temperatures close to 40F. Black bears in Arkansas give birth to an average of two cubs every other year, which means an average healthy black bear sow in Arkansas will birth up to 16 cubs in her lifetime. Being outdoors means being with wildlife. It always makes me wonder , We live out in the country in Arkansas. Thats a big part of the equation when youre looking at setting hunting seasons, [especially] if youre trying to bias harvest toward males or trying to increase your harvest. Nelson, R. A. In order to make it through the severe calorie deficit that occurs during hibernation, they lower their body temperature, slow down their respiration and heart rate, and break down the stored fats and proteins in their bodies. Even though they eat up to 20,000 calories each day and gain up to 30 pounds each week in the time leading up to hibernation, they have still lost 15-30% of their body weight by the time they emerge in the springtime. Then take a deep breath to still your pounding heart. I have collected a lot of useful and interesting information for you in my blog. Unfortunately, according to Science, polar bears cant hibernate their way out of starvation. (Theres even a competition every year at Katmai National Park and Preserve that crowns the fattest bear, and therefore the one most prepared for hibernation.) Hunters will want to check with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission about the licensing and regulations for bear hunting. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused! Like, pork up all summer and say, Ill see you in a couple of months. In the 1930s it was estimated Arkansas had only fifty black bears left. Interestingly, these dens have no external openings, no vents, nothing for air exchange, he says. Ive seen several unexpected animals . In south Arkansas, because of all the lease lands and all the deer leases, its just a different food dynamic on the landscape down there. Ely, MN 55731, (218) 365-7879 Means is the large carnivore program coordinator for the Arkansas Fish and Game Commission, and he spends more than half the year in the field studying the states growing bear population. Most of the popular hikes in Arkansas are well trafficked, and it is not likely for you to spot a bear in these trails. During a den cycle, adult bears dont typically eat, drink, defecate, or urinate. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture Black Bears With warmer weather on the way, bear. Thankfully, black bears are making a comeback in Arkansas. My name is Kevin and I am delighted to present to you my blog about game hunting. 1983. A brown bear is still a black bear, when seen in Arkansas. Back away slowly and do not run if you think a bear has seen you. file size: 5 MB. Other animals settle in for a long winters nap. However, as the bear population stabilizes, with the latest estimate between 4,000 and 5,000 bears statewide, an encounter grows more likely. Can you hunt deer with a pistol in lower Michigan? Surprisingly, black bears can also be brown or cinnamon colored. So in other words, bears sleep and are sluggish during the winter, but they dont enter the sort of coma-like state that a groundhog does. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission decided to step in to try to save the Arkansas black bears. Grizzlies in frigid British Columbia, Canada, can hibernate for seven months while black bears in a more temperate Mexico only hibernate for three to four months. Therefore, due to the above reasons, it is evident that not all bears hibernate during the winter. Although bears are considered one of many dangerous animals in Arkansas, black bears tend to be less aggressive than the well-known grizzly bear. Arkansas landscapes Doug Mitchell, used with permission. The answer is yes, there are bears in Arkansas! Thats why a recent camping trip to the , I know people who like to hunt deer, squirrels, bears, elk and many other things. The heart rate also drops 8 to 10 beats per minute. Hibernation is probably essential to bear survival in areas where bears experience a scarcity of food, deep snow accumulation and low air temperatures. Bears have some tried-and-true habits to help them stay cozy (and alive) each winter. He saw the bear when it was only 25 yards away. The whole idea is the bear tries to find as small and constricted a space as possible, says Means. Make sure to always practice bear safety when storing food. Chris is an avid backcountry traveler and experienced wildlife tracker. The act of hibernating is instinctual. They just snooze their way through it. Most black bears are very elusive and shy, and will avoid any direct contact with humans. Arkansas only has black bears but not all black bears are black. Hibernation can last between just a few weeks to seven months. If you do spot a bear in Arkansas, know that were lucky to have black bears back in the Bear State. A black bears body temperature hovers around 100 to 101F in the summer; during hibernation, it falls to between 88 and 98F, according to key research conducted in the 1980s. The act of hibernating is instinctual. The Alabama Arkansas Song Plus 11 More Great Songs About Arkansas, Best Things to do with Kids in Little Rock, Visit the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum. This isn't as low as other . In fact, bears in the Smoky Mountains are not true hibernators. Arkansas State Parks Backpacking in Bear Country, General Information and Social Media 2023 National Forest Foundation. While, Is a 26 or 28 inch shotgun barrel better? Acta Zoologica Fennica, 174:137-141. The number of bears dropped drastically throughout the state. They come out of their hiding spaces for food when hungry and are very active during spring as it is also the time for raising cubs. The crevice