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COVERLY THE BEAR When Dave Coverly at Speedbump.com gave us permission to display some of his cartoons on our website in the spring of 2022, we knew we needed to repay his generosity. In the summer of 2022, one of our favorite bears showed up with three cubs in tow: two males and one female. One of the male cubs had the most distinctive chest blaze we had ever seen. We named him Coverly. Coverly continues to visit from time to time so we know he is doing well. August 21, 2022 - Coverly on the left with his siblings Carex (male) and Calla (female) August 21, 2022 - Close up of Coverly’s distinctive chest blaze May 5, 2024 – Coverly with bare face due to winter mange. He is 2 years 4 months old. October 16, 2025 – Handsome young bear almost 4 years old

JUST FOR LAUGHS Cartoons reprinted with permission from Dave Coverly at Speedbump.com Thanks Dave! Learn more about the bear in Eagles Nest Township named for Dave Learn more about Coverly the bear

WHY THE WHITE PINE MATTERS John Rajala and granddaughter Hallie, 2, bud-cap a white pine seedling in October. (Provided by John Rajala) Minnesota’s official state tree might be the red pine, but you should really meet its older sibling, the white pine. The white pine is much taller with cool wavy hair. Hundreds of years ago, the land we call Minnesota was a different kind of borderland. Here, the prairie met the edge of a massive white pine forest that stood sentry over the eastern side of the continent. When logging companies cut nearly all the timber, everything changed. Time and improved conservation methods brought back a new forest, but white pine never recovered to its past glory. Instead, other species rose to prominence, especially aspen. A forest is like a big family. It has different characters, social pressure, unresolved trauma and takes generations to really change. But like any tight family, when you love the forest, it will love you back. And for one family in northern Minnesota, passion for the white pine became a defining mission. The first time I met Jack Rajala, he looked like just about any backwoods Finn with a shock of white hair and a well-worn flannel shirt. I later learned that he operated one of the biggest timber companies in Itasca County. We hit it off after he saw me clomping around indoors with heavy winter boots — to him, the mark of a serious person. Jack’s personal calling was to restore white pine in Minnesota. His family cut down millions of Minnesota trees since the early 1900s, so he felt personally responsible for the decline of the white pine. He could also see climate change happening in the woods before many in his industry were willing to admit it. Before his death from brain cancer in 2016, Rajala personally planted more than one million white pine seedlings. Today, his son John and grandson Ethan carry on Jack’s work, though what they’ve learned about the forest goes far beyond one species of tree. Instead of dragging the forest floor with heavy equipment, like Jack tried, the Rajalas have found ways to let nature take the lead. John Rajala and his father, Jack, prepare a site for white pine planting in 2014. (Provided by John Rajala) “We get an abundance of regeneration with way less expensive methods,” said John Rajala. “It comes with some physical labor, but that’s a good life.” Two factors cause the white pine to regenerate more slowly than other species. The first is whitetail deer browsing. “We refer to white pine and northern white cedar as deer candy, which is a completely non-forestry-related term but a good way to look at it,” said Matt Pilko, a forester with the Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District. The other threat is a fungus called white pine blister rust, which cycles between white pines and certain forest shrubs like gooseberries and currants. This disease has wiped out entire sections of white pine trees. In both cases, Pilko said people can do something to help white pines thrive. If you have white pines on your property, trim branches off the bottom third of white pine trees to help prevent blister rust. Now is a good time to look for all-brown needles on any branch and trim those off completely. It’s also time to “bud-cap” the terminal bud of young white pine to prevent deer browsing over winter, a method that Jack Rajala pioneered in Minnesota. This involves folding a small piece of biodegradable paper across the top of the tree like a flap, stapled lightly to hold it in place. The caps either fall off when the terminal bud pushes through in spring or can be removed manually. This should be done every year until the tree is at least 4 feet tall or out of reach for hungry deer. Pests, diseases, climate change and human development aren’t going away any time soon, so it will take conscious effort to maintain healthy forests. “The way that we’re going to be able to manage our forest to withstand different changes is to increase the diversity of our species,” said Pilko. The importance of biodiversity is something John Rajala said his family learned in their quest to bring back the white pine. The most conducive way to restore the white pine was to plant it selectively amid other species. “This biodiversity crisis is as important as our climate crisis,” said John Rajala. “Climate is an existential threat to humans, but the forest will survive it. But you can’t just solve the climate issue and not pay attention to the biodiversity issue.” That’s what’s on the mind of the next generation of Rajalas, including John’s granddaughter, Hallie, 2, who helped him bud-cap white pine trees last month. I remember Jack’s funeral in 2016. A speaker said she asked Jack what to do about a small tree that was growing alongside a larger broken one. “Leave it alone,” he told her. “That tree knows what to do.” In Minnesota we love trees, or at least say we do. But we don’t trust them. If we did, we’d see how they support every living thing in the woods, including us. You only have one family. With love, it will provide. About the writer Aaron Brown Editorial Columnist Aaron Brown is a columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune Editorial Board. He’s based on the Iron Range but focuses on the affairs of the entire state. © 2025 StarTribune.All rights reserved. Click to Learn More About White Pines

