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BEARS IN YOUR BACKYARD
What Do You Do Now ? Most residents and visitors welcome the chance to glimpse the "black ghost" of the forest. Sometimes bears are attracted to areas used by people, becoming unwelcome visitors. Many people do not realize that by simply altering their behavior they can minimize the chance of unwanted close encounters with bears. Black bears are omnivorous, eating both plants and animals. Bears primarily eat vegetation, supplementing their diet of greens, berries and nuts with an occasional meal of carrion, insects, or any mammal they can catch. Although they are large and powerful animals (adult males can weigh 250-500 pounds or more, females weigh 125-200 pounds), black bears are not normally aggressive toward man. With increasing numbers of people living in and visiting woodlands, bears and people are increasingly bumping into one another. Here are some common circumstances where you might encounter bears&emdash;and some tips on how best to peaceably share the woods with them.
Bears Around Homes and Camps Garbage odors can be reduced by storing garbage in the garage or basement until trash day and by frequently disinfecting trash containers. Odors can be further reduced by rinsing meat packages before putting them in the trash. Freezing or refrigerating meat scraps, grease, or other refuse with strong odors is an excellent way to store until trash day. Don't leave garbage roadside overnight; wait until the morning of pickup day before placing it out for collection. A rag soaked with ammonia and placed in the garbage can may discourage a repeat visitor. Nothing with a strong food odor should be composted in the back yard. The odors from an outdoor grill can be attractive to bears. To prevent bear problems, you should burn off as much of the meat and grease as possible and then brush or scrape grills clean. Grills should be stored in a closed garage or shed. If you feed birds during the summer, put out small quantities of seed at more frequent intervals to reduce the attraction to a hungry bear. If a bear should discover your feeder, either discontinue feeding until it leaves or hang your feeder so it is more difficult to reach.
Dumpster Bears Therefore, the cooperation of everyone using the dumpster is necessary to keep it closed and effective. Bear-proof dumpsters with self closing doors, similar to curbside mail boxes, are used successfully in many national parks.
Camping in Bear Country Food and other items with an odor, including candy, toothpaste, suntan lotion, and soap, should be stored in sealed containers. If you are camping near your vehicle, store the containers inside until you are ready to use them. Away from more secure storage facilities, food should be suspended in a "bear bag" that is at least 12 feet above the ground and 10 feet from the nearest tree trunk. Never store food or candy in your tent or sleeping quarters. After meals, you should store all wanted leftovers and then wash dishes immediately. Dump the dishwater away from camp or use a sump hole to filter the water, and then burn the food scraps. In addition, burn all leftover food, wrappers, and grease. Do not bury them or throw them in the latrine! Thoroughly wash and pack out any cans or bottles. If your clothes have food or grease on them, do not bring them into the tent with you.
Encountering Bears Capsaicin, sprayed in the eyes, has been used effectively to repel bears that are reluctant to leave or who approach too closely. Capsaicin is derived from cayenne peppers and has long been used by mailmen to repel aggressive dogs. In more than 200 trials, no bear indicated any sign of aggression after being sprayed, sometimes repeatedly. Most immediately turned and ran, stopping eventually to rub their eyes. There is no lasting injury to the animal.
Feeding Bears
Physical Characteristics Black bears are opportunistic feeders. Their natural diet consists of vegetation, berries, nuts, insects, an occasional deer fawn, and carcasses. Bears will take advantage of human foods and garbage, returning to feed on these items regularly if left accessible. An insatiable appetite helps the black bear achieve its size which, for an adult female, ranges in weight from 150-250 pounds and from 200 to more than 600 pounds for an adult male. Their presence may be intimidating to some people, but the black bear has a natural fear of humans and will most likely run away from an encounter. The black bear is quite shy and is rarely seen, even with other bears, except as a family unit of mother and offspring.
Range and Habitat The northern lands of Michigan are an ideal habitat for black bears, providing a variety of upland ridges and lowland vegetation types. Black bears can be found where both food and cover are available. Preferred black bear habitat includes hardwood forest components (maple, beech and oak), cedar swamps, and wetland areas. Black bears require vast tracks of land to provide all their habitat needs. Some male bears use ranges up to 80 square miles.
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Photo: Bear in my Back Yard, Spread Eagle, Wisconsin by Char |