[at-l] more on bears

[kahley@ptd.net (kahley)]

"In the late 1970s, there were between 3,000 to 4,000 black
bears in Pennsylvania. Now there are 14,000 to 15,000
black bears in Pennsylvania. Since 1980 there has been an
unrestricted sale of bear licenses, and 20 percent of the
bear population is harvested each year, said Ternent.
Although there is a high percent of harvesting, there is still
an 8 percent increase in the bear population annually."
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2002/01/01-15-02tdc/01-15-02dscihealth- 
04.asp

Check out the bear harvest for this last year
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/PGC/harvest/01bear.htm

Follow the route of the trail and multiply the number shown in each
county by 5 and you'll see how many bears probably live in each county.
There are, of course variables, caused by limited hunting lands but
limited hunting lands also usually coincide with limited bear habitat.
Except, of course when you get to the NJ border.  Jersey doesn't
allow bear hunting, ergo the problem IMHO.  New Jersey stopped
bear hunting thirty years ago.  While the numbers of bears harvested
at that time indicated over-hunting was a problem, it seems the bears
are making a comeback and it may be time to reintroduce a limited
bear season, again IMHO.  If 20 percent of the bears in Pa are killed
each year, yet there is still an 8% increase in total population each
year...well, you don't have to be brilliant to see the trend in Jersey
is gonna be bad for people and bears alike.

BTW.in my home county, the ratio of people to bears is 200 to one.
We have never seen a bear here at the house although neighbors
within 2 miles have problems with bears raiding fowl and rabbit pens
so we know they are around.  On one occasion, I saw bear tracks
about 20 yards from the house but we have never had any raids on
the garbage by bears.  Now coons.....a different story.
In the county where our cabin is and where i do a lot of backpacking,
the ration is 230 to 1.  We have, in years past, had bear damage
to the cabin and at one time, we had to either take the garbage
away or keep it in the cabin because some nut case neighbors
started leaving food out so they could watch the bears from their back
porch.
I have never had a sure sighting of a bear in my camp.  I did, however
see tracks on several mornings but was unsure as to the exact age of
the tracks.

I had the supreme pleasure of accompanying a Wildlife officer on a tagging
run.  I got to see the cubs as they were pulled from the den and tagged.
This started a fascination that caused me to spend the better part of two
years, looking for and tracking bears.  Because I had a dog with me,
my sightings were limited but there was one perfect day when persistence
and patience paid off and I got to watch a momma and cub AYCE blueberry
feast.  Although we were down wind, I "knew" she "knew' we were there.
I know she watched us more than we knew and somehow, I think a bond
existed.  During those years,  I often spent three nights a week in her 
territory
and i think she got used to us.  I have no proof, but I think this was the same
bear that we encountered in my oft told and envied tale of the bear across 
the creek.

Until a bear gets ahold of people food, the balance of two creatures sharing
the woods exists....both staying out of each other's way.  When stupidity,
carelessness or inattention causes bears to connect people to food, it's the
death sentence for the bear.  I love bears, but I recognize that their numbers
must be controlled and the dominance of humans must be enforced if peace
between the species is to be maintained.  IMHO of course.