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Bear Update: The rage of mother bears

Black Bear Researcher Waves of fear travel the leader of the second growth tree – emulating from two small bodies wrapped tightly around the vertical stem of the Douglas fir.

Black Bear Researcher

Waves of fear travel the leader of the second growth tree – emulating from two small bodies wrapped tightly around the vertical stem of the Douglas fir. Tiny claws of two black bear cubs clutch the crown to support 20-pound bodies. The leader of the 60-year old fir sways back and forth almost to the point of snapping. Sudden tremors erupt from the centre of the tree as if the cubs hung on to the outskirts of some small California town receiving the brunt of aftershocks from a major quake. Each time the tremor-like crash finds its way to the cubs they hold on tighter. One cub closes his eyes. Both cubs are silent but shaking.

What they were experiencing was, below them in the lower depths of the mess of longer branches 10-metres above the ground, their mother in the fight of her life with an adult male black bear. After all, this is the mating period and the male is SLIM.

It all started 40-minutes earlier. Whistler Mountain resident female Jeanie and her two, 6-month cubs-of-the-year (COY) were grazing peacefully in foot-deep clover along mid-mountain slopes. Jeanie was in the process of taking the cubs from one tree island where mature tree cover was scarce to the further, main edge where larger trees existed.

Cubs’ first line of defence is mature trees to escape dangers from male bears, coyotes, dogs, mountain bikes, and people. We located the bear family during a bear tour and slowly approached to sit some 30-metres down slope. Jeanie paid little attention to us as we approached and settled into viewing position. I discussed her life with the group as I have best known it for the last eight years. Her cubs comfortably grazed along her side indicating that she (Jeanie) was comfortable with eight people in close proximity. It was a tremendous viewing opportunity on a glorious clear night.

What happened during the next 40-minutes gave the clients of this bear tour a real eye opener to the precarious life that mother black bears with offspring face during the mating period of June and July). Out of the corner of my eye, some 300-metres to the east of Jeanie, a black shape halted in the clover. I immediately raised my field glasses to identify the large adult male bear to be SLIM. SLIM is a Whistler Mountain resident and currently, the most dominant male in the ski area. There was cause for concern. I watched him closely – he wasn’t feeding.

Standing still he nosed slowly through the flattened clover leaflets – the very place where Jeanie and cubs grazed 1-hour before. Jeanie with cubs continued to feed unaware of this menacing male’s presence. The bear viewing group was excited to see another bear – and so large – but, I quickly darkened their thrill as I explained what could happen if Jeanie did not detect the intruding male.

As I turned from talking to the group, SLIM was already moving deliberately in her direction taking the exact path of her travel. The places she grazed, the places she stopped – SLIM inspected them and confirming the scent of an adult female and cubs. SLIM crossed the open, clover-carpeted ski trail to enter the east edge of the tree island less than 200-metres from Jeanie. Her cubs were still on the ground beside her grazing half way between the west edge of the tree island SLIM had just entered and the ski trail edge south of her where she planned to move. To either edge the cubs had 70-metres of open ski trail to cross to get to the safety of the trees.

Nervously we watched, everyone asking me if it was possible to intervene. Eyes fixed only at the west edge of the tree island where I expected SLIM to emerge within striking distance of the unaware bear family. I explained to the bear viewing group the strategy for adult males to kill cubs. Males, given the opportunity, will try to kill cubs to force the mother into estrous. Mothers with young cannot mate. If cubs are killed mothers may mate several days later, recognizing the importance of producing another litter. This potential physical confrontation was balanced: dominant male vs. dominant female fuelled by the fury of protecting her cubs.

I moved to within 15-metres of Jeanie and her cubs, leaving the bear viewing group at the truck 30-metres away. I never have any doubt about not interfering. Through 16 years of bear studies I have always felt that what makes a bear is the quality of life they possess. This quality of life reflects their intelligence, adaptability, and strength. Human interference should be minimal. Never underestimate the bear’s ability to react, adapt, and survive.

With that thought, Jeanie whirled – everyone saw her. I glanced quickly at the tree island expecting to see SLIM rushing out onto the trail.

Nothing there.

Jeanie huffed three times and charged 10-metres toward the tree island that SLIM had entered. The cubs were already to the base of the tree after their mom’s first huff. They scampered up the tree emitting their own versions of huffing and popping jaws. Jeanie charged closer, reared up then dropped to all fours and charged the tree island again.

SLIM emerged slowly, right where I expected him. He hesitated. Jeanie turned and ran toward the tree huffing and popping her jaws. SLIM bolted after her with his head held low and emitting no sound (that I could hear). Jeanie halted at the base of the tree and whirled. SLIM halted about 10-metres from the tree and began sensing the ground the family had just rushed across. With his nose down he charged the tree. Jeanie climbed and vocalized aggression like no other bear I’ve heard before, bellowing throat sounds and slapping the lower branches.

SLIM circled the tree from a 5-metre radius. Jeanie’s vocalizations were so highly audible that it drowned any potential noise from SLIM or the cubs. The cubs climbed into the crown of the tree so fast one cub almost overshot the leader and lost his footing.

SLIM continued to circle the tree sniffing the ground and looking up at Jeanie. This strategy works for mother bears – to put herself between the threat and her young. SLIM has to go through her to get to the cubs and killing her defeats the purpose.

SLIM retreated a few meters while sensing the ground. Immediately Jeanie jumped from the tree, hitting him from behind. SLIM is twice her size (300 lbs. vs. 160 lbs). He turned and lunged back. Jeanie sprang back up into the tree bellowing threats, desperately trying to physically and vocally drive him off.

SLIM rushed the base of the tree and leaped into the lower branches. Jeanie exploded, throwing all her weight into him. Both bears snapped branches like toothpicks as they lashed out at one another, tumbling to the base of the tree. They hit the ground still fighting. Snapping branches and echoing vocalization masked the outcome.

SLIM retreated from the mess of brawling branches. He ran out into the open ski trail, turned and sat as if he were a heavyweight boxer resting before the final round.

Jeanie ascended the tree and sat a few metres above the broken branches of battle. Her hair frazzled and covered with SLIM’s saliva, she whined and huffed quietly. Her cubs were still and quiet.

SLIM reared and seemingly looked right at the cubs. It’s eerie that he can be so specific about what he wants to kill. He pawed at the air then dropped to all fours and began walking away.

The seven people of the bear viewing group undoubtedly just witnessed the rarest behavioral event in bear sightings. I spent the next hour answering many questions. Everyone was concerned, excited, and curious – everything you should be on a bear tour.

This physical encounter occurred on June 20 at the peak of the mating period. Since then, Jeanie has encountered males (including SLIM) another six times although the encounters were less severe than this one. She continues to care and protect her two, now, 7-month old cubs.

I want to thank all that have participated by calling in to REPORT BEAR FAMILIES and bear behaviours. Please continue to call! It is vital and interesting information. A database with all participants’ information will be published in the Pique Newsmagazine at the end of the bear season during December.

BEAR FAMILY REPORTS is inputted into the Whistler Valley bear mapping database on activity and movement patterns. To report a BEAR FAMILY (or other bear activities) please includes date, colour of bears, litter size and location to 604-902-1660 (Whistler) or 604-898-2713 (Squamish) and by e-mail at mallen_coastbear@direct.ca .

Bear Update columns are sponsored by Pique Newsmagazine.