Tag Archives: black bears

Montana’s hibernating bears soon up and about

It’s that time of year again when hungry bears start to emerge from hibernation . . .

Montana’s hibernating black bears and grizzly bears will soon be stirring.

Adult males usually emerge first from winter dens in mid-March. When bears emerge from their dens they are physically depleted and food is a priority.

Bears are often tempted to go where raccoons and domestic dogs are getting into garbage. If these animals are already causing problems near-by, consider it an early warning that food attractants are available and need to be removed.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ bear experts stress that conflict prevention steps can greatly reduce the chances of attracting black bears and grizzly bears.

Read more . . .

DNA data: about 600 black bears in Glacier Park

Analysis of DNA data originally collected for a grizzly bear study indicates about 600 black bears live in Glacier Park . . .

A trio of researchers recently concluded that Glacier National Park’s black bear population is about 600 — roughly one black bear for every 2,167 acres.

The study, conducted by U.S. Geological Survey scientist Kate Kendall and colleagues Amy McCleod and Jeff Stetz, is based on nearly 1,800 black bear hair samples collected during a 2004 grizzly bear DNA study.

Researchers gathered hair samples using “bear traps,” with a scent station used to attract bears inside a barbed wire fence that snagged their hair, or by attaching small pieces of barbed wire to rub trees. Both grizzly and black bears select trees they regularly like to rub on. DNA in the hair follicles was analyzed to identify species and sex as well as individual bears.

Read more . . .

World’s oldest radio-collared bear dies

The oldest radio-collared bear in the world died recently . . .

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported last week that a black bear they had been tracking since 1981 died in the wild at 39 1/2 years of age.

Bear No. 56 was found Aug. 21 in the Chippewa National Forest. She was radio-collared in July 1981 when she was seven years old. At the time, the black bear was accompanied by three female cubs. From 1981 through 1995, Bear No. 56 had eight litters of cubs and successfully raised 21 of 22 cubs to 18 months of age.

Bear No. 56 outlived all of the 360 black bears that MDNR researchers radio-collared in 1981 by 19 years.

Read more . . .

Confrontation between bears at the Freund cabin

Peter Freund sent a report, with photos, to the Hungry Horse News of a set-to between a black bear with cubs and a brown bear near his cabin recently . . .

As you know, the end of July is the height of buffalo berry season along the North Fork River. At our cabin in the North Fork, this seasonal event provides for an annual feeding frenzy by the local bear population.

This year was unique with the presence of a black bear with cubs. The harvesting occurred right outside the door of our cabin.

The show started with the brown bear. All was tranquil until the brown bear encroached on the black bear’s zone, and she became loud and chased the brown bear away.

Continue reading . . .

Food-conditioned bear caught and killed in Glacier Park

Another “don’t feed the bears” story: Glacier Park rangers put down a food-conditioned black bear at Fish Creek Campground yesterday . . .

Glacier National Park Rangers captured and euthanized a black bear in the Fish Creek Campground area yesterday afternoon after numerous incidents in which the bear exhibited aggressive and food-conditioned behavior towards park visitors.

The black bear was frequenting the Fish Creek Campground area and displaying aggressive behavior almost daily for the past two weeks. The bear was entering campsites, foraging, and charging visitors. This behavior is consistent with behavior displayed by habituated and food-conditioned wildlife. Attempts to haze were unsuccessful in deterring the bear from frequenting the campground. The female bear was approximately three years old and weighed 100 pounds.

After the recent incidents in the Fish Creek Campground area, park rangers set traps and captured the suspect animal at approximately 7:30p.m., Sunday, July 21. After Glacier National Park personnel verified that the correct animal had been captured through distinct markings, the bear was euthanized…

Continue reading . . .

Bears are stirring; don’t invite them to dinner

Bears are coming out of hibernation, so it’s time for the usual annual reminder about removing bear attractants. Bears will eat darn near anything, especially right now, so anything from old apples on the ground to pet food to poorly secured garbage can attract a large, furry, unwanted visitor. In particular, if you are already getting visits from mid-level scroungers like racoons, skunks and coyotes, you could be setting yourself up for a bear problem.

The Flathead Beacon posted a good write-up on the subject. Also, Montana’s “Bear Aware” site has lots of good information on living with bears.

Aversion therapy for bears

Yesterday, a couple of articles cropped up about teaching bears to avoid humans and their dwellings. The first reports on the Montana-based Wind River Bear Institute and their Karelian bear dog program. The other discusses a training program in a rural district of the Florida panhandle, an area with a substantial black bear population. Two very different areas with similar bear problems.

Here are the links . . .

Aspiring filmmakers turn lenses on Karelian bear dogs for awareness — from the Missoulian

Bear hazing (Or how to chase a bear away and not get hurt) — from The Star, Port St. Joe, Florida

“It’s time to pull in the bird feeders and secure the trash”

The bears are off to an early start this year . . .

Bears are stirring earlier than usual and have already resumed behavior that led to a record number of captures last year.

Officials with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently relocated a 535-pound male grizzly bear that killed seven calves in four nights near Lincoln. The local FWP office has also been receiving reports of bear sightings near Whitefish and Columbia Falls.

The reemergence of bears has led to a campaign by wildlife officials reminding residents to clean up attractants that increase the likelihood of conflicts.

Continue reading . . .

Use of electricity as bear repellent gets more effective

I kind of like the bit about the electrified mats . . .

The video makes dramatic evidence: A big sow grizzly and her cub approach a freezer in a Flathead County garage. The night before, they’d scored a load of frozen fish. They were back for more.

But this time, the sow steps on an electrified cattle mat placed in front of the freezer. She gives a startled “Woof!” and wheels away.

“I love the look on the cub’s face,” said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1 bear manager Tim Manley.

The little bear gapes at mom for a second and seems to say ‘Yikes, wait for me!’ The family group was soon trapped and relocated, and hasn’t been in trouble since.

The use of electricity as a bear repellent has reached a level of effectiveness and creativity far beyond what was first deployed about 20 years ago . . .

Continue reading . . .