   Black Bears - July 22, 2009 Jeff Schalau, Associate Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Until this summer, I have not seen the necessity to write a “gardening column” about black bears. But given the recent occurrences of bears in residential areas and multiple close encounters by humans, I think the time has come. Many Yavapai County residents live on the edge in what we call the wildland urban interface. These areas are likely to experience more frequent interactions with wildlife. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is the only bear species still found in Arizona. The last grizzly bear in Arizona was killed in 1935 near Nutrioso. The black bear is the smallest and most widely distributed North American bear. In Arizona, it lives primarily in forest, woodland and chaparral habitats but can sometimes be found in and near desert riparian areas. Arizona’s black bears generally have a home range between 7 to 15 square miles. Black bears are not always black in color with other color phases being brown, cinnamon, and dark blond. Black bears have a short but conspicuous tail. Adult males are larger than females with typical adult weights ranging from 125 to 400 pounds. Adult black bears average about 3 to 3 ½ feet tall when on all four feet and are between 4 ½ to 6 ¼ feet long. When standing on their hind legs, they are often 6 feet tall. Black bear cubs are born during January in winter dens, usually in pairs, but larger litters are not uncommon. The cubs are very small (eight ounces) and helpless at birth. Cubs emerge from the den in April and stay with their mother through the first summer and fall, denning with her their second winter. Female black bears in Arizona usually reach reproductive age in their fourth year, and usually breed every other year. Black bears are relatively long lived animals, with some individuals exceeding 20 years of age. Black bears are most active at dawn and dusk but may be seen at other times of day. They are normally solitary animals, except for family groups (mother and cubs), breeding pairs, and congregations at feeding sites. Their diet consists primarily of grasses and forbs in spring, soft mast (acorns and other tree fruits) in summer, and a mixture of hard and soft mast in fall. Only a small portion of the diet of bears consists of animal matter, and then primarily in the form of colonial insects (bees and termites), caterpillars, and beetles. Most vertebrates are consumed in the form of carrion. Black bears are not active predators and feed on live vertebrates only if the opportunity exists. Bearing (no pun intended) fruit orchards can attract black bears. Signs of activity include large tracks with claw marks (the hind print is somewhat like a human’s footprint), somewhat round droppings, digging, large overturned rocks and logs, and garbage from dumpsters or cans scattered good distances away from the source. Threatened or stressed adults will make sounds, including woofing, hissing, popping of teeth and grunting. If and when a black bear is encountered in the wild, leave it alone, make noise to alert the bear to your presence, watch it from a distance, keep your dog(s) under control, back away slowly and/or give it space and let it pass. Wild bears rely on natural foods. Fed bears will abandon natural food sources in preference of human foods and garbage! Therefore, never allow bears to obtain human food, pet/livestock feeds, or garbage. Bears that receive these "food rewards" may become aggressive towards humans or cause property damage. To protect people and their property, these bears may have to be destroyed. Wild bears have a natural fear of humans and will attempt to avoid people and developed areas. Human fed bears do not! Wild bears quickly become conditioned to handouts and will teach their cubs to do the same. People that feed wildlife (other than wild birds) are unintentionally harming rather than helping them. If a black bear is seen in an urban or suburban area, it is best to call the Arizona Game and Fish Department to report it. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on gardening and pest control. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 ext. 14 or E-mail us at cottonwoodmg@yahoo.com and be sure to include your address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column ideas at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/. |