Anyone who has brothers and sisters knows that siblings can be your greatest allies and biggest foes — all at the same time. The same principle appears to apply to bear siblings. A small black bear named Nugget demonstrated that all too well. Known for his very small stature, a fur pattern that looks like goggles around his eyes, and a reddish coat that shifts to black later in the summer, Nugget also likes to get up in his siblings’ business. Over the summer, the U.S. Forest Service team at Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska watched Nugget jabbing his very patient and bigger sibling Crescent. The scene went on for almost 30 minutes, and each time Nugget would slowly creep out and touch Crescent, they would play fight. “It was like watching two siblings fight until the bigger sibling had enough,” said the rangers.
