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BLACK BEARSScott E. HygnstromExtension Wildlife Damage SpecialistDepartment of Forestry, Fisheries

and WildlifeUniversity of NebraskaLincoln, NE 68583-0819

Fig. 1. Black bear, Ursus americanus

Damage Prevention andControl Methods

Exclusion

Use heavy woven-wire or electricfences to exclude bears fromapiaries, cabins, landfills, and otherhigh-value properties.

Store food in bear-proof structures orcontainers, or on elevatedplatforms.

Cultural Methods

Use proper sanitation and solid-wastemanagement techniques.

Remove brush and cover aroundfarmsteads, corrals, and residences.

Confine livestock and removecarcasses.

Locate camp sites and hiking trails inareas of low bear activity.

Frightening

Install night lights and human effigies.

Blaring music, pyrotechnics, andguarding dogs may providetemporary relief from damage.

Repellents

Capsaicin spray.

Toxicants

None are registered.

Fumigants

None are registered.

Trapping

Culvert and barrel live traps.

Foot snares.

Shooting

Baiting and predator calling—bearslured within range can be shot withfirearms of .30 caliber or larger.

Tracking with dogs.

Avoiding Human-Bear Conflicts

Be familiar with several safetyprecautions when camping ortraveling in bear country. Ingeneral, never feed black bears andavoid close encounters with them.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE — 1994

Cooperative Extension DivisionInstitute of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States Department of AgricultureAnimal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceAnimal Damage Control

Great Plains Agricultural CouncilWildlife Committee

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Fig. 2. Characteristics of black bears and grizzly/brown bears.

Black bear

No prominentshoulder hump

Straight muzzle

Short curved claws

Prominent shoulder hump

Massive head

Long claws

Chunky build

Adult male250 pounds

Adult female150 pounds

Adult male450 pounds

Dishface (longupturned muzzle)

Grizzly/Brown bear

Less robust build

Fig. 3. Range of the black bear in North America.

Adult female250 pounds

Identification

The black bear (Ursus americanus, Fig.1) is the smallest and most widely dis-tributed of the North American bears.Adults typically weigh 100 to 400pounds (45 to 182 kg) and measurefrom 4 to 6 feet (120 to 180 cm) long.Some adult males attain weights ofover 600 pounds (270 kg). They aremassive and strongly built animals.Black bears east of the Mississippi arepredominantly black, but in the RockyMountains and westward variousshades of brown, cinnamon, and evenblond are common. The head is mod-erately sized with a straight profileand tapering nose. The ears are rela-tively small, rounded, and erect. Thetail is short (3 to 6 inches [8 to 15 cm])and inconspicuous. Each foot has fivecurved claws about 1 inch (2.5 cm)long that are non-retractable. Bearswalk with a shuffling gait, but can bequite agile and quick when necessary.For short distances, they can run up to35 miles per hour (56 km/hr). They arequite adept at climbing trees and aregood swimmers.

It is important to be able to distinguishbetween black bears and grizzly/brown bears (Ursus arctos). The griz-zly/brown bear is typically muchlarger than the black bear, rangingfrom 400 to 1,300 pounds (180 to 585kg). Its guard hairs have whitish orsilvery tips, giving it a frosted or “griz-zly” appearance. Grizzly/brown bearshave a pronounced hump over theshoulder; a shortened, often dishedface; relatively small ears; and longclaws (Fig. 2).

Range

Black bears historically rangedthroughout most of North Americaexcept for the desert southwest andthe treeless barrens of northernCanada. They still occupy much oftheir original range with the exceptionof the Great Plains, the midwesternstates, and parts of the eastern andsouthern coastal states (Fig. 3). Blackbear and grizzly/brown bear distribu-tions overlap in the Rocky Mountains,Western Canada, and Alaska.

Habitat

Black bears frequent heavily forestedareas, including large swamps andmountainous regions. Mixed hard-wood forests interspersed withstreams and swamps are typical habi-tats. Highest growth rates are achievedin eastern deciduous forests wherethere is an abundance and variety offoods. Black bears depend on forestsfor their seasonal and yearly require-ments of food, water, cover, and space.

Food Habits

Black bears are omnivorous, foragingon a wide variety of plants and ani-mals. Their diet is typically deter-mined by the seasonal availability offood. Typical foods include grasses,berries, nuts, tubers, wood fiber,insects, small mammals, eggs, carrion,and garbage. Food shortages occuroccasionally in northern bear rangeswhen summer and fall mast crops(berries and nuts) fail. During suchyears, bears become bolder and travelmore widely in their search for food.Human encounters with bears aremore frequent during such years, asare complaints of crop damage andlivestock losses.