BearTeam: We are residents of bear country offering education and simple solutions to coexist with the black bears among us. BEARTEAM We are residents of bear country offering education and simple solutions to coexist with the black bears among us. We are a totally volunteer group, from all walks of life, who are willing to share our knowledge of black bears via educational information, simple solutions, and on-site visits. Contact Us Learn about tools and methods to coexist with black bears Coexisting with black bears Button Bears stink, mothers and cubs, bears lurking in the woods and more.... Common myths about black bears Button Black bears have predictable behaviors and vocalizations which help us understand them Learn about black bear behavior Button Learn more about their size and appearance, senses and physical abilities Basic Bear Facts Button Read about bears in the news Bears in the News Button Aaron Brown: Why the white pine matters in Minnesota Minneapolis Star Tribune Button Learn more about the variety of foods black bears find in the Northwoods What do black bears eat? Button The stages differ in biochemistry, physiology, appetite, and level of activity 5 Stages of Activity and Hibernation Button A month by month look at a black bear's life Typical year for black bears Button To black bears, not all trees are created equal. What makes white pines so special Button Coloring pages, puzzles, cartoons and funny videos Just for fun Button Books to read, DVDs to watch, research papers, bears in the news, video and websites Books, papers, movies, websites and more Button

KEEPING YOU AND YOUR PET SAFE A dog running and playing to his heart's content outside can be one of the most beautiful things you'll ever see. However, there are dangers for you and your furry family member outdoors. Button Many human/bear conflicts begin as scuffles with dogs Keep yourself safe Button Read the Minnesota Statute Dogs persuing big game can be killed Button Read the Minnesota Statute Protect yourself from possible fines

BLACK BEAR BEHAVIORS Listen to vocalizations and watch behaviors Vocalizations and behaviors Button Black bears leave clues about their travels if you know what to look for What is black bear sign? Button It's a lot busier than you think! Find out what happens in a black bear den Button What you should know about yearling and adolescent bear behavior Adolescent bear behavior Button While they look similar.... Are black bears like dogs? Button

NORTHWOODS Background on the township with a long running black bear study Eagles Nest Township Button Photos from Eagles Nest Township Northwoods photo gallery Button The residents of Eagles Nest Township and their black bears have long had a unique relationship. Meet Shadow's Clan - the bears of Eagles Nest Township Button

JUST FOR FUN Grab your crayons and color these nature themed coloring sheets created just for us Unleash your creativity Button Humor from our friend Dave Coverly Just for laughs Button Videos which show how timid black bears are Terriers and Tabbies vs. Black Bears Button We know you're curious.... Find the answers behind the signs Button Learn more about the bears of the world Bears of the World Button Solve a puzzle of bear related facts or navigate fun mazes Puzzles & Mazes Button

COEXISTING WITH BLACK BEARS Can food lead bears out of trouble? Diversionary Feeding Button What should I do if there is a black bear in my yard? Understanding what attracts black bears and what you can do about it What should I do if I see a bear? Button Consequences of feeding black bears? To Feed or Not to Feed Button Strategies for those who love to attract avian and other sorts of visitors Bears, birds and wildlife feeding Button Simple straps can make your garbage can wildlife resistant Securing Trash Cans Button A simple setup can be effective wildlife deterrent Electric Fencing Button Bears often thwart our gardening efforts The Challenges of Gardening in Bear Country Button Learn more about capsaicin sprays and how they work Pepper Spray Q&A Button Learn how uncontrolled dogs can be unsafe Do bears and dogs mix? Button DNT - Forest Service imposes new food storage rules in Boundary Waters Bear Resistant Food Storage Button

BOOKS, DVDS, PAPERS, NEWS, MOVIES, WEBSITES Books you can borrow from the BearTeam lending library Books to Borrow Button DVDs you can borrow from the BearTeam lending library DVDs to watch Button Papers and journal articles about black bears and black bear behavior Research Papers Button Read about bears in the news Bears in the news Button Watch movies and videos about bears Watch movies and videos Button Websites to learn more about bears and bear habitat conditions Websites Button

MOVIES AND VIDEOS The residents of Eagles Nest Township and their black bears have long had a unique relationship. Eagles Nest Bears Button Using food to divert animals from areas where they are unwanted or could cause conflicts with people Can food lead bears of out trouble? Button Charlie Russell at Vermilion College, Ely, MN June 28, 2013 Fifty Years Living with the Great Bears Button Filmmakers Jeff and Sue Turner profile a Canadian named Charlie Russell, who raises orphaned bear cubs in the Russian wilderness. The Edge of Eden: Living With Grizzlies Button Learn about all 8 species of bears All bear species Button

WEBSITES Dedicated to replacing old myths with facts, it lets people learn from the bears themselves about bear behavior, ecology, and their relations with humans. North American Bear Center Button Conduct scientific research on bears, other wildlife, and their habitat, and provide that information to decision-makers, the scientific community, students, and the public. Wildlife Research Institute Button Advancing the long-term survival of bears worldwide by replacing misconceptions with scientific fact. Lily the Black Bear Facebook Page Button Charlie Russell, a Canadian naturalist who researched grizzly bears by living among them and argued for a view of the animals based on coexistence rather than fear. Charlie Russell Bears Button Official Facebook Page of the North American Bear Center located in Ely, Minnesota. North American Bear