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Black Bears in Oregon
THE FACTS:
 Learn about black bears and their habitats from the Black Bear Fact Sheet.
- Check out the Black Bear Ridge Exhibit (part of the Great Northwest Exhibit).
- It is hard to see a black bear, look for these signs:
Foraging signs
-overturned rocks or logs
-peeled trees (bears eat tree bark)
-torn up logs or stumps
-scooped out anthills
-animal carcasses (an abundance of crows may indicate the presence of carrion)
-overturned garbage cans
Tracks
-Bears move both legs on one side of the body at a time (alternating both right legs then both left).
-At a slow walk, the hind foot tracks will overlap the front foot tracks. During a fast walk or run, the hind foot tracks fall in front of the front foot tracks.
-The heel pad of the front foot, the claws, and the fifth (inside) toe often do not register in tracks.
-Front foot tracks are about 4.5 inches long and 4 inches wide.
-Hind foot tracks are about 7 inches long and 3.5 inches wide and may resemble human footprints, only shorter and wider.
Tree markings
-“Bear trees” may be located in prominent places along trails. Black bears use trees as rubbing posts, territory markers, food sources and for climbing.
-Look for claw, tooth and scrape marks on trees, or long hairs stuck in the bark.
Scat (droppings)
-Solid bear scat is tubular in shape and generally about 1.5 inches in diameter.
-Droppings may contain berry seeds, plant matter, animal remains, or garbage.
Bear trails
-Bears like to follow well-established trails. Wide double-ruts formed in the grass or ground may indicate a bear trail.
-In wooded areas, bear trails often pass under obstructions. If you find yourself having to crouch low to the ground while following a trail, turn around and make your way back to the human trail.
Scat (droppings)
-Solid bear scat is tubular in shape and generally about 1.5 inches in diameter.
-Droppings may contain berry seeds, plant matter, animal remains, or garbage.
Dens
-Black bear dens can be found in natural rock caves, under fallen trees, or inside hollow logs. Dens may smell like bear long after the occupants have gone.
*Within Oregon,
bear population densities are probably higher in the west where there
are more abundant food sources and better cover than in the more arid
eastern portions of the state.
- Help keep black
bears wild: Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear
Making food or garbage available to bears teaches them to associate
humans with food. Bears that form this association become nuisance
animals, searching for food in campsites and residential
areas, where they pose a safety threat and risk extermination.
The following guidelines from the Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife can help you protect your home and family and keep
bears where they belong, in the wild.
At home
-Put garbage cans out just before pick-up time, not the night
before.
-Clean garbage containers regularly with bleach or mothballs
to reduce odors.
-Add lime to compost piles to reduce odors. Do not compost
meat, bones, fruit, dairy products or grease.
-Keep pet food indoors. Feed pets in the house, garage, or
enclosed kennel.
-Hang bird feeders at least 10 feet off the ground and 6-10
feet from the trunk of a tree. Keep the ground under bird feeders clean.
-Remove fruit that has fallen from trees.
-Don’t leave scented candles, soap or suntan lotions outdoors
or near open windows.
-Keep barbeques clean. Store them in a shed or garage.
-Use electric fencing to keep bears from orchards, gardens,
compost, beehives, and berries.
-Talk to neighbors to encourage everyone in the neighborhood
to remove attractants.
-If you see a bear near your home, stay indoors and allow it
to move on.
-Teach children about bear safety and attractants.
Outdoor Recreation
-Never leave food items or pet food outdoors or in tents.
-Store food in airtight containers in the trunk of your car, in bear boxes, or on platforms.
-Hang bagged food at least 10 feet high and 6-10 feet from a tree trunk or side support.
-Clean all food preparation and eating utensils immediately and place them in vehicles or bear-proof containers.
-Dispose of garbage in bear-proof cans or pack it out.
-Do
not bury garbage – bears will dig it up.
-Keep campsites and campfire areas clean.
-Sleep at least 100 yards from cooking and eating areas.
-Keep dogs on leashes or in cars. A loose dog may lead a bear back to you.
-Never
approach a bear cub – its mother is nearby.
-Stay clear of berry patches.
-Don’t
leave soap, suntan lotion or any scented items outdoors or in
a tent.
-Pitch
your tent away from dense brush or trees – avoid what might
be an animal trail to a river or stream.
-Use a flashlight at night.
-Never hike, camp, fish, or hunt alone.
-Avoid trails with bear tracks or bear sign.
-Make noise while hiking so as not to surprise a bear.
-If you see a bear or a fresh bear sign, leave the area.
-Don’t
hike after dark.
- What
to do if you encounter a black bear:
-Give the bear space to escape. Step off the trail on the downhill side and slowly back away. Never turn your back to a bear.
-Stay calm. Do not run or make any sudden movements.
-Speak softly. This may reassure the bear that you mean it no harm.
-Avoid direct eye contact with the bear.
-If the bear stands on its hind legs, it is trying to detect scents and is not necessarily behaving aggressively.
-If you see bear cubs, steer clear of them and leave the area.
-In the unlikely event that you are attacked by a bear, fight back. Shout and be aggressive. Use rocks, sticks and hands to fend off an attack.
- Black bear myths:
-The most common misconception is that black bears are likely to attack humans. Black bears avoid humans in most situations and are unlikely to attack unless threatened or provoked. Grizzly bears are known to aggressively defend their cubs, but this is not a black bear characteristic.
-Some people think that bears are active only at night. Bears are most active at dawn and dusk, but can be seen at any time of the day or night.
-Never try to outrun a bear. Black bears can run up to 30 mph in short bursts and are powerful swimmers and climbers.
- Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) also explains
how to live in black bear country, how to differentiate black
from grizzly bears, and how to camp and hike safely in bear
habitat.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/black_bears.asp
Check out ODFW’s brochures for more tips.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/swwd/Bear.htm
www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrWild/blackbear3.pdf
People can help prevent black bear problems in their neighborhood.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/public/NewsArc/2002News/July/071802news.htm
THE PROBLEM:
- Black Bear Poaching- Our only native Oregon bear is in DANGER!
Like the Malayan sun bear and the Asiatic black bear, American black bears are also being hunted for their gall bladders and bile. Black bear bile is used in many traditional medicines in Asia, and as the Asian bear populations are declining, hunters have turned to American black bears as an alternative. A major obstacle in combating this problem is that some states prohibit the sale of bear parts, others allow it, and still others allow sale as long as the bear was killed somewhere else. This creates an incentive to poach bears in one state, smuggle the gallbladders and bile to a state where such sale is legal or to another country, and sell the bear parts (or products derived from them) under false pretenses.
For more about this problem in Oregon, read “Running
Bear: How the Illegal Poaching of Animal Organs is Pushing Oregon's Bear
Population Toward the Endangered Species List” in the Portland Mercury
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
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