Ready for Spring? Be Ready for Bears
Photo: Calif, Dept of Fish & Wildlife
By Alex Rose
How excited are we when we experience a bear sighting, either on our outdoor video cameras or maybe even “for real” on our semi-rural properties? We call our friends – partially as a warning and because we’re surprised, if not delighted, and we should call the ODFW to offer them the details of the bear encounter.
What we need to wonder is, “Why did that bear visit us?” Was it a random “call;” or did we inadvertently invite that bear over for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? The chances are, unfortunately, that the bear found something delicious in our trash or somewhere on our property, perhaps something as seemingly innocuous as the grains in our bird feeder. Because Spring has sprung and bears - starved and skinny - are emerging from hibernation, they are particularly voracious. In addition, they have a nose that is seven times more efficient than a Bloodhound – yes, they can smell your grill over a mile away. Thus, in an effort to mitigate possibly dangerous, destructive, and unhappy human/bear encounters, it is worthwhile to learn more about them.
Ben Cate, District Wildlife Biologist kindly offered important information about which we want to be aware, especially if we don’t want to harm the visiting bears or see them euthanized.
Some background: The bear population in Oregon numbers about 35,000 – which seems a large number for the relatively small number of sightings reported. The ODFW receives calls from residents in the North Willamette Watershed District on 50 or 60 sightings each Spring. Yes, it’s normal to see a bear in our area. Cate reports the number of bears in our area may increase in the future because there’s little to no safe hunting near densely populated urban communities nor on large areas of bear habitat such as Forest Park or the Metro acreage. Based on the various pictures of different colored bears residents have shown Cate, there seems to be more than one bear in the Skyline and Forest Park areas.
The ODFW will occasionally visit someone’s call site, but this is not a common occurrence; it typically happens if there’s a human safety concern. But it’s unrealistic to think the ODFW is going to come racing out to your property, trap the large intruder, and take him or her off to some glorious pristine forest somewhere else.
Bears are extremely territorial and introducing a “foreign” bear into another bear’s territory usually means one of the two bears will be wounded or even killed fighting for dominance over the area. In addition, bears conditioned to eating human food will continue that behavior no matter where they’re transported. No, the trapped bears are euthanized. Hence, if we care about the health and well-being of these handsome, indigenous beings, it is very wise to heed the ODFW’s residential guidelines for bear-adjacent territories listed below.
HOW BEARWISE ARE YOU? Aspects you might not have taken into consideration:
Some people have an unnecessary fear of bears. In truth, they are shy, furtive, elusive to locate, and actively avoid humans and dogs. Bears are hardly even meat eaters – they are true omnivores, leaning much more toward herbivores. They eat all types of berries and any type of vegetation – almost the same as cows, including sedges, grass, nuts, apple trees, flowers, any palatable portions of plants. When they do eat meat, it is usually scavenged. In the spring, mature males will actively prey on elk calves and deer fawns – but that’s only for a short window of time. Besides being guarded by a ferocious mother, very soon the prey animals are fast enough to outrun a bear.
The black bear is the only species of bear in the state of Oregon. To date, no resident in our area has been injured by a Black Bear; and if a person were threatened, stalked, or in danger from a bear, s/he would, statutorily, be allowed to kill it. This is according to Oregon Revised Statute 498.012, which refers to the taking of wildlife causing damage, posing a public health risk, or that is a public nuisance.
If a bear does approach you, don’t turn and run; it’s important that you face the bear and confront it. If you’re with other people, group together to accentuate your size.
If you’re lackadaisical about bear-proofing your home and property and find yourself with a nuisance bear such that you are compelled to call the ODFW for removal, you are responsible for needlessly killing a bear. Please secure your trashcans. As “cute” and compelling as they are, it’s better for all concerned to not create a continual drop-in friend in Ursus Americanus.
Skyline Ridge Neighbors and the Ridge Runner are very interested in hearing about your encounter with a bear in our “hood.” Kindly either email Alex Rose at: [email protected]; or you are welcome to call or text: (213) 507-6616. Thanks so much!!!
RR 0424
How excited are we when we experience a bear sighting, either on our outdoor video cameras or maybe even “for real” on our semi-rural properties? We call our friends – partially as a warning and because we’re surprised, if not delighted, and we should call the ODFW to offer them the details of the bear encounter.
What we need to wonder is, “Why did that bear visit us?” Was it a random “call;” or did we inadvertently invite that bear over for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? The chances are, unfortunately, that the bear found something delicious in our trash or somewhere on our property, perhaps something as seemingly innocuous as the grains in our bird feeder. Because Spring has sprung and bears - starved and skinny - are emerging from hibernation, they are particularly voracious. In addition, they have a nose that is seven times more efficient than a Bloodhound – yes, they can smell your grill over a mile away. Thus, in an effort to mitigate possibly dangerous, destructive, and unhappy human/bear encounters, it is worthwhile to learn more about them.
