Holly climbs planted cedarHolly discovered the cedar tree we planted in front of the viewing deck and climbed nearly to the top. Super. We’ve wanted her to do that. She can use it as an escape from Honey when she is down by Honey’s window den, which is visible in the picture. She can feel more secure coming to the viewing area knowing she has an escape. And we’ve wanted a bear to climb that tree so visitors can see their power and climbing method. We’re imagining visitors snapping pictures of Holly up a tree at eye level from the deck, maybe a waterfall in the background. We hope she does that a lot during the Lilypad Picnic in about a month.
Inquiring minds asked for more about the young bear following the two men in Alberta. Some of the questions:
Can you give more details about the bear’s behavior?
The bear came calmly and curiously at first. As it got closer it showed conflicting drives and wanted to approach but was nervous about doing so. At that point, several times it started toward one of the men and quickly moved to the edge of the road near trees it could climb if a person responded in a hostile way. It’s nervousness escalated to the point it climbed a short way up several trees and even blew at the men once. Not a threat, just nervousness on the part of the bear. Then it gave up and stopped approaching. There’s no way to know the attraction and what the bear was thinking because we don’t know the bear’s background and don’t know what attractants the men had.
Holly up white pine - June 16What would you have done?
Since we don’t know the bear, we would have been wary and ready to defend ourselves like the men were. If we had pepper spray, we might have used it, although the bear didn’t show any intent to injure. If we felt threatened and didn’t have pepper spray, we probably would have chased it away at the bear’s first sign of nervousness. We’ve never met a bear we couldn’t chase away if we tried. All we’ve ever needed was a stern voice and an aggressive persona.
What do you think explains the persistent attempts to come close?
We don’t know, of course. Personalities differ. Backgrounds vary. We, too, wondered what drew the bear to the men. The bear started toward them from such a distance that it seemed the bear was attracted to people and possibly considered them a source of handouts. However, most black bears don’t generalize their expectations like that. Bears that are accustomed to getting food from certain people in certain locations don’t usually expect food from just anyone, anywhere. But there are exceptions to every rule. We wonder if it was a bear hand-raised with good and bad treatment and then released, leaving the bear not knowing what to expect from people but viewing them as possible sources of handouts.
Holly climbs down - June 16We’ve heard of hungry bears approaching hikers on the Appalachian Trail and performing nervous behaviors when they get uncomfortably close (for the bear) to hikers wearing backpacks. Nervous behaviors mean the bears lack confidence and can easily be chased away. This bear was ready to run whenever one of the men spoke sharply. If one or preferably both men had charged the bear at once, we can only believe the bear would have run. As it was, standing their ground unnerved the bear, and it gave up. If a bear is used to being hand-fed and is looking for food, showing the bear open hands with the fingers pointing up lets the bear know you are not holding food.
To us, the bear never looked hostile, just curious and nervous. Its ears were always up and alert, not defensive (back).
One man asked if we sell pepper spray at the North American Bear Center. Yes—Halt, Dog Repellent, and Counter Assault. We do not sell it online, though, due to stringent shipping requirements.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.