Black Bears, Our New Neighbors

by Staff
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black bearMONTGOMERY-When the good neighbors at the end of the street sell their home and move on, it leaves an uncertainty about what is to come. Will the new neighbors be as good as the old ones? Will they keep a clean yard and be thoughtful of their neighbors, or will they cause problems for the entire neighborhood? Will the property values go up or down following their arrival? The answers can only come over time.

There are actually some old neighbors moving back into many of Alabama’s neighborhoods. Whether or not we can get along and be cordial will depend largely on us. Before learning how to interact with new neighbors, we should first meet them. American black bears (Ursus americanus) have been making their trek from neighboring states. Black bears are the most widespread bear species in the world and were formerly found throughout Alabama. Today, there are known populations in southwest and northeast Alabama, but newcomers have been spotted passing through many other parts of the state.

In Alabama, male black bears (boars) can range in size from 150-350 pounds and females (sows) range from 100-250 pounds. The black bear brown coatcolor of their coats ranges from the more common black to bluish-black and cinnamon. Black bears are found in mountainous, swampy and bottomland habitats. Habitat preference is dependent on diversity and accessibility of food. In general, black bears prefer thicker habitats over more open habitats. This preference is one reason black bear populations are thriving more and more frequently in urban and suburban settings. Black bears have learned to live in these settings due to the plentiful food found around homes and businesses, including pet food, trash and contents of bird feeders.

black bear eatingThe black bear’s diet consists of approximately 85 percent plant material. During the spring and summer, they feed on new plant growth, fruits and berries. They feed primarily on hard mast like acorns and nuts in the fall and early winter. Black bears also will eat insects, fish and meat, including small mammals and carrion.

In the Deep South, black bears do not tend to hibernate like those living in areas with more extreme winter temperatures. Because food is more available and winters are not as harsh, the only black bears that may hibernate in the South are pregnant sows or those with young cubs.

Black bears move more at dusk and dawn, but may be seen during the day. Bears use many vocalizations to express their aggression or contentment. They tend to be territorial and roam black bear marksindependently from other bears. They mark territory by rubbing their bodies on and clawing trees to leave scents and claw marks. Their home range can be highly variable depending on the availability of food, but it generally ranges from 2,000-5,000 acres.

The average life span of a black bear is 18 years of age in the wild. Both boars and sows reach reproductive age at 3-5 years and are fully mature by age 5. Sows living in more developed areas tend cubsto reproduce at an earlier age. Breeding occurs in June and July, but the embryos typically do not implant in the uterine wall until November. Gestation lasts 235 days and litters normally consist of two cubs born in January or February.

Now that more is known about these new neighbors, take time to learn how to interact with them. Black bears are not typically aggressive, but that does not make them oversized teddy bears. When confronted by humans or domestic dogs, they normally run away. However, when pressed or threatened, they can and will turn, pursue and be a potential threat. Also, sows are just like any other mother and will aggressively protect their young when threatened.

The black bear is one of those neighbors who love their space and privacy. If they are frequenting your home, there may be a black bear and feedersreason. Check to see if the bears have access to easy treats, such as bird feed, dog or cat food, or trash. It is best to eliminate these things to help prevent too much interaction, which could cause further issues.

As we learn more about our new wild neighbors, we can present them with the same Southern hospitality we try to provide our human neighbors. This does not mean we should provide them with a welcome to the community in the form of a pie or jar of honey. Instead, we should respect them and understand we must do our part as good neighbors to make sure our neighborhoods remain safe and enjoyable places to live.

 

MEDIA RELEASE/Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources/ homas E. Harms, Wildlife Biologist, Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries  

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