Ben Cate, District Wildlife Biologist kindly offered important information about which we want to be aware, especially if we don’t want to harm the visiting bears or see them euthanized.
Some background: The bear population in Oregon numbers about 35,000 – which seems a large number for the relatively small number of sightings reported. The ODFW receives calls from residents in the North Willamette Watershed District on 50 or 60 sightings each Spring. Yes, it’s normal to see a bear in our area. Cate reports the number of bears in our area may increase in the future because there’s little to no safe hunting near densely populated urban communities nor on large areas of bear habitat such as Forest Park or the Metro acreage. Based on the various pictures of different colored bears residents have shown Cate, there seems to be more than one bear in the Skyline and Forest Park areas.
The ODFW will occasionally visit someone’s call site, but this is not a common occurrence; it typically happens if there’s a human safety concern. But it’s unrealistic to think the ODFW is going to come racing out to your property, trap the large intruder, and take him or her off to some glorious pristine forest somewhere else.
Bears are extremely territorial and introducing a “foreign” bear into another bear’s territory usually means one of the two bears will be wounded or even killed fighting for dominance over the area. In addition, bears conditioned to eating human food will continue that behavior no matter where they’re transported. No, the trapped bears are euthanized. Hence, if we care about the health and well-being of these handsome, indigenous beings, it is very wise to heed the ODFW’s residential guidelines for bear-adjacent territories listed below.
HOW BEARWISE ARE YOU? Aspects you might not have taken into consideration:
- Bears scenting abilities rival those of the best Bloodhound – and they’re not fussy – they’ll eat anything that smells! Yes, even a baby’s diapers.
- Clean your smokers and grills – including the utensils, drip pans, and grates after every use, or lock up the whole kit and kaboodle in a secure garage or shed.
- Your car parked outside – Have you left any cosmetics inside? Any food wrappers from a driving snack, air fresheners, petfood, etc. are fair game.
- Bird feeders are especially attractive to bears (just as they are for squirrels) all those yummy grains! Remember to empty them during active bear seasons and best yet, put them away.
- Feeding pets or barn cats outdoors – not a good plan with bears roaming around.
- Bear-proof ALL your trash cans and recycle bins. There are any number of ways to adapt your existing cans or purchase bear-resistant containers. Also, it’s not advisable to put your trash out the night before; rather, do it the pick-up morning.
- Fruit trees and gardens. Pick up all fruit and vegetables that are lying around.
- Chickens, ducks, farm livestock (particularly young ones): keep them and their feed securely locked up at night.
- Beehives – we can imagine the strength of these super-sweet magnets for bears. Electric fencing is definitely recommended as well as keeping the hives well-distanced from bear-protective trees and forests.
- Homes and Outbuildings can present a bevy of “gifts” for bears – screen doors (a piece of cake for a bear); sliding glass doors (easy peasy, especially if unlocked); Crawl spaces under buildings can be used for hibernation if not blocked; open garage doors, freezers and refrigerators, coolers holding food and drinks on patios and decks.
- Who would have thought?!? Swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds and water features – especially with fish.
- Inadvertent attractions – orchard trees, wild berries and natural foods growing close by, dense bushes or forest close to the house.
Some people have an unnecessary fear of bears. In truth, they are shy, furtive, elusive to locate, and actively avoid humans and dogs. Bears are hardly even meat eaters – they are true omnivores, leaning much more toward herbivores. They eat all types of berries and any type of vegetation – almost the same as cows, including sedges, grass, nuts, apple trees, flowers, any palatable portions of plants. When they do eat meat, it is usually scavenged. In the spring, mature males will actively prey on elk calves and deer fawns – but that’s only for a short window of time. Besides being guarded by a ferocious mother, very soon the prey animals are fast enough to outrun a bear.
The black bear is the only species of bear in the state of Oregon. To date, no resident in our area has been injured by a Black Bear; and if a person were threatened, stalked, or in danger from a bear, s/he would, statutorily, be allowed to kill it. This is according to Oregon Revised Statute 498.012, which refers to the taking of wildlife causing damage, posing a public health risk, or that is a public nuisance.
If a bear does approach you, don’t turn and run; it’s important that you face the bear and confront it. If you’re with other people, group together to accentuate your size.
- Stand your ground.
- Back away only when the bear stops its approach.
- Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms and jacket, and/or standing on a rock or stump.
- Yell “Hey bear” loudly.
If you’re lackadaisical about bear-proofing your home and property and find yourself with a nuisance bear such that you are compelled to call the ODFW for removal, you are responsible for needlessly killing a bear. Please secure your trashcans. As “cute” and compelling as they are, it’s better for all concerned to not create a continual drop-in friend in Ursus Americanus.
Skyline Ridge Neighbors and the Ridge Runner are very interested in hearing about your encounter with a bear in our “hood.” Kindly either email Alex Rose at: [email protected]; or you are welcome to call or text: (213) 507-6616. Thanks so much!!!
RR 0424