The American Black Bear inhabits forested areas, although it has become more common in suburban areas, as it's natural forage supply is destroyed by development and environmental factors...Read More
How dangerous are black bears? What's the chance of a hunter or hiker encountering a black bear and being attacked? As numbers of these animals grow around the country, what does the public need to know about what to do if they run into one?
Black bears are becoming more populous in many states, and bear-human encounters are also on the rise. Surprisingly, many people don't think black bears are dangerous. In parks, especially, curious tourists want their picture taken with a bear. The result could be an attack or even worse.
With each passing year, more Americans are having more encounters with bears as numbers of the latter increase in many states. So what do you do if you're camping or hiking, or even working in your backyard, and a bear shows up? Outdoor survival expert Wayne Fears offers the following advice.
Grizzly bears are a magnificent symbol of the high western backcountry; and though they faced extinction in the mid-1900s, now grizzly bears are rebounding. Good biology and support for management programs by the public have combined to double the grizzly number in the last 25 years.
Alaska, Canada and similar locations with wide open areas and natural forage make stalking a productive method for bear hunting. Elsewhere, baiting for bear is popular, especially in Maine and even parts of Canada. Finding a location for a bait site in an agricultural area is basically the same as in a forest area. Look for food, shelter and water. Find what the bears are eating. Look for some type of shelter for them. The bears will usually seek shelter in nearby woods. If possible, choose a bait site located between the feeding area and where the bears are resting.
The black bear is approximately 4 to 7 feet from nose to tail, and two to three feet high at the withers. It has small eyes, rounded ears, a long snout, a large body, a short tail, and shaggy hair. It differs from grizzly bears in being smaller with a smaller shoulder hump, a furred rear instep, a less concave facial profile, smaller claws that are more tightly curved, and longer, smoother, and more tapered ears.
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