Bear

[highmountainchick]

Thanks Amazondoc, great info! But in my area we have seen "black" bears ( spp. americanus) that will naturally occur with fur coloring that is a very light cinnamon, brown and black coloring. We also live in an area with Grizzly, which can be a light brown to very dark brown/black when young. The hump on the back and the head is what makes the identification of the griz. Here in Montana, you have to prove you can tell the different between the americanus vs. the arctos (Griz) to permit a hunting licenses. You cannot hunt bear just based on fur coloring. And it's funny, when talking with the locals, you'll hear,"yea I saw a bear yesterday or a bear got into my trash"... but when someone sees a griz, they say "GRIZ" and not bear. They don't call them arctos horribilis for nothing!

And yea, living in Montana at 4500 elavation.

 

[purr]

I remember a story about a bear a couple of years ago some people were staying at a campground and a bear showed up and everyone ran but left the baby in the stroller.l

It was awefull no more baby!
If I had small children it would be dead already, that thing is not "cute" it is a wild animal.

 

[dacjohns]

Quote:
Both of you are right with some qualifications.

There are 4 types of bear (using the widely accepted common names, not local names) in North America: Black bear (Ursus americanus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), polar bear (Ursus maritimus). So now our four types are really three.

The brown bear is sometimes called a Kodiak. The brown and the grizzly bear used to be considered different species but are now grouped together. The difference between the two is mainly where they live and their size.

The black bear does come in many color variations but no matter what its color it is, it is still Ursus americanus.

I think panner lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. As far as I know the grizzly bear was extirpated many years ago and the only bears left are the black bear.

This discussion helps to illustrate the problems of using common names when talking about plants and animals.

Great site linked below. Probably one of the best.

http://www.natureserve.org/

 

[Oblio13]

While we're being accurate, the grizzly is Ursus arctos horribilis, the underlined being Latin for "temperament like Genghis Khan's".

 

[dacjohns]

Quote:
True, just didn't want to get into the whole subspecies thing.

"temperament like Genghis Khan's"

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Right. Both species can come in different color phases, which I agree can get very confusing -- brown black bears, silver brown bears, and so on. However, the "official" species names are still brown bear and black bear. And as I was saying in the first place, the temperaments of the black and brown bears are very different!

Interesting story I heard on the radio yesterday: recently, a game warden darted a bear (I think it was a black bear, but I don't remember for sure) that had been wandering in an urban area. It ran into the ocean, and was in danger of drowning because it was feeling the effects of the dart. The warden (or another warden) stripped down to his skivvies, dived in, and pulled the bear back to shore.

 

[panner123]

A bear is a bear, the color of it's hair doesn't change that. They are all a lot bigger & stronger than all of us.
While most wild bears will run from a human, some won't. Once a bear has been around humans, in their trash, feed or attacked their animals, that bear needs to be put down. I don't know if any of you have seen what a bear can do or not, I have and it is not a pretty sight. We use to have bear come around and run at the sound of a humans voice, now they walk right toward the voice looking for a hand out. We have to many people feeding the bears that they are forgetting how to hunt for food in the wild. Yes, bear cubs are cute, as are the adults. Just remember that even a bear cub can kill a human in a matter of minutes if they want to. And when you see a cub, mama bear is watching you. Any bear around a chicken coop should meet my two friends (Smith & Wesson). Sorry but that is the way it is. Bear meat makes some right tasty bacon.

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
Panner we have some real issues in my area with black bears and when you say they can rip apart a coop you're not just whistling Dixie! A few towns away from me here a bear brok into a persons HOUSE, as the kids were rushed upstairs the family dog of course stood it's ground keeping the bear at bay upon which he was promptly kil led (the dog). Sadly the kids had to endure listening to their pet being mauled..... The cops rushed to the scene and shot it & the bear ggroup here was *angry they didn't try to coax it out & use a tranquilizer to relocate him. And the funny thing is where we live here is where they relocate them too!

And of course there was feed out in their pen yesterday when the bear *easily* chased down my chickens who I was letting free range in the yard here. So no they're not likely to just go after the easiest meal but right for the meat.

 

[chickenfanatic]

bears will tear up a coop and they can be a problem but hey thats one heck of a cute pic ill say that haha

 

[kodiakchicken]

Quote:
While a bear is a bear and the color of the hair does not change that fact, the species does affect their particular behaviour. It's proven fact that black bears are much more susceptible to becoming habituated to humans and human garbage and that they often have a nastier temperment around humans than brown or grizzlies do.

That said, what you all are discussing is really two different issues. One is a bear problem, but the bigger one is a human problem. Yes, bears will wander into residential areas (how can they not - we're living in their backyards, not vice versa) and they will take advantage of any food made available to them, but they can be deterred if they haven't become accustomed to it. And one occurance does not a habit make. Unfortunately, it takes a community effort to change their mindset on bears and come together in bear prevention instead of bear eradication. If you have neighbors feeding the bears or casually leaving garbage out then running them out of your yard isn't going to prevent them from becoming a problem bear.

Panner - While I whole-heartedly agree with you that bears cannot be successfully located and that we have every right to shoot a bear that is threatening our family, I find it irresponsible to advise people to simply shoot a bear in their yard without knowing more of the situation. I am more prepared to shoot one of the 3 Kodiak brown bears Fish and Game informed me today that have been less than 200 yards from my home IF they are threatening my family or property. However, it is my responsibility to take every measure I can to prevent their attraction to my yard and prevent my poultry from becoming an easy meal. If I were to shoot a bear in a chicken coop without having taken the proper precautions then it would be Fish and Game's right and responsibility to fine me for baiting a bear and shooting one out of season - and I wouldn't be able to argue the fact.