Re: Yosemite bears

i was reading about black bears on the internet, and learned that in general, black bears can live 32 years in the wild, BUT... the average life of a black bear in Yosemite 18 yrs (due to car accidents, and having to be put down for aggression towards human food). that's a real shame!

also, black bears are not classified as true hibernators.. they feed mostly at night.... Manzanita berries & acorns are some favorites in Yosemite.



Post Edited (04-08-09 12:04)

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Like I always say, "if you can't laugh at yourself, let me do it".

My Yosemite Blog: http://yosemiteforrest.blogspot.com/

I see the bear box door open there. Wonder if someone left it open ("I was just going over to the table" or if he broke in.

A year or so ago when they put in the new bear boxes, some had learned to crash into the doors, and if they weren't fully latched, they'd come open. I remember wondering what that banging was starting about 3AM, and the campground host told me it was the bears crashing into the boxes.

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Gary
Yosemite Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/yo

Does wild bear meat taste better than Yosemite garbage feeding "wild" bear meat?

Vince: >Does wild bear meat taste better than Yosemite garbage feeding "wild" bear meat?<

Gross!

B

My prior post on that was bait for this link:

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/yourict/42583332.html

I thought another problem was that scoring human food often meant poor dental health from a lot of sugary/starchy snacks. They don't exactly brush their teeth do they? Once they start losing their teeth they'll have a hard time eating anything.

The joke that Ranger Shelton Johnson told was that the NPS can't exactly provide them veterinary dentists, can they?

I've heard that black bears living off of salmon (such as in Alaska) tend to be much larger than those that might only have trout as their main source of protein/fat.

Comfort Station??

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Bee
Comfort Station??

Bearly.

eeek;

i kid you not, i was only 8 stalls away from this one!

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forrestranger
eeek;

i kid you not, i was only 8 stalls away from this one!

UH-oh....this thread is starting to get a bit smelly

B

no Bee, i was "standing". lol

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forrestranger
also, black bears are not classified as true hibernators..

While on my hike to Upper Yosemite Fall last December (January?) there was a bear on the trail. (I didn't see it myself, but about 10 other people did).

That night the joker that was doing the program (not a ranger) said that bears hibernate, and Yosemite visitors were likely asked to maintain bear food habits just to keep people "used to doing it".

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sierranomad

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forrestranger
also, black bears are not classified as true hibernators..

While on my hike to Upper Yosemite Fall last December (January?) there was a bear on the trail. (I didn't see it myself, but about 10 other people did).

That night the joker that was doing the program (not a ranger) said that bears hibernate, and Yosemite visitors were likely asked to maintain bear food habits just to keep people "used to doing it".

I've seen bear tracks in February in the snow. Bear breakins are lower, but I've seen bear activity reports in dead winter.



They don't even go into a true hibernation. They going into a deep sleep and often wake up from it. I've heard of some that woke up and found themselves hungry enough to try to scare visitors into dropping their food. They'll often wake up to take a leak. If it's not cold enough they might not even go into that deep sleep. Some black bears are found in places without true winters and are active year round.

>They'll often wake up to take a leak.

Me too. Although this one time in my tent...

(ok, I just couldn't resist).. (I mean, we've seen these pictures before too! )

Bill;
but can the bears pee in a jar?????

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forrestranger
Bill;
but can the bears pee in a jar?????

Straight over to the "Comfort Station" thread!!! (and take bill-e-g with you)

B

Whoa whoa whoa QB!

Eeek started us on the slipperly slope.. What did you expect?

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bill-e-g
Whoa whoa whoa QB!

Eeek started us on the slipperly slope.. What did you expect?

By all means take him with you!!!

(even the bears are being corrupted!)

QB