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Bear Update: Kid?s bear programs and fall forecast

Black Bear Researcher CLASSROOM BEAR AWARENESS From Sept. 17 to 21, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (Brian Barnett) sponsored, the sixth seasonal (spring and fall) children?s classroom bear awareness program at Myrtle Phillip Community School.

Black Bear Researcher

CLASSROOM BEAR AWARENESS

From Sept. 17 to 21, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (Brian Barnett) sponsored, the sixth seasonal (spring and fall) children?s classroom bear awareness program at Myrtle Phillip Community School. Twenty presentations addressed approximately 450, K-6 students on the seasonal behaviour, biology and ecology of local black bears. When children bump into a black bear on the Valley Trail, in their backyard, or anywhere else, knowledge of bear behaviour and how to react is the only tool they have to rely on. Local education programs about local bears have stimulated long-term interest, building a foundation for successful conservation of the Whistler black bear.

WHISTLER MOUNTAIN BLACK BEAR HABITAT FIELD TRIP

From Oct. 3 to 17, the RMOW (Brian Barnett) has sponsored 10 field trips for all Grade 5 students and teachers at Myrtle Philip school to venture up Whistler Mountain and experience fall black bear habitat use ecology. Whistler-Blackcomb Mountain Resorts (Arthur De Jong) have granted access and Canadian Snowmobile Adventures Ltd. (Dave Watts) have graciously donated a custom 4x4 van for transportation into the ski area. Each field trip will allow 10 students and two teachers or parent-teacher helpers to visit tree cavity dens, observe berry-feeding bears and weigh free-ranging black bears. Students will complete a worksheet with questions and problems on fall bear habitat ecology.

BLACK BEAR FIELD ECOLOGY YOUTH CAMP

The Black Bear Field Ecology Youth Camp is a co-operative effort between the Whistler Black Bear Project, Whistler Parks and Recreation (Sandi Wentzel and Stephanie Coughlin), and Whistler-Blackcomb Mountain Resorts. The youth camp is a field interpretation of the fall habitat use characteristics of Whistler Mountain?s black bears. For five Saturdays (Sept. 15-Oct. 13), four morning students (Ellika Crichton, Arial Harwood, Patrick Taillefer, and Victoria Whitney) and four afternoon students (Becky Boese, Chelsea Bush, Adam Charters, and Alan Cox) accompany me and camp assistant Denise McLaughlin to survey bear dens, observe bear activity, and weigh black bears. During the first four field sessions, the students have already, investigated eight tree cavity dens, observed closely the activities of 15 different black bears, and weighed one bear.

FALL BEAR BIOLOGY

What's on a bear's mind now? Hunger! This intense hunger is driven by Hyperphagia . Hyperphagia is the last stage out of four biochemical and physiological shifts in the black bear's annual cycle (1-hibernation, 2-walking hibernation, 3-normal activity, and 4-hyperphagia). Hyperphagia refers to excessive increases in food consumption. Whistler bears increase daily feeding from 8-15 hours during spring grazing to 16-22 hours during fall (mid-August?mid-October) berry feeding.

In early September I accompanied a 10-year old, 130-kg (260-lb.) pregnant female bear (Jeanie) on Whistler Mountain for a 40-hour period. She slept only 230 minutes out of the total 2,400-minute period. She never slept or rested longer than 80 minutes at one time.

Pregnant female black bears experience the greatest feeding bouts in order to gain required optimum weights for successful pregnancy (implantation of the blastocyst) in early December. Jeanie has gained 40 kg (80 lbs.) since mid-April when she emerged from her winter den at 90 kg (180 lbs). Large, dominant adult males usually gain more weight than females because their larger home ranges (> 50 km 2 vs. 10 km 2 ) allow greater access to more food. Nine-month-old cubs are weighing in around 25 kg (50 lbs.) and should gain another 5-10 kg. (10 20 lbs.) by November.

All bears increase feeding activities following berry ripening. Berries are the only natural food source in Whistler to build fat reserves for winter hibernation. The push to feed usually results in bears moving closer to people to access more consistent berry ripening within "human habitats."

From September through November den entrance valley bears feed on red-osier dogwood berries, Sitka mountain-ash, high-bush cranberry and depleting huckleberries. Red-osier dogwood berries form dense hedge-like thickets throughout the valley floor surrounding valley trails, municipal parks, residences, and golf courses. Bears may enter these 2-metre high thickets and remain feeding-resting for hours. Sitka mountain-ash berries are a favourite of black and grizzly bears in southwestern B.C. The bright red berries grow in clusters of 10-40 berries allowing bears to easily snip off a mouthful with their canines. A great reference (from most bookstores) for bear foods of southwestern B.C. is Plants of Coastal British Columbia by Pojar and MacKinnon (B.C. Forest Service 1994). Expect bear activity through the valley until early December.

BEARS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

Whistler Valley is prime black bear habitat. B.C. Environment refers to these habitats as "urban habitats." As humans develop we usually do not want to develop everything down to concrete ? we want to create or maintain a buffer of "green space" for privacy, aesthetics, etc. This remaining greenbelt is very productive bear habitat, producing over 20 species of berries and vast areas of lush green-up (grass, horsetail, clover, and skunk cabbage). Bears enter the valley for enhanced natural foods first and subsequently consume human foods when opportunities arise.

Control human food bear attractants (keep garbage/re-cycling and bird feeders inside) and you inevitably will reduce conflicts with bears. Increase knowledge, understanding, and finally toleration of black bears and again inevitably, bear complaints and conflicts will lessen. These are the long-term answers for communities that are established in high activity bear habitats such as Whistler.

Remember a few concepts: that the black bear?s life in Whistler is unique, adaptive, and successful (in coexisting with people) and that this life revolves around food which happens to grow in our backyard. It is much easier to teach people than it is to teach bears.

Questions or information regarding black bears please contact the Whistler Black Bear Project at 604-898-2713 or e-mail

mallen_coastbear@direct.ca . Thanks to locals and visitors for their comments, stories, and information. Bear Update columns are sponsored by Pique Newsmagazine.