General Biology,Reproduction, andBehavior

Black bears typically are nocturnal,although occasionally they are activeduring the day. In the South, blackbears tend to be active year-round; butin northern areas, black bears undergoa period of semihibernation duringwinter. Bears spend this period of dor-mancy in dens, such as hollow logs,windfalls, brush piles, caves, and holesdug into the ground. Bears in northernareas may remain in their dens for 5 to7 months, foregoing food, water, andelimination. Most cubs are bornbetween late December and early Feb-ruary, while the female is still denning.

Black bears breed during the summermonths, usually in late June or earlyJuly. Males travel extensively in searchof receptive females. Both sexes arepromiscuous. Fighting occurs betweenrival males as well as between malesand unreceptive females. Dominantfemales may suppress the breedingactivities of subordinate females. Aftermating, the fertilized egg does notimplant immediately, but remainsunattached in the uterus until fall.Females in good condition will usuallyproduce 2 or 3 cubs that weigh 7 to 12ounces (198 to 340 g) at birth.

After giving birth, the sow may con-tinue her winter sleep while the cubsare awake and nursing. Lactatingfemales do not come into estrus, sofemales generally breed only everyother year. Parental care is solely thefemale’s responsibility. Males will killand eat cubs if they have the opportu-nity. Cubs are weaned in late summerbut usually remain close to the femalethroughout their first year. This socialunit breaks up when the female comesinto her next estrus. After the breedingseason, the female and her yearlingsmay travel together for a few weeks.Black bears become sexually mature atapproximately 3 1/2 years of age, butsome females may not breed until theirfourth year or later.

In North America, black bear densitiesrange from 0.3 to 3.4 bears per squaremile (0.1 to 1.3 bears/km2). Densities

are highest in the Pacific Northwestbecause of the high diversity of habi-tats and long foraging season. Thehome range of black bears is depen-dent on the type and quality of thehabitat and the sex and age of the bear.In mountainous regions, bears encoun-ter a variety of habitats by moving upor down in elevation. Where the ter-rain is flatter, bears typically rangemore widely in search of food, water,cover, and space. Most adult femaleshave well-defined home ranges thatvary from 6 to 19 square miles (15 to50 km2). Ranges of adult males areusually several times larger.

Black bears are powerful animals thathave few natural enemies. Despitetheir strength and dominant position,they are remarkably tolerant ofhumans. Interactions between peopleand black bears are usually benign.When surprised or protecting cubs, ablack bear will threaten the intruder bylaying back its ears, uttering a series ofhuffs, chopping its jaws, and stampingits feet. This may be followed by acharge, but in most instances it is onlya bluff, as the bear will advance only afew yards (m) before stopping. Thereare very few cases where a black bearhas charged and attacked a human.Usually people are unaware that bearsare even in the vicinity. Most bearswill avoid people, except bears thathave learned to associate food withpeople. Food conditioning occursmost often at garbage dumps, camp-grounds, and sites where peopleregularly feed bears. Habituated, food-conditioned bears pose the greatestthreat to humans (Herrero 1985,Kolenosky and Strathearn 1987).

Damage and DamageIdentification

Damage caused by black bears is quitediverse, ranging from trampling sweetcorn fields and tearing up turf todestroying beehives and even (rarely)killing humans. Black bears are notedfor nuisance problems such as scav-enging in garbage cans, breaking inand demolishing the interiors of cab-ins, and raiding camper’s campsitesand food caches. Bears also become a

nuisance when they forage in garbagedumps and landfills.

Black bears are about the only animals,besides skunks, that molest beehives.Evidence of bear damage includes bro-ken and scattered combs and hivesshowing claw and tooth marks. Hair,tracks, scats, and other sign may befound in the immediate area. A bearwill usually use the same path toreturn every night until all of thebrood, comb, and honey are eaten.

Field crops such as corn and oats arealso damaged occasionally by hungryblack bears. Large, localized areas ofbroken, smashed stalks show wherebears have fed in cornfields. Bears eatthe entire cob, whereas raccoons stripthe ears from the stalks and chew thekernels from the ears. Black bears pre-fer corn in the milk stage.

Bears can cause extensive damage totrees, especially in second-growth for-ests, by feeding on the inner bark or byclawing off the bark to leave territorialmarkings. Black bears damageorchards by breaking down trees andbranches in their attempts to reachfruit. They will often return to anorchard nightly once feeding starts.Due to the perennial nature of orcharddamage, losses can be economicallysignificant.

Few black bears learn to kill livestock,but the behavior, once developed, usu-ally persists. The severity of black bearpredation makes solving the problemvery important to the individuals whosuffer the losses. If bears are suspect,look for deep tooth marks (about 1/2inch [1.3 cm] in diameter) on the neckdirectly behind the ears. On largeanimals, look for large claw marks(1/2 inch [1.3 cm] between individualmarks) on the shoulders and sides.

