Bear Globally, There Are Eight Bear Species

Bear

Globally, there are eight bear species in the Family Ursidae (Order Carnivora), three of which are found in Canada: The Black bear, the brown bear and the polar bear. Black bear still occupy 85% of their historic Canadian range and 62% of the original North American range (Kolenosky and Strathearn 1987, Pelton 2000).

In North America, black bears evolved as forest dwellers and most populations are currently stable or increasing (Brown, 1999; Pelton, 2000). The population throughout North America is currently estimated at 750,000 animals, while the Ontario population approximates 75,000-100,000 animals, with the highest densities found in the central and north-western regions of the province (Smith and DeAlmeida 1990, Anonymous 2006b).

The diet of bears consists mainly of plants, berries and animals such as caribou and moose calves. Bears can weigh up to 600 lb. (272kg) but most commonly the males are 200-300 lb. (90-136kg) and females smaller at 110-180 lb. (50-82kg). Black bears have large home ranges in Newfoundland and Labrador, the males 200km2 or more, and females 60km2 which has made efforts to understand and manage their relationship with caribou challenging. Throughout the winter, black bears hibernate in dens which they make in sheltered spots such as caves, brush piles, burrows or tree cavities (Powell, 1997). The females have 2-3 cubs in mid-winter and the females remain in the den with the cubs until spring. The cubs generally stay with their mothers for two years.

Black bears are most active during dawn and dusk and are fairly timid except when human food is available (Department of Environment and Conservation e, 2009). It is common to find black bears in communities once they have found a food source. Bears that become comfortable around humans are called habituated as they lose their fear of humans which can make them become dangerous as they search for food. Food conditioned bears are an increasing problem in the United States and Canada (Decker and Chase, 14-51). As the population of black bears increases the human-wildlife interactions will inevitably increase as well (Treves and Karanth, 383-396).

Hunters and General Public Attitudes toward Bears

Hunters, outfitters and sheep farmers may have economic incentives behind their connection to these species but they are just a few of the people that are connected to the caribou predator issue. Other residents who enjoy non-consumptive wildlife recreation such as wildlife viewing, berry-picking or hiking in the woods also share an interaction with these species and may be impacted through their management.

Black bears are symbol of wilderness. Attitudes toward bears in the 1960's and 1970's were largely negative. However, efforts to shift perceptions of them as scavenger have helped to change attitudes to the positive views evident today. North American culture has grown up with images of bears from childhood. However, attitudes toward black bears may be linked to images of a scavenger, garbage dump bears, competent predator and campground nuisance. Within the general public, a variety of views of the black bear likely exist.

There are different opinions of people living near bears. Some residents perceive bears as a threat to humans and pets, other believes that bears are a nuisance, and there are those residents willing to tolerate and even enjoy seeing bears. There are several factors influencing perceptions toward bears. Positive perceptions of bear were related to higher levels of education and knowledge about the species (Krestser, 198-205). Perception of carnivores (including black bears) were more negative for people who were older, female, worked in natural resources extractive industries, or lived in rural areas (Agee and Miller, 198-205). In contrast, other research has found males to be more negative (Teel, 2-15; Williams, 2002). People that held a "strong positive attitude toward bears would likely: support actions favourable to bears, tolerate bear damage and maintain their position in case of conflict" (Krestser, 393-406). Experiences with a bear causing damage or approaching a family member, along with attitudes expressing concern about wildlife in general were the most closely related to determined perceptions and predicting interactions with black bears as negative (Krestser, 393-406).

Wildlife Management and Bear

Wildlife managers have a limited number of options of control to deal with human-bear problems. One strategy is to capture and relocate the bears to less populated areas. Another is lethal control, which often occurs when no other option is available but, it commonly results in negative public opinion toward the state wildlife officials or agencies. For more severe situations there are higher levels of support for more intensive agency action (Agee & Miller, 198-205). A high perception of risk from bears was associated with acceptance of lethal control. This suggest that information, educational approaches about bear behaviour and methods to reduce bear contact or damage may be successful in mediating the negative attitudes (Agee & Miller, 198-205).