New Jersey Black Bear Conference: Peaceful Coexistence in Our Modern World

Report on Conference by David R. Hibbeln, TC member

I spent Saturday at an all day workshop on black bears and thought you might be interested in some of what I learned.

The session was sponsored by The Bear Education And Resource Group B.E.A.R. Group.

One of the presenters was a Dr. Lynn Rodger PhD who has done much of the research that gives us a true understanding of a very intelligent timid animal. See animal planet special "The man who walks with bears".

For his background Wildlife Research Institute.

For a pdf file by Dr. Roders prepared for the US Forest Service see: The watchable black bear.

There were other folks there speaking:

• Dr. Josef Hamr, PhD from Sudbury Ontario on nuisnance bear behavior & myths.
  < Research show that relocated bears will come back from over 300 miles away, if you kill nuisance bear, another bear will take over that territory.>
• Mr. Dan LeGranduer of Whistler BC speaking on Adversive conditioning.
• Folk from JJ Whistler Bear Society (Whistler BC) were there to talk about bear smart commnuities.
• Wildlife biologists from NJ fish and game, State Animal Control Officers as well a municpal officials and bear rights activists were attendees and commented

I wanted provide the backround of the session so that you can understand that what I pass on came from serious experts.

Bottom line:

1) Bears are timid. You must be the dominate bear. Use noise, actions to tell the bear that you're in charge.

The bear will LEAVE if you are persistant. It is more scared of you then your are of it

Dropping your back and running in oppsite direction only lead to the loss of you pack and damage to you from tripping on rocks or roots.

Climbing a tree will lead only to bit or clawed ankles, becase that is what bears do to other bears in the trees.

Lying down playing dead and being passive only leads to you being bit or worse.

Pepper spray works, but usually humans spray it into the wind. See www.bearsmart.com/backcountryManners/PepperSpray.html for some details on use details. There is a picture of a young girl useing pepper spray on bear (Dr. Rodgers daughter, he is not stupid and knows had taught his own kids saftey procedure before he allowed kids to go camping with them) part of story is that same bear came by next day. This Bear knew and trusted Dr. Rodgers from prior instances and still does, but when he came near, he saw daughter and hightailed it out of there.

Also there are reports of bears not being afffected by red pepper spray.

2) Momma bears do NOT attack when human is between them and cubs.

3) Black bears do NOT snarl nor do they growl. Hollywood myth.

Dr Rodgers has never hear a bear growl, he suspect that people misinterpret the bears "moan of abject terror".

For some of sounds made see www.bear.org/Black/Sounds.html.

Humans misintrepate the bluff charge (slapping of paws on ground and blowing " like a w -h -- o -- o -- sh" and chomping noises) of the bear with an attack. It is really a mechanism to scare you and get you to leave.

4) Bears are learning animals. They are have generational knowledge. Information about food sources is passed between generations.

Black bears can live up to 29 years. In the wild the normal life span is 15-20 years.

Bears are very good at taking packs out of trees.

West coast national parks and forests have begun to require backpackers to carry food in bear-proof containers and are beginning to place bear-proof storage containers at campsites.

The National Park Service strongly advises all backpackers to carry and use approved bear-resistant food storage canisters instead of other methods listed below. Use of bear canisters is required above 9,600 feet, in the Rancheria Falls area, and at High Sierra Camps (if a bear box is not used). Bears are routinely obtaining properly hung food.

Bear resistant food storage canisters are currently the only effective portable means of food storage in Yosemite's wilderness.

One vendor is www.backpackerscache.net/products.asp.

<snip>

5 ) Ratios of human deaths per death by bear attack over past 100 years.

60,000 due to Homicide
249 to lighting
150 to beesting
14 to snake bite
2 to grizzly bear
1 to black bear.

The geographical distribution (and this includes last years attack) is 3 total for the whole eastern seaboard, most of the 59 deaths have been in rural areas of Canada.

6) Black bears are pentiful on eastern seaboard due to plentiful food supply , e.g. acorns, hickory nuts, grapes, beech nuts, black cherry. Food supply allows for large litters 3-4 cubs vs 1-2 in midwest and Canada, etc. Mothers need lots of fat to produced milk for cubs to feed on during the winter. As farms go back to forests, habitat range is increasing.

7) If you want to see bears, look up in the trees, that is they like to sleep during the day.

8) Bears see in color, have exellent visual actuity, great hearing and sense of smell. For example they recognize the rangers in the smokies by uniform color.

9) Suggestions when you see a bear:

a) If you don't want the bear around, wave your arms, maintain your ground, make noise, throw things and the bear will leave.

b) Be quiet and still. Watch and enjoy the bear and wait till the bear learns you are near and runs away in fear.

3) It is better long term for both human and bears to teach bears that it is NOT a good thing to be around humans.

4) Do NOT feed them or pet them. You have exposed yourself to unnecessary riskand have taught a wild animal not to fear humans.

Hope you found this useful.

V3 Last updated: July 21, 2005   Copyright © 1996-2005  New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Privacy Statement.