A displaced bear repeatedly seeks shelter before using a disguise to return to hibernation, only to disturb everyone with its snoring.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Winter Sleep Begins
The park closes for winter, and the ranger moves the bears into their cave. One bear repeatedly interrupts the preparations with requests and complaints.
Key Events
Winter Closure — Park guests leave as winter begins.
Location: Park
Bears Enter Cave — The ranger leads the bears into a cave to hibernate.
Location: Forest cave
Hammock Interrupted — A sleeping bear is kicked out of a hammock.
Location: Park
Request for Water — The bear asks for a glass of water before sleeping.
Location: Forest cave
Cave Outburst — A complaint about being pinched provokes an angry response.
Location: Forest cave
Ranger Returns Home — The ranger returns home and grumbles about the bears.
Location: Ranger house
Expelled From Shelter
The bear's snoring causes the other bears to eject it from the cave. Attempts to sleep in a hollow log and a train tunnel both fail.
Key Events
Ranger Returns Home — The ranger returns home and grumbles about the bears.
Location: Ranger house
Snoring Causes Ejection — Loud snoring causes the other bears to eject the sleeper.
Location: Forest cave
Hollow Log Refuge — The displaced bear seeks shelter inside a hollow log.
Location: Forest
Rabbit Rejects Shelter — A grumpy rabbit forces the bear out of the log.
Location: Hollow log
Tunnel Attempt — The bear tries to sleep in a train tunnel.
Location: Train tunnel
Train Interrupts Sleep — A train drives through the tunnel and disrupts the attempt.
Location: Train tunnel
Household Pursuit
The bear tries to occupy the ranger's house by entering the bed and hiding in several places. Each attempt is discovered and repelled.
Key Events
Train Interrupts Sleep — A train drives through the tunnel and disrupts the attempt.
Location: Train tunnel
House Infiltration — The bear pretends to sleepwalk into the ranger's bed.
Location: Ranger house
Lamp Under Mattress — An oil lamp under the mattress drives the bear outside.
Location: Ranger house
Window Snare — The bear accidentally reenters after getting its nose stuck in a window.
Location: Ranger house
Hot Shower Retreat — The bear hides in a shower but retreats from hot water.
Location: Bathroom
Oven Hiding Place — The bear hides in the kitchen oven and is caught again.
Location: Kitchen
Final Ejection — The bear is kicked out while toys are thrown at it.
Location: Ranger house
Disguised Return
After being driven away with toys, the bear adopts a baby disguise. The plan succeeds, allowing it to reenter the cave.
Key Events
Final Ejection — The bear is kicked out while toys are thrown at it.
Location: Ranger house
Baby Disguise — The bear disguises itself as a baby to return to the cave.
Location: Outside the cave
Return to Cave — The other bears accept the disguised bear back inside.
Location: Forest cave
Snoring Ruins Hibernation — The returning bear's snoring keeps the other bears awake.
Location: Forest cave
Story Breakdown
Winter Closure — The park empties and winter preparations begin.
Guests Depart — The park guests leave for the winter.
Cave Preparation — The ranger leads the bears toward hibernation.
Cave Disruption — The bear delays the group's attempt to settle down.
Water Request — The bear asks for water after entering the cave.
Pinching Complaint — A complaint triggers an angry reaction in the cave.
Expulsion Begins — Snoring ends the bear's first attempt at communal sleep.
Loud Snoring — The bear's snoring keeps the cave disturbed.
Forced Outside — The other bears remove the sleeper from the cave.
Failed Refuges — The bear searches for alternative places to sleep.
Hollow Log — A grumpy rabbit drives the bear from a hollow log.
Train Tunnel — A passing train interrupts the tunnel refuge.
House Invasion — The bear attempts to sleep inside the ranger's house.
Bed Trick — The bear pretends to sleepwalk into the bed.
Lamp Escape — Heat from an oil lamp forces the bear outside.
Repeated Hiding — Several household hiding attempts are exposed.
Window Entrapment — The bear's nose becomes stuck in a window.
Kitchen Rejection — Hot water and an oven both defeat the hiding attempts.
Disguised Return — The bear finds a successful way back into the cave.
Toy Barrage — Toys are thrown at the bear during its final removal.
Baby Disguise — The bear disguises itself as a baby and reenters the cave.
Noisy Resolution — The apparent solution creates a final comic problem.
Cave Acceptance — The other bears take the disguised bear back inside.
Sleepless Hibernation — The returning bear's snoring prevents everyone from sleeping.
Park ranger Donald sends his bears off to hibernate, but Humphrey would rather stay in his hammock, run out for a glass of water, etc., than sleep; when he does get to sleep, his snoring gets him thrown out. His search for a new bed leads him right into the ranger's house.
