Beat Update

Black Bear Researcher

SUMMER BIOLOGY

After the mating period (June-July) bear activity revolves around berry feeding. Bears must build fat reserves in preparation for hibernation and successful reproduction. Between mid-August and early October bears may consume 6 million huckleberries. Huckleberries are the most important pre-denning (summer-fall) food. Adult males have the greatest knowledge of huckleberry patches due to their larger home range movements (50-150 square km). Larger, dominant resident males expand their movements in mid-late September to include spawning streams. Whistler males have been observed fishing along the Birkenhead River north of Pemberton and feeding at the Squamish dump. Females with eight-month-old cubs remain within their 10-km territories rotating daily feeding activities between berry shrub fields and carpenter ant sites, always ensuring mature timber is nearby for cub escape/security cover. Pregnant females perhaps require the greatest weight gain to support successful reproduction and search endlessly for berries as they begin the four-month period of delayed implantation. Egg development is suspended until fat reserves (from berries) are attained by late November. Bears will increase their daily activity to over 20 hours per day as the berry crops ripen into higher elevations.

RIPE BERRIES

Early August berry feeding is on red/orange/purple salmonberries, black twinberries, blue oval-leaf blueberries, purple Alaskan blueberries, black mountain huckleberries, red elderberries, red raspberries, and black gooseberries. Berries ripening during mid-late August are red thimbleberries, red devil's club berries, red high bush cranberries, red mountain ash berries, and white, red-osier dogwood berries. If you want to learn about the different shrubs that produce berries for bears the best plant guide for this region is Plants of Coastal British Columbia by Pojar and MacKinnon (B.C. Forest Service 1994) and is available in many bookstores.

BERRY HABITATS

Bears remain active until den entrance (November) throughout timber-shrub and shrub-dominated habitats feeding on berries and carpenter ants from rotten logs/stumps. In the valley, berry-producing habitats are shrub patches and corridors along the valley trail and parks, mountain biking and hiking trails, and throughout residential properties. Above valley bottom, be aware of berry feeding bears along hiking/mountain biking corridors, (i.e. Whistler Interpretive Forest, Cheakamus, and Rainbow) and along creek, river, and lake riparian areas. The most productive huckleberry shrubfields are south, southwest facing slopes in avalanche tracts, wildfire burns, logged areas, and the ski area.

SCATS

The most common evidence left from bear feeding is fecal droppings (scats). Poke through a scat with a stick and look at the contents. Berry scats can be segmented or runny. Scats will vary in color depending on which berries have been eaten but usually are black, purple, or red. Scats are segmented when bears are feeding on insects (carpenter ants) and will appear as black/brown sawdust when broken apart. Bears feed on carpenter ants from rotten logs, stumps, and from beneath rocks. Small black specs in the scat represent the head or thoracic region of the ant.

YEARLING MALES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

Yearling males are the most active bear class near people. When 17-month old cubs (yearlings) separate from their mother, daughters remain within their natal (birth) range and sons are forced out of their mother's territory to avoid inbreeding, competition for food resources, and potential cub predation. Males may kill cubs to induce breeding behaviors in females if they cannot locate a single female during the mating period (June-July). Sons leave mom's territory and usually move to or through people areas to avoid competing with dominant females and males. Feeding is easier near people because of enhanced berry ripening and potential garbage sources.

TOLERATING BEAR ACTIVITY

The key to a positive relationship between humans and black bears is toleration of natural bear activity near human developed areas. Whistler historically and presently is prime black bear habitat. Whistler Valley intersects surrounding undeveloped valleys where logging, wildfire, and ski trail development has boosted the abundance of important seasonal foods (clover and berries). Bears occupy Whistler Valley as a residents or transients. Resident bears are usually single young males and mothers with cubs. Transient larger males and outlying females with cubs may pass through the valley during fall in search of berries and opportunistic sources of human food. Even if Whistler was 100 per cent bear proof and bears could not find human food anywhere they (bears) would still be highly active near people's homes due to the abundance of skunk cabbage, clover, dandelion flowers, insects, and berries.

BERRY CROP FAILURES

September is the traditional period when huckleberries may experience delays in ripening or complete failures, producing no or little fruit for the bears. Low elevation (< 1200-metres) huckleberry ripening and production is more frequent on an annual basis than at higher elevations (> 1200-metres). Temperature and precipitation varies more at higher elevations causing berries to delay, partially fail, or fail all together. A combination of extreme temperatures and/or precipitation will reduce berry availability for bears. Huckleberries usually ripen during the first week of September at Greenacres shrubfield. Greenacres represents a research area on Vaccinium production. How much rain and sunshine will dictate how many berries will ripen by the end of August. Too much of either will reduce berries for bears.

WHISTLER BEAR MORTALITY

A minimum of seven bears has died in Whistler so far this summer. Two from vehicles, two from the train, and three were destroyed as safety concerns during conflicts with people and human food attractants.

BEAR ENCOUNTERS

When encountering a bear unexpectedly and close (less than 10 metres/35 feet) remain calm: walk slowly backwards while speaking in regular tones (tell the bear you are leaving). Bears may act "aggressive" by popping their jaws (open and closing their mouths quickly) and blowing/snorting. This is natural defensive behaviour of a bear "telling" you that you are too close. Talk to the bear as you retreat slowly. If a bear approaches you act big and noisy. Wave your arms or a stick overhead and continue walking backwards. NEVER RUN. Bears will chase you. I have never known any bear encounter in Whistler to continue past these circumstances.

If a bear continues to approach close (less than 5 metres) drop something on the ground to distract it while you retreat. If a bear cannot be distracted, you must stand your ground and act aggressively. Yell, wave your arms, drag a stick through gravel, or bang rocks together. Lunge at the bear in short steps. If a bear physically attacks, fight back hitting or pepper spraying the bear in the face. Pepper spray should only be used as a bear approaches less than 5 meters. Pepper spray is most effective 2 metres past your outstretched arm. NEVER PLAY DEAD unless you know it's a grizzly or a female black bear attacking in defense of cubs (rare if not documented).