Bear predation must be distinguishedfrom coyote or dog attacks. Coyotestypically attack the throat region. Dogschase their prey, often slashing thehind legs and mutilating the animal.Tooth marks on the back of the neckare not usually found on coyote anddog kills. Claw marks are less promi-nent on coyote or dog kills, if presentat all.

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Different types of livestock behavedifferently when attacked by bears.Sheep tend to bunch up whenapproached. Often three or more willbe killed in a small area. Cattle have atendency to scatter when a bearapproaches. Kills usually consist ofsingle animals. Hogs can evade bearsin the open and are more often killedwhen confined. Horses are rarelykilled by bears, but they do get clawedon the sides.

After an animal is killed, black bearswill typically open the body cavity andremove the internal organs. The liverand other vital organs are eaten first,followed by the hindquarters. Uddersof lactating females are also preferred.When a bear makes a kill, it usuallyreturns to the site at dusk. Bears preferto feed alone. If an animal is killed inthe open, the bear may drag it into thewoods or brush and cover the remainswith leaves, grass, soil, and forestdebris. The bear will periodicallyreturn to this cache site to feed on thedecomposing carcass.

Black bears occasionally threatenhuman health and safety. Dr. StephenHerrero documented 500 injuries tohumans resulting from encounterswith black bears from 1960 to 1980(Herrero 1985). Of these, 90% wereminor injuries (minor bites, scratches,and bruises). Only 23 fatalities due toblack bear attacks were recorded from1900 to 1980. These are remarkablylow numbers, considering the geo-graphic overlap of human and blackbear populations. Ninety percent of allincidents were likely associated withhabituated, food-conditioned bears.

Legal Status

In the early 1900s, black bears wereclassified as nuisance or pest speciesbecause of agricultural depredations.Times have changed and bear distribu-tions and populations have diminishedbecause of human activity. Manystates, such as Colorado, Idaho, Min-nesota, Montana, New Mexico, Ore-gon, Utah, and Wisconsin, manage theblack bear as a big game animal. Mostother states either consider black bears

as not present or completely protectthe species. In most western states,livestock owners and property ownersmay legally kill bears that are killinglivestock, damaging property, orthreatening human safety. Severalstates require a permit before remov-ing a bear when the damage situationis not acute.

In states where complete protection isrequired, the state wildlife agency orUSDA-APHIS-ADC will usually offerprompt service when a problemoccurs. The problem bear will be live-trapped and moved, killed, and/orcompensation for damage offered. In alife-threatening situation, the bear canbe shot, but proof of jeopardy may berequired to avoid a citation for illegalkilling.

Damage Prevention andControl Methods

Exclusion

Fencing has proven effective in deter-ring bears from landfills, apiaries, cab-ins, and other high-value properties.Fencing, however, is a relativelyexpensive abatement measure. Con-sider the extent, duration, and expenseof damage when developing a preven-tion program.

Numerous fence designs have beenused with varying degrees of success.Electric fence chargers increase effec-tiveness. Depending on the amount ofbear pressure, use an electric polytapeportable fence (Fig. 4), or a welded-wire permanent fence (Fig. 5).

Fence Energizing System andMaintenance. To energize the fences,use a 110-volt outlet or 12-volt deepcell (marine) battery connected to ahigh-output fence charger. Place thefence charger and battery in a case orempty beehive to protect them againstweather and theft. Drive a ground rod5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 m) into theground, preferably into moist soil.Connect the ground terminal of thecharger to the ground rod with a wireand ground clamp. Connect the posi-tive fence terminal to the fence with ashort piece of fence wire. Use connec-

tors to ensure good contact. Electricfences must deliver an effective shockto repel bears. Bears can be lured intolicking or sniffing the wire by attachingattractants (salmon or tuna tins andbacon rinds) to the fence. Groundingmay be increased, especially in dry,sandy soil, by laying grounded chickenwire around the outside perimeter ofthe electric fence.

Check the fence voltage each week at adistance from the fence charger; itshould yield at least 3,000 volts. Toprotect against voltage loss, keep thebattery and fence charger dry andtheir connections free of corrosion.Make certain all connections are secureand check for faulty insulators (arcingbetween wire and post). Also clipvegetation beneath the fence. Eachmonth, check the fence tension andreplace baits with new salmon tins andbacon rinds. Always recharge the bat-teries during the day so that the fenceis energized at night.

Black bears are strong enough to tearopen doors, rip holes in siding, andbreak glass windows to gain access tofood stored inside cabins, tents, andother structures. Use solid frame con-struction, 3/4-inch (2-cm) plywoodsheeting, and strong, tight-fitting shut-ters and doors. Steel plating is moreimpervious than wood.

Bear-proof containers are available forcampers in a variety of sizes. They canbe used to safely store food and otherbear attractants during backpackingtrips or other outdoor excursions. Inthe absence of bear-proof containers,store food in airtight containers andsuspend them by rope between twotall trees that are at least 100 yards (100m) downwind of your campsite.

Food, supplies, and beehives can bestored 15 to 20 feet (4 to 6 m) aboveground on elevated platforms or bearpoles. Support poles should be at least6 inches (15 cm) in diameter andwrapped with a 4-foot-wide (1.4-m)piece of galvanized sheet metal, 6 to 7feet (2 m) above ground. You can alsoplace one or two hives on a flat or low-sloping garage roof. Be sure to addextra roof braces because two hivesfull of honey can weigh 800 pounds

Gate handles

Guy wire

Ground rod

Beehive

Insulator

36"

26"

16"

6" 6"

5'6"

3'

1'

12'

Bacon rindsSalmon tins

45°

To install: Drive in four corner posts 1 footdeep and attach a guy wire. Clip vegetation in a15-inch-wide strip under the fence and applyherbicide. Attach insulators on the inside of cor-ner posts and stretch the electroplastic wirefrom the four posts at intervals of 6, 16, 26, and36 inches from ground level. Hand tighten thepolytape and join the ends with four squareknots. Drive in the remaining posts at 12-footintervals, attach insulators (on the outside ofline posts), and insert polytape.

Electric polytape portable fence. One person can easily and quickly install this fence. It iseconomical and dependable for low to moderate bear pressures. The fence consists of four strands ofelectric polytape that are attached to posts with insulators. The cost per fence (33 x 33 feet) is about$200.

1 200-yard roll of polytape12 4-foot fence rods (5/16-inch diameter)48 Insulators or clips4 Gate handles1 12-volt fence charger1 12-volt deep cycle battery

Herbicides

Fig. 4. Electric polytape portable fence

Guy wire

6"

16"

26"

Beehive

Ground rod 5'6"

6" 12'

Salmon tins

36"

Gate handles

Bacon rinds

Insulator

1'

3'

(360 kg) or more. An innovative tech-nique for beekeepers is to place hiveson a fenced (three-strand electric)flatbed trailer (8 feet x 40 feet [2.4 m x12.2 m]). Though expensive, thismethod makes hives less vulnerable tobear damage and makes moving themvery easy.

Cultural Methods

Prevention is the best method of con-trolling black bear damage. Sanitationand proper solid waste managementare key considerations. Store food,organic wastes, and other bear attrac-tants in bear-proof containers. Use gar-bage cans for nonfood items only.

Implement regular garbage pickupand practice incineration. Reduceaccess to landfills through fencing, andbury refuse daily. Eliminate garbagedumps.

Place livestock pens and beehives atleast 50 yards (50 m) away fromwooded areas and protective cover.Confine livestock in buildings andpens, especially during lambing orcalving seasons. Remove carcassesfrom the site and dispose of them byrendering or deep burial.

Plant susceptible crops (corn, oats,fruit) away from areas of protectivecover. Pick and remove all fruit fromorchard trees.

Remove protective cover from a radiusof 50 yards (50 m) around occupiedbuildings and residences. Locatecampgrounds, campsites, and hikingtrails in areas that are not frequentedby bears to minimize people/bearencounters. Avoid seasonal feedingand denning areas and frequently usedgame trails. Where possible, clear hik-ing trails to provide a minimum view-ing distance of 50 yards (50 m) downthe trail.

Frightening Devices andDeterrents

Black bears can be frightened from anarea (such as buildings, livestockcorrals, orchards) by the extended use

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Woven-wire permanent fence. This fence, best used under high bear pressure, is the mostdurable and expensive barrier. It can be installed by two people in 8 hours. The fence consists ofheavy, 5-foot woven wire, supported by wooden posts, ringed by two additional electrified wires.The cost per fence (33 x 33 feet) is about $400.

1 50-yard roll of 6-inch square mesh, 5-foot woven wire1 150-yard roll of high-tensile (14-gauge) smooth wire24 8-foot treated wooden posts40 Porcelain strain-insulators (screw-in types)1 2-pound box of 1 1/2-inch fence staples6 gate handles1 12-volt fence charger1 12-volt deep cycle battery

Herbicides

To install: Set posts 6 to 12 feet apart in 2-foot-deep holes. Align four corner posts at 5o anglesfrom the vertical. Brace corner and gate posts from the inside with posts set at 45o angles. Clip a15-inch-wide strip clear of vegetation under the fence and apply herbicide. Place one length ofwelded wire vertically into position and staple the end to a corner post. Pull the entire length ofwire taut with a vehicle and staple the welded wire to the line posts. Continue until all sides,except the gate opening, are fenced. Fasten two strands of high-tensile wire to insulatorspositioned 5 inches away from the welded wire, at intervals of 6 and 56 inches above ground level.For a 12-foot gate opening, attach three strands of high-tensile wire to insulators on the gateposts.Space the wires at intervals of 6, 36, and 56 inches above ground level. Connect them to the twostrands previously strung around the fence. These wires will be connected to the positive fencecharger terminal. Attach three more wires to gatepost insulators at intervals of 20, 48, and 64inches above ground level. These three wires will be connected together and to the ground rod. Fitinsulated gate handles to the free ends of all six gate wires.

