The Truth is I BEAR-ly know you…After the Trail Creek BEAR visit, I realized that a large part of my response was because I do not understand these amazing mammals. Here’s what I have found out since:
It Helps to Understand BEAR Language
BEARS do not want to interact with people. When scared they will run.
BEARS live through their noses. The snuffling you may hear is a BEAR sniffing its way through life. This is how it sounds…(a sound I have heard several times out camping)https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/upload/NOCA009_BearSniffing.MP3
BEARS (probably the Trail Creek BEAR) can get nervous and anxious with people around and will attempt to communicate those feelings by vocalizations and posturing: huffing, whining, teeth clacking, stomping feet and charging. An anxious noises sound like this….(this is what I heard at Trail Creek)https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/upload/vocalization_GRSM.mp3In retrospect, every time I made noises to inform her of my presence I was actually making her more and more nervous. Staying quiet and letting her do the business of living would have been a better response from me.
And a little BEAR biology Ursus Americansus is the only BEAR that lives in California, an estimated 30,000. They are very adaptable and have been found living nearly everywhere! (They also live in 40 U.S. States)
A Black BEAR can be born in one of 6 different colors: black, brown, blonde, cinnamon, red, chocolate and even blue.Females weigh between 100-200 lbs. and males 150-300 lbs. At the shoulder height they are about 3-4’ tall. When standing they are about 5-6’ tall.They stand because they are getting a better smell and look, it is not a sign of aggression.
BEARS can stand because they are plantigrade animals (just like people). Their entire foot is planted on the ground which improves balance.A Black Bear can run up to 35 mph and easily climb trees. But they are built for power not speed.Although classified as carnivores, because of their canine teeth, they actually are omnivores. In fact 80% of their diet is plants!
BEARS have pucker power with their prehensile (detached) lips. This helps them with foraging berries and shrubs.
BEARS live alone. Females cannot breed until they are 4 or 5 years old.
Mama BEARS have 2- 4 cubs every two years. Baby BEARS stay with their Mama ‘s for a year and a half.
The BEAR Facts
Attacks from Black BEARS are extremely rare, but it does occasionally happen.
BEARS are often mis-understood and killed as a result.
Because BEARS are opportunists, always hungry, they can easily be habituated to human food.
A fed BEAR is a dead Bear.
California Department Fish & Game issues permits each year to “bag” (hunt) BEARS; 1,700 permits will be issued in 2019.How about this mystery sound I found on the NPS web site, recorded in Yosemite, labeled as a mystery sound…https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/upload/mystery_YOSE.mp3
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