Conservation Corner: May 22, 2000

Living With The Black Bear - Part II
by James L. Cummins

This is the second in a two-part series about living with the black bear.

According to Bo Sloan, Supervisor for Wildlife Services in Stoneville, "Problems have occurred when people, fascinated by a bear near their home or workplace, have tossed food out the door so that they can watch or photograph the animal. In these situations, both the humans and the bear quickly lose fear of each other. Fear of humans is a bear's most important survival mechanism. Once bears lose their fear of humans there is little incentive for them to avoid circumstances that bring the two together. This could easily result in the death of the bear, either by a poacher, by someone who feels threatened by the animal or by a wildlife official who must destroy the animal because it has learned behavior that is a threat to human safety. It must be remembered that these are wild animals that may react to the presence of humans in unpredictable ways."

"Hunting and fishing camps are sometimes visited and damaged by bears searching for discarded food and garbage. A bear that finds food at one camp may decide to visit others and cause problems there. As bear numbers increase, so does the importance for camp owners to maintain clean, garbage free grounds. Bears are like very big raccoons, except bears are much stronger and are capable of causing considerable damage in search for food. Camp operators should bundle garbage and take it back to town to be disposed of properly. A tidy campsite will help prevent bear-related problems," continued the Wildlife Services Supervisor.

If preventive measures are not successful, and bear-related conflicts do occur, more active measures may need to be initiated. These may include aversive conditioning of the animal, or possible relocation to a more remote location. The problem with relocation is that bears have a remarkable homing instinct and will attempt to find their way back to familiar territory. Bears have been documented returning up to 400 miles from relocation sites. In their attempt to locate familiar surroundings, they cross roads and highways, increasing the chances of being hit by motor vehicles, and will likely cross areas inhabited by humans, creating potentially dangerous situations for both humans and bears.

If you experience any problems with bears, there are several agencies and groups available to assist you. USDA's Wildlife Services Agency, the main agency, is committed to doing whatever it takes to avoid human/bear conflicts and to work to resolve any that may develop. Wildlife Services can be contacted at (662) 686-3157.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.