When Bears Steal Human Food, Don’t Blame Mom
Science Daily, from the May 2008 Journal of Mammalogy Black bears that eat human food and garbage do not necessarily learn this behavior from their mothers as previously assumed. Researchers…
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Bears & Humans
What Is a “Nuisance” Black Bear?
A “nuisance” is any black bear someone considers unwelcome. Everyone has a different idea about what makes a bear unwelcome and what merits removal from a population. In many examples…
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How to Shoo a Black Bear?
Bears that are used to people may be harder to chase away. Most people hang back. Some enjoy watching. Others bang pans, which bears get used to. Generally when people…
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What If I Meet a Black Bear That Wants to Eat Me?
When a black bear approaches, how can you tell the difference between a curious bear, one that wants to eat your food, and one that wants to eat you? We…
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What If I Want to Watch a Black Bear I See?
Seeing a wild black bear, especially a mother with cubs, is a rare opportunity. Seeing a bear before it detects you is a chance to learn what bears do. When…
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What If a Black Bear Ignores Me and Doesn’t Run Away?
Some black bears have learned to trust people who behave predictably in expected locations. These bears expect to see nonaggressive people in campgrounds or residential areas. These bears are not…
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What If I Corner a Black Bear?
Bear Center researchers wonder where the worry about cornering a black bear comes from. It is next to impossible to corner a bear in the woods. When researchers have tried…
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What About Bears and Dogs?
Black bears usually run away when dogs chase them. Even the smallest breeds of dogs have scared black bears away. However, bears learn to ignore dogs that are tied up…
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What Does Steve Herrero Say About Mothers Defending Cubs?
In his book “Bear Attacks” (1985), biologist Steve Herrero described experiences of researchers with mother black bears and cubs. Herrero wrote: “Researchers studying black bears confirm that black bear females…
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What If I Get Between a Black Bear Mother and Her Cubs?
One of the biggest misconceptions about black bears is that mothers are likely to attack people in defense of cubs. That is a grizzly bear trait. 70% of the killings…
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