Beehive

Ground rod

6'

2'

Approx. 12'

6'

Gate handles

12'

64"

56"

48"

36"

20"

6"

-

-

-

+

+

+

Approx. 6'

Top View

fence postwoven wire

hot wire

5"insultor

Fig. 5. Woven-wire permanent fence

Approx. 12'

2'

6'

6'

12'

64"

56"

6"

20"

36"

48"

Gate handlesBeehive

Ground rod

Insulator

Fence post

Hot wireWoven wire

5"Top view

Approx. 6'

of night lights, strobe lights, loud mu-sic, pyrotechnics, exploder canons,scarecrows, and trained guard dogs.The position of such frightening de-vices should be changed frequently.Over a period of time, animals usuallybecome used to scare devices. Bearsoften become tolerant of human activ-ity, too. At this point, scare devices areineffective and human safety becomesa concern.

Black bears are occasionally encoun-tered in the backcountry on trails or atcampsites. They can usually be fright-ened away by shouting, clappinghands, throwing objects, and by chas-ing. Such actions can be augmented bythe noise of pots banging, gunfire,cracker shells, gas-propelled boathorns, and engines revving. It isimportant to attempt to determine themotivation of the offending bears.Habituated, food-conditioned bearscan be very dangerous. Aggressivebehavior toward a black bear shouldnot be carried so far as to threaten thebear and elicit an attack.

Black bears can be deterred from land-fills, occupied buildings, and othersites by the use of 12-gauge plasticslugs or 38-mm rubber bullets. Aim forthe large muscle mass in the hindquarters. Avoid the neck and frontshoulders to minimize the risk of hit-ting and damaging an eye. Firearmsafety training is recommended.

Repellents

Capsaicin or concentrated red pepperspray has been tested and used effec-tively on black bears. The spray rangeon most products is less than 30 feet(10 m), so capsaicin is only effective inclose encounters. Capsaicin spray maybecome more popular where use offirearms is limited.

Toxicants

None are registered.

Fumigants

None are registered.

Trapping

Culvert and Barrel Traps. Livetrapping black bears in culvert or bar-rel traps is highly effective and conve-nient (Fig. 6). Set one or two culverttraps in the area where the bear iscausing a problem. Post warning signson and in the vicinity of the trap. Usebaits to lure the bear into the trap.Successful baits include decaying fish,beaver carcasses, livestock offal, fruit,candy, molasses, and honey. When thetrap door falls, the bear is safely heldwithout a need for dangerous han-dling or transfer. Bears can be immobi-lized, released at another site, ordestroyed if necessary. Trapped bearsthat are released should first be trans-ported at least 50 miles (80 km), prefer-ably across a substantial geographicbarrier such as a large river, swamp, ormountain range, and released in aremote area. Remote release mecha-nisms are highly recommended. Occa-sionally, food-conditioned bears willrepeat their offenses. A problem bearshould be released only once. If itcauses subsequent problems it shouldbe destroyed.

Foot Snares. The Aldrich-type footsnare (Fig. 7) is used extensively byUSDA-APHIS-ADC and state wildlifeagency personnel to catch problembears. This method is safe, when cor-rectly used, and allows for the releaseof nontarget animals. Bears capturedin this manner can be tranquilized,released, translocated, or destroyed.Use baits as described previously toattract bears to foot snare sets.

The tools required for the pipe set arean Aldrich foot snare complete withthe spring throw arm, a 9-inch (23-cm)long, 5-inch (13-cm) diameter piece ofstove pipe, iron pin, hammer, andshovel. Cut a 1-inch (2.5-cm) slot,6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) long, down oneside of the pipe. Place the pipe in ahole dug 9 inches (23 cm) deep into theground. Cut a groove in the ground toaccommodate the spring throw arm sothat the pan will extend through theslot into the center of the pipe. The topof the pipe should be level with theground surface. Anchor the pipe

securely to the ground, where pos-sible, by attaching it to spikes or astake driven into the ground inside thecan. Bears will try to pull the pipe outof the ground if it “gives.” The springthrow arm should be placed with thepan extending into the pipe slot 6inches (15 cm) down from the top ofthe pipe. Pack soil around the pipe 1inch (2.5 cm) from the top. Leave thepipe slot open and the spring uncov-ered. Loop the cable around the pipe,leaving 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) of slack.Place the cable over the hood on thespring throw arm, then spike the cableto the ground in back of the throwarm. The cable is spiked to keep itflush to the ground so that it will notunkink or spring up prematurely.Cover the cable loop with soil to thetop of the pipe. Anchor the cablesecurely to a tree at least 8 inches (20cm) in diameter. Cover the springthrow arm and pipe slot with grassand leaves. Place a few boughs andsome brush around the set to directthe bear into the pipe. The slot in thepipe and the spring throw arm shouldbe at the back of the set. The bear canapproach the set from either side orthe front. Melt bacon into the bottomof the pipe and drop a small piece in.The bacon should not lie on the pan.Other bait or scent, such as a fish-scented rag, may be used. Place a 15-to 20-pound (6.8- to 9-kg) rock over thetop of the pipe. Melt bacon grease onthe top of it or rub it on. The rock willserve to prevent humans, birds, non-target wild animals, and livestockfrom being caught in the snare. Thebear will approach the set and proceedto lick the grease off the rock. It willthen roll the rock from the top of thepipe and try to reach the bait with itsmouth. When this fails, it will use afront foot, which will then be caught inthe snare.

The bear will try to reach the bait firstwith its mouth and may spring the setif the pan is not placed the required 6inches (15 cm) below the top of thepipe. Pipe sets are more efficient, moreeconomical, and safer than legholdtraps. Sources of bear foot snares arefound in Supplies and Materials.

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Fig. 6. Culvert trap for live capture of bears.

Trigger detail

Steel plate inserted inslot cut in culvert

Suspend bait fromrope or wire.

Cross section

Frame

Drop door

FrontRear

Bacon grease

Rock

Snare

Anchor pipe securely into ground withstake

2-pound coffee can or 10 inches of5-inch stovepipe

Bacon grease

Iron pin to control cable and snap liftof snare

Twig and grass cover

Ground level

Anchor cable to treeor heavy log

Fig. 7. Pipe snare set with Aldrich foot snare.

Shooting

Shooting is effective, but often a lastresort, in dealing with a problem blackbear. Permits are required in moststates and provinces to shoot a bearout of season. To increase the prob-ability of removing the problem bear,shooting should be done at the sitewhere damage has occurred. Bearsare most easily attracted to baits fromdusk to dark. Place baits in thedamaged area where there are safeshooting conditions and clear visibil-ity. Use large, well-anchored carcassbaits or heavy containers filled withrancid meat scraps, fat drippings, androtten fruit or vegetables. Establish astand roughly 100 yards (100 m)downwind from the bait and wait forthe bear to appear. Strive for a quickkill, using a rifle of .30 caliber or larger.The animal must be turned over to

wildlife authorities in most states andprovinces.

Calling bears with a predator call hasbeen reported to offer limited success.If nothing else works, it can be tried. Itis best to use two people when callingsince the bear may come up in an uglymood, out of sight of the caller. Aswith any method of bear control, becautious and use an adequate-caliberrifle to kill the bear. Call in the vicinityof the damage, taking proper precau-tions by wearing camouflage clothing,orienting the wind to blow the humanscent away from the direction of thebear’s approach, and selecting an areathat provides clear visibility for shoot-ing. See Blair (1981) for bear-callingmethods.

Some states allow the use of dogs tohunt bears. Guides and professional

hunters with bear dogs can be calledfor help. Place the dogs on the track ofthe problem bear. Often the dogs willbe able to track and tree the bear,allowing it to be killed, and thus solv-ing the bear problem quickly.

Avoiding Human-Bear Conflicts

Preventing Bear Attacks. Blackand grizzly bears must be respected.They have great strength and agility,and will defend themselves, theiryoung, and their territories if they feelthreatened. Learn to recognize the dif-ferences between black and brownbears. Knowledge and alertness canhelp avoid encounters with bears thatcould be hazardous. They are unpre-dictable and can inflict serious injury.NEVER feed or approach a bear.

To avoid a bear encounter, stay alertand think ahead. Always hike in a

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group. Carry noisemakers, such asbells or cans containing stones. Mostbears will leave a vicinity if they areaware of human presence. Rememberthat noisemakers may not be effectivein dense brush or near rushing water.Be especially alert when traveling intothe wind since bears may not pick upyour scent and may be unaware ofyour approach. Stay in the open andavoid food sources such as berrypatches and carcass remains. Bearsmay feel threatened if surprised.Watch for bear sign—fresh tracks, dig-ging, and scats (droppings). Detouraround the area if bears or their freshsign are observed.

NEVER approach a bear cub. Adultfemale black bears are very defensiveand may be aggressive, making threat-ening gestures (laying ears back,huffing, chopping jaws, stomping feet)and possibly making bluff charges.Black bears rarely attack humans, butthey have a tolerance range which,when encroached upon, may triggeran attack. Keep a distance of at least100 yards (100 m) between you andbears.

Bears are omnivores, eating both veg-etable and animal matter, so don’tencourage them by leaving food orgarbage around camp. When bearsassociate food with humans, they oftenlose their fear of humans and areattracted to campsites. Food-condi-tioned bears are very dangerous.

In established campgrounds, keepyour campsite clean, and lock food inthe trunk of your vehicle. Don’t leavedirty utensils around the campsite,and don’t cook or eat in tents. Aftereating, place garbage in containersprovided by the campground.

In the backcountry, establish campaway from animal or walking trailsand near large, sparsely branched treesthat can be climbed should it becomenecessary. Choose another area if freshbear sign is present. Cache food awayfrom your tent, preferably suspendedfrom a tree that is 100 yards (100 m)downwind of camp. Hang food from astrong branch at least 15 feet (4.5 m)high and 8 feet (2.4 m) from the trunk

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of the tree. Use bear-proof or airtightcontainers for storing food and otherattractants. Freeze-dried foods arelight-weight and relatively odor-free.Pack out all noncombustible garbage.Burying it is useless and dangerous.Bears can easily smell it and dig it up.The attracted bear may then become athreat to the next group of hikers. Al-ways have radio communication andemergency transportation available forremote base or work camps, in case ofaccidents or medical emergencies.

Don’t take dogs into the backcountry.The sight or smell of a dog may attract abear and provoke an attack. Most dogsare no match for a bear. When in trouble,the dog may come running back to theowner with the bear in pursuit. Trainedguard dogs are an exception and may beuseful in detecting and chasing awaybears in the immediate area.

Bear Confrontations. If a bear isseen at a distance, make a wide detour.Keep upwind if possible so the bearcan pick up human scent and recog-nize human presence. If a detour orretreat is not possible, wait until thebear moves away from the path.Always leave an escape route andnever harass a bear.

If a bear is encountered at close range,keep calm and assess the situation. Abear rearing on its hind legs is not al-ways aggressive. If it moves its headfrom side to side it may only be tryingto pick up scent and focus its weakeyes. Remain still and speak in lowtones. This may indicate to the animalthat there is no threat. Assess the sur-roundings before taking action. Thereis no guaranteed life-saving method ofhandling an aggressive bear, but somebehavior patterns have proven moresuccessful than others.

Do not run. Most bears can run as fast asa racehorse, covering 30 to 40 feet (9 to 12m) per second. Quick, jerky movementscan trigger an attack. If an aggressivebear is met in a wooded area, speak softlyand back slowly toward a tree. Climb agood distance up the tree. Most blackbears are agile climbers, so a tree offerslimited safety, but you can defend your-self in a tree with branches or a boot heel.

Adult grizzlies don’t climb as a rule, butlarge ones can reach up to 10 feet (3 m).

Occasionally, bears will bluff by charg-ing within a few yards (m) of an unfor-tunate hiker. Sometimes they chargeand veer away at the last second. Ifyou are charged, attempt to stand yourground. The bear may perceive you asa greater threat than it is willing totackle and may leave the area.

Black bears are less formidable thangrizzly bears, and may be frightenedoff by acting aggressively toward theanimal. Do not play dead if a blackbear is stalking you or appears to con-sider you as prey. Use sticks, rocks,frying pans, or whatever is available tofrighten the animal away.

As a last resort, when attacked by agrizzly/brown bear, passively resist byplaying dead. Drop to the ground facedown, lift your legs up to your chest,and clasp both hands over the back ofyour neck. Wearing a pack will shieldyour body. Brown bears have beenknown to inflict only minor injuriesunder these circumstances. It takescourage to lie still and quiet, but resis-tance is usually useless.

Many people who work in or frequentbear habitat carry firearms for personalprotection. High-powered rifles (such asa .458 magnum with a 510-grain soft-point bullet or a .375 magnum with a300-grain soft-point bullet) or shotguns(12-gauge with rifled slugs) are the bestchoices, followed by large handguns (.44magnum or 10 mm). Although not apopular solution, killing a bear that isattacking a human is justifiable.

Economics of Damageand Control

Black bear damage to the honeyindustry is a significant concern. Dam-age to apiaries in the Peace River areaof Alberta was estimated at $200,000 in1976. Damage incidents in YosemiteNational Park were estimated to be ashigh as $113,197 in 1975, with $96,594resulting from damage to vehicles inwhich food was stored. Thirty percentof all trees over 6 inches (15 cm) tall

were reported to be damaged by blackbears on a 3,360 acre (1,630 ha) parcelin Washington State. In Wisconsin, onefemale black bear and her cubs causedan estimated $35,000 of damage toapple trees during a two-day period in1987. In general, black bears can inflictsignificant economic damage in local-ized areas.

Some states pay for damage caused byblack bears. In western states, lossescaused by black bears are usually lessthan 10% of total predation losses,although records are not complete.The extent of claims paid are not highbut usually are greater than the licenseincome that state wildlife agenciesreceive from black bear hunters.Deems and Pursley (1983) listed thestates and provinces that pay for blackbear depredations.

Acknowledgments

Much of the text was adapted from the chapter“Black Bears” by M. Boddicker from the 1986revision of Prevention and Control of WildlifeDamage.

Figure 1 from Schwartz and Schwartz (1981).

Figure 2 from Graf et al. (1992).

Figure 3 from Burt and Grossenheider (1976),adapted by Dave Thornhill, University ofNebraska-Lincoln.

Figures 4 and 5 from Hygnstrom and Craven(1986).

Figure 6 from Boddicker (1986).

Figure 7 courtesy of Gregerson ManufacturingCo., adapted by Jill Sack Johnson.

Figure 8 from Manitoba Fish and Wildlife agencypublications, adapted by Jill Sack Johnson.

Figure 9 by M. Boddicker.

For AdditionalInformation

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Boddicker, M. L., ed. 1980. Managing RockyMountain furbearers. Colorado Trapper’sAssoc., LaPorte, Colorado. 176 pp.

Bromley, M., ed. 1989. Bear-people conflicts:proceedings of a symposium onmanagement strategies. Northwest Terr.Dep. Renew. Resour. Yellowknife. 246 pp.

Burt, W. H., and R. P. Grossenheider. 1976. Afield guide to the mammals, 3d ed.Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. 289 pp.

Davenport, L. B., Jr. 1953. Agriculturedepredation by the black bear in Virginia. J.Wildl. Manage. 17:331-340.

Deems, E. F., and D. Pursley, eds. 1983. NorthAmerican furbearers: a contemporaryreference. Int. Assoc. Fish Wildl. Agenciesand Maryland Dep. Nat. Resour. Annapolis,Maryland. 223 pp.

Erickson, A. W. 1957. Techniques for live-trapping and handling black bears. Trans.North Amer. Wildl. Conf. 22:520-543.

Graf, L. H., P. L. Clarkson, and J. A. Nagy. 1992.Safety in bear country: a reference manual,rev. ed. Northwest Terr. Dep. Renew.Resour. Yellowknife. 135 pp.

Herrero, S. 1985. Bear attacks: their causes andavoidance. New Century Publ. Piscataway,New Jersey. 288 pp.

Hygnstrom, S. E., and S. R. Craven. 1986. Beardamage and nuisance problems inWisconsin. Univ. Wisconsin Ext. Publ.G3000. Madison, Wisconsin. 6 pp.

Hygnstrom, S. E., and T. M. Hauge. 1989. Areview of problem black bear managementin Wisconsin. Pages 163-168 in M. Bromley,ed. Bear-people conflicts: proceedings of asymposium on management strategies.Northwest Terr. Dep. Renew. Resour.Yellowknife.

Jonkel, C. J., and I. McT. Cowan. 1971. The blackbear in the spruce-fir forest. Wildl. Monogr.27. 57 pp.

Jope, K. L. 1985. Implications of grizzly bearhabituation to hikers. Wildl. Soc. Bull.13:32-37.

Kolenosky, G. B., and S. M. Strathearn. 1987.Black bear. Pages 442-454 in M. Novak, J. A.Baker, M. E. Obbard, and B. Malloch, eds.Wild furbearer management andconservation in North America. OntarioMinistry of Nat. Resour. Toronto.

McArthur, K. L. 1981. Factors contributing toeffectiveness of black bear transplants. J.Wildl. Manage. 45:102-110.

Meechan, W. R., and J. F. Thilenius. 1983. Safetyin bear country: protective measures andbullet performance at short range. Gen. Tech.Rep. PNW-152. US Dep. Agric., For. Serv.Portland, Oregon. 16 pp.

Rogers, L. L. 1984. Reactions of free-rangingblack bears to capsaicin spray repellent.Wildl. Soc. Bull. 12:58-61.

Rogers, L. L., D. W. Kuehn, A. W. Erickson, E. M.Harger, L. J. Verme, and J. J. Ozoga. 1976.Characteristics and management of blackbears that feed in garbage dumps, campgrounds or residential areas. Int. Conf. BearRes. Manage. 3:169-175.

Rutherglen, R. A. 1973. The control of problemblack bears. British Columbia Fish Wildl.Branch, Wildl. Manage. Rep. 11. 78 pp.

Schwartz, C. W., and E. R. Schwartz. 1981. Thewild mammals of Missouri, rev. ed. Univ.Missouri Press, Columbia. 356 pp.

Singer, D. J. 1952. American black bear. Pages97-102 in J. Walker McSpadden, ed. Animalsof the world. Garden City Books, GardenCity, New York.

Van Wormer, J. 1966. The world of the blackbear. J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia. 168pp.

Wynnyk, W. P., and J. R. Gunson. 1977. Designand effectiveness of a portable electric fencefor apiaries. Alberta Rec., Parks, and Wildl.Fish Wildl. Div. Alberta, Canada. 11 pp.

EditorsScott E. HygnstromRobert M. TimmGary E. Larson

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