Expert advises prep for '09 bear season

NORTH CANAAN — The small crowd that gathered at the Douglas Library April 17 to hear a presentation on black bears was primarily concerned about learning how to deal with them. Of the state’s estimated bear population of 300 to 400, most live in the Northwest Corner. For many humans, the close proximity to these large and rather misunderstood creatures puts them in the category of a frightening nuisance.

But Felicia Dortner’s talk and show of slides (mostly of her own bear photos) is aimed at revealing the myths and misunderstandings that abound. It made one wonder who is the real nuisance.

“Once you understand bears, and why they do what they do, then you can deal with them.�

Dortner is a Connecticut Master Wildlife Conservationist who cautions that she is not a biologist. But she has been following biologists around for the last 25 years. Her enthusiasm was sparked right out of college, while reading a novel that described “bits and pieces� of bear life.

“To this day, I still find myths about bears in books and on the Internet. It’s no wonder people don’t understand their behavior, or know how to live with them.�

To illustrate her point, Dortner showed a slide composite of about 20 magazine covers — from National Geographic to Time — all showing a large and intimidating brown, or grizzly, bear (which are not found in our region) with impressive teeth. She revealed it was the same bear in each of photo.

“Not the same species, it’s the exact same bear,� she said.

Turns out bears don’t bare their teeth normally. They don’t seek prey, so threatening is only used as a defense. But a man trained this particular bear to bare his teeth on command, and now he gets lots of photo work.

Not surprisingly, Dortner, who lives in Monroe, Conn., is in high demand to speak around the state. It’s spring, and people want to put out their bird feeders — but aren’t sure if they should.

Dortner begins her bear talk with the constellations and the many ancient cultures that saw a great bear in the stars. Bears are educational icons (Smokey Bear) and the world’s favorite cuddle toy (the Teddy bear).

Bears are also our closest relative, when bone and muscle structure are considered.

Of the eight bear species left in the world, seven are endangered. It was not hard to guess that the black bear, so common in Connecticut, is the only one that is not. How could they be endangered when we feed them so well?

At the time of the first Pilgrim settlement in 1614, a small bear population was noted here. In 1840, the last recorded black bear killing in the state was listed, in Goshen.

A series of events kept the bears away for a while, including the growth of the iron industry. By the early 1900s, only about 10 percent of the state was still forested. The trees had fallen to the iron industry (nearly all the trees in the Northwest Corner were burned in the iron furnaces), a chestnut tree blight and a devastating hurricane. The native white pines were wiped out to make the wooden boxes used for selling and storing many goods.

Today there are 32 state forests and about 60 percent of the state is covered in mature growth. The bears’ habitat has returned. It took a while for the animals themselves to do the same.

By the 1940s, there were infrequent sightings of male bears wandering through the state. It wasn’t until the 1980s that a female and cubs were spotted.

Dortner described bears as “highly efficient hibernators,� meaning they maintain high body temperatures that allow them to wake suddenly and be instantly alert. They mate in late June to early July. Delayed implantation means the fertilized egg will attach and grow only if the mother puts on enough weight over the summer to ensure she will survive the winter while pregnant. It also means a litter may have more than one father. Bears usually give birth in January, to cubs that are 6 to 12 ounces, or about the size of a soda can.

As soon as they are grown, the males will be sent off to scout their own territories. Their mortality rate is higher because their wanderings often land them in trouble. When they move from destroying bird feeders and getting into the trash to attacking livestock, damaging vehicles and breaking into homes, they can quickly become victims themselves.

One method of deterrence biologists have found to be very effective is to shoot bean bags or rubber bullets at bears.

“The goal is to make the experience as unpleasant as possible. When the bears equate the pain of the experience with humans, they stay away.�

For the rest of us, Dortner said, “Bears will usually avoid humans, unless they think they can get something to eat out of it. Everything in their lives is about the availability of food. Bears do come back to the same birdfeeder year after year. Their territories, which can be up to five miles, can shrink if there is plenty of food. What’s probably most important to remember is to not surprise them.â€�  

Their eyesight is not very good  for distance, so it’s easy to sneak up on a bear; not that anyone would want to. It’s when they’re startled that they might attack. Often, Dortner said, they will “bluff attackâ€� first.

“They don’t really want to fight. It’s not their nature. They’re big chickens. Also, don’t corner them. If you come upon a bear, whether you’re hiking or in your yard, make some noise, like talking, just enough to let them know you’re there. Work on putting distance between you and the bear. Keep them in your peripheral vision and walk away slowly.�

Dortner said it’s the brown bear (which doesn’t live around here) that is more aggressive. It’s for that species that we have instructions such as not getting between a mom and her cubs, or playing dead to halt an attack. Black bears are more apt to run or climb than are their brown cousins.

At home, to avoid bear visitors, keep trash cans covered and preferably inside a garage or shed. Sprinkle a little ammonia on garbage to make it smell nasty to any scavenger.

The barbecue grill is also an enticement. Long after its use, it will be a draw for a bear’s keen sense of smell. Move the grill into a garage when not in use, and keep it clean.

Store bird seed and pet food indoors, and not inside  a screened-in porch. Feed birds during the winter only, or put the feeder up only during the day. Bears and deer feed at dawn and dusk.

In the woods, keep campsites clean and food in metal containers. Don’t sleep in clothes worn while you were cooking around the campfire.

On the trail, stay alert to surroundings to prevent a close encounter. Don’t hike alone, and do talk or make other kinds of noise. Chase a bear away with a very loud noise or by throwing something at it.

If you have food they can smell, give it up. The bear will choose it over you.