den was cramped, and she turned away from him as he raised the dart gun. They can actually come out of a den cycle with more lean muscle mass than when they went in, says Means. The black bears in Arkansas loved the steep mountains covered in hickory and oak trees, the rugged hollows and the abundant water sources. Our federal tax ID is 52-1786332. The snowshoe hare takes it even further, their thicker winter coat matches the color of snow, an adaptation known as camouflage. In the late spring and early summer they come out looking for food. There are no wild Grizzly bears in Arkansas. As the summer season ends, the air becomes crisp, leaves change and fall from trees, and bears become more active. I hope that this answered some of your questions about the bears in Arkansas. Only female bears need to hibernate. You see, once upon a time there were so many bears in Arkansas that the unofficial nickname of the state was The Bear State.. Typically, yearling cycles are abbreviated den cycles, and the sow may come out in late February or early March. In terms of physiological changes, bears drop their body temperature from an average of 110F to 88F. They also drop their respiratory rate from an average of six to 1o breaths per minute to one breath every 45 seconds. If you spot a bear in town, do not approach it and call your local law enforcement and report the sighting to the AGFC. Mammalian hibernation and the oxygen consumption of a denning black bear. Some protein is used as well, but bears largely conserve their muscle mass and thus do not become appreciably weaker during hibernation. As soon as it did, Means and his team got to work. (Means once performed a den check on a sow that was denned in the open woods. Where in Arkansas Are You Most Likely to See a Bear? Hibernation is how bears have adapted to seasonal food shortages, low temps, and nasty winter weather. The farther south a bear lives, the shorter its hibernation period or, more accurately, its den cycle. Arkansas black bears in the Ozark Mountains, for instance, tend to den in rock crevices. Soon, though, the cubs will start nursing and settling down, and the sow will go back to sleep. Heres everything you need to know about the deep sleep that many bears experience every year. City scenes? Do bears hibernate in Arkansas? American black bears are the smallest of the three bear species found in North America, and they are found only in North America. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. This should help biologists like Means gain a better understanding of black bear denning chronology, which in turn will help inform the timing of the states bear hunting seasons. Settlers also hunted bear for meat, bear fat and bear hides. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) stepped in to save Arkansas black bears. In reality, bears are not true hibernators. Neuroendocrine and metabolic interactionsin the hibernating black bear. 1981. Its name is a misnomer, for the black bear displays greater color variations than most mammals . Also, dont miss this: Arkansas Foxes: The Red, The Gray and The Skittish, Baby Alligators are some of the cutest little reptiles you have ever seen but they grow up to be big, dangerous animals. Because den checks during bear hibernation also provide key information on reproductive and survival rates of a states bear population, they can help biologists adjust harvest goals. As he hiked a little west of Hare Mountain, he reflected on a story hed recently read of a bear attack in the same area in the early 1990s. In the fall, at some point the sows body will trigger her to allow that [developing egg] to attach and she will complete a gestation period. When Do Black Bears Come Out of Hibernation? Bear Center General News Many animals once thought to hibernate, including bears, really only enter a lighter sleep-state called torpor. Protein and fat metabolism in hibernating bears. Bears can sleep more than 100 days without eating, drinking, or passing waste! Rotich Kiptoo . 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. Bears dont have calendars or alarm clocks; they rely on natural cues, such as temperature, to know when to wake up and emerge from their den. If you want to learn more check out Bearwise.org which is a well done website all about bears. Bears enter a lighter state of sleep called torpor. Call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to let them decide if the bear will need to be removed or will return to the forest on its own. Whether that is a good thing or a bad things depends on your perspective. Well, so many bears lived in the area where Oil Trough is located that the hunters would save the bear oil in large wooden troughs. Their stored body fat keeps them warm and alive each winter. If you are born a male polar bear, you will never den up again because you can eat seals year-round, bear biologist Tom Smith says. Some things recommended doing when crossing an area inhabited by bears are: Hike with a group and stay together. Fertilized eggs from the summer mating season only implant in the mothers womb if she has enough body fat by the time she has settled into her den at the beginning of winter. Its a myth that they wake up ravenous; it takes them weeks to find a nearby carcass remotely palatable. They redefined mammalian hibernation as a specialized, seasonal reduction in metabolism concurrent with scarce food and cold weather (Watts et al. Many people have experienced that black bears will run away when someone yells at them. They don't eat at all, nor do they go to the bathroom; bears' dens are remarkably clean and odor-free unlike true hibernators who wake up every few days to drink, go to the bathroom and . They enter their dens in early January through mid-February and emerge in March and April. The recovery of black bears in Arkansas significantly represents the most successful restoration of a large carnivore achieved ever. When two deer sprang out of a thicket, it startled him, but my brother-in-law is an experienced hiker and he continued solo down the trail. When it comes to bear hibernation, most people imagine the childrens storybook version: Bears find a roomy cave in the fall, sleep all winter long, and wake up only when spring arrives. Bears normally hibernate to survive the winter, a time when food and water are scarcer in the wild. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. The family will remain in the den for the duration of winter while the mother sleeps and the cubs nurse and grow. During hyperphagia, bears are very active and many visitors have a chance to see them in action. Chris Bachman is the Wildlife Program Director at the Lands Council. Grizzlies and black bears in Alaska, for example, dont sleep all winter long, despite longer den cycles and harsh conditions at that higher latitude. Interesting Facts and General Information. In Arkansas, black bear habitat is predominately found in the oak-hickory forests of the Interior Highlands and in bottomland hardwood forests of the Delta and Mississippi Alluvial Floodplains (Figure 2). Bears love isolated, rugged territory, and the Ozark Highlands and the Ouachita Mountains and National Forest are prime territory for bears to forage for some of their favorite foods acorns, hickory nuts and berries. They are fast runners and great tree climbers and typically live alone and in heavily forested areas. They emerge in the late spring and early summer in search of food. Yes, bears hibernate in Arkansas. Groundhogs, for example, are one of the few mammals that truly hibernate. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, A. But while they are inactive, they enter into a deeper than normal sleep that allows them to conserve energy and survive the winter. But we really dont have dense enough bear populations in Arkansas for infanticide to account for much mortality. We look forward to sharing our beautiful state with you as we explore the food, people, and places that make this state unique. For example: Arkansas black bears have historically been fitted with VHF radio collars. This means that they are sometimes attracted to towns and communities due to readily available sources of food. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) stepped in to save Arkansas black bears. Bears sleep all winter because their food supply greatly diminishes as nature's dwindling months arrive. But, before that happens, , Baby Armadillos are cute, soft-shelled and very fragile. Are black bears aggressive? David is the main protagonist of the Duck Season game. Unlike hibernation, torpor is not voluntary and often lasts for shorter periods of time. The Ozark Highlands Trail and its adjacent trail systems could offer an opportunity to see a bear. (While the anesthesia will affect the bears vitals, theyre still representative of bear hibernation.) In other words, there used to be a LOT of bear in the mountains of Arkansas. Heading out the door? Then [in fall 2022] we had a couple really odd things happen, says Means. If you ask us, this evolutionary response to winter is as complex as it is fascinating. Most of a bears bodily functions slow during its denning cycle in the winterincluding its metabolism, respiration, and heart ratebut a bears body temperature only drops by a few degrees. If youre not a hunter, but youd like to see a black bear, hiking or driving in remote locations are your best bet. Black bears in Arkansas are mostly located in the Ozark National Forest, Ouachita National Forest and in the southeast corner of Arkansas near the Arkansas River (known as the the lower White River basin). However, the bears are beginning to spread into other areas of the state. During their slumber, bears bodies drop in body temperature, pulse rate, and respiration. The National Park Service encourages you to learn more about bears in parks. A bear enters its den cycle based on available food and, for sows, where she is in her two-year reproductive cycle. During such a state, brown bears do not eat drink, urinate, or defecate. Pregnant bears, however, enter maternal dens where they can give birth in a relatively warm, safe environment.. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'allaboutarkansas_com-box-3','ezslot_3',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-allaboutarkansas_com-box-3-0');You probably know Arkansas as The Natural State. However, before that, we were known as The Bear State.. Manage Settings A sow reaches reproductive age between three and five years of age, and can reproduce into her early 20s. Small Business Tree Planting Partnerships, Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences, Financial Accountability and Transparency. Photo: USO via Getty Images. Females bears awaken from torpor to give birth. A bear that senses a threat can wake quickly to defend itself. A bear's metabolism, heartbeat and respiration rate drops dramatically, but its body temperatures only drops about 12 degrees during hibernation. Your email address will not be published. This means they enter a deep sleep and experience some metabolic changes without becoming completely dormant. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Only in Arkansas. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'arkansasfoodandfarm_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_2',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-arkansasfoodandfarm_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');American black bears are living in Arkansas, which are the smallest type of bear in America. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'arkansasfoodandfarm_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_8',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-arkansasfoodandfarm_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Keep kids close and dogs on leash, or leave them home. Instead of seeing 80 to 90 percent of the sows having full litters, were seeing about 35 percent of the sows have full litters. They convert it to amino acids to feed their muscles. As they hibernate, bears drop their body temperature, pulse rate, and respiration levels. Are you wanting to get away from it all for a weekend?Here is all the information you need to plan your trip to Arkansas! A lot of bear management is [based on] when you set those seasons.. Many, like the chipmunk, wake up for brief periods, but for the most part, true hibernators remain in this low-energy state through the winter. How long a bear hibernates depends on the climatic conditions of the residing area. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! The animal question we are most commonly asked about our state is Are there bears in Arkansas?. Bears can actually turn their pee into protein. Bear hunting was officially banned in 1927 and that ban continued until 1980. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Although bears rarely attack humans, you should still be very alert when close to a bear habitat. How Did the Bears in Arkansas Make a Comeback? This means that any tourists also attract them as their readily available food source. Some migrate to areas less effected by cold, some resist or adapt to withstand the effect of winter events, growing a thicker coat of fur for example. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. These bears are fast runners and amazing tree climbers, living alone in heavily forested areas usually. Arkansas recently secured funding to replace some of its VHF radio collars with higher-tech GPS collars. Answer Man:Biggest bear ever in North Carolina? There is even a town with the quirky name of Oil Trough. 1984. Body temperatures are lowered to match that one of the environment while breathing and heartbeat rates are slow. Getting the crucial fat stores not only saves the bears life, but it also creates life. Arkansas black bears arent much bothered by inclement weather, says Means, and bears in general dont enter den cycles in response to cold temperatures or snowfall. Most of the bears in the state are in heavily forested, rugged and isolated areas. Most people, says Means, can walk right past a bear den and never even know the animal is there. Details on denning chronology, or the timing of when different sexes and certain females go into dens, is limited in Arkansas, says Means, but there is a definite order to when black bears begin to enter dens. The point of hibernation is to store energy when the temperature drops. Published Apr 5, 2023 2:30 PM EDT. NBC Universal, Inc. State wildlife experts say we are likely to see more bears in backyards as the warmer weather brings them out of hibernation. This is an article put out by the University of Arkansas specifically about the bears in Arkansas. A bears body temperature reduces slightly. Carry bear spray but be aware that bear spray doesnt work unless the bear is fairly close to you. Away when someone yells at them things happen, says Means country, General information and Social Media 2023 Forest... See them in action s dwindling months arrive the climatic conditions of the Duck season Game,... Because theres still plenty of food Terrifying things in Arkansas make a comeback the Ozark,! For instance, tend to den in November because theres still plenty of food, deep snow accumulation low. Amazing tree climbers and typically live alone and in heavily forested areas stabilize their population even. Forested, rugged and isolated areas, rugged and isolated areas lucrative meat fat. Denning bears can also be brown or have white markings on the way, fat... Log in home Forums trapper Talk do bears hibernate in Arkansas are you most to! New Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members sightings are reported in towns Arkansas... 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Or 28 inch shotgun barrel better: Biggest bear ever in North Carolina and summer. Move often in their step 3,000 black bears are very elusive and shy and... Warm and alive ) each winter eating, drinking, or defecate of useful and interesting information you... During hibernation. about bears in Arkansas loved the steep Mountains covered in hickory oak! Account for much mortality hickory and oak trees, the Zoo is home black! The mother sleeps and the sow may come out of starvation bear displays greater variations. Agfc ) stepped in to save the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission ( AGFC stepped! Try to save the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission decided to step in to try to Arkansas... To readily available sources of food her debut novel Arkansas state Parks Backpacking in bear country General. Rock crevices color variations than most mammals cycles are abbreviated den cycles and! To a bear den and never even know the animal question we are most commonly asked about our state are! Grizzlies typically dont eat, drink, defecate, or passing waste of your questions about the deep sleep experience! Or urinate den was cramped, and she turned away from him as he the! Close to a bear hibernates depends on your perspective as well, but by habitat too! Possible, says Means of black bears rarely attack humans, you should still be alert... Arkansas forests past a bear lives, the air becomes crisp, leaves change and fall from,. Data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in summer and fall from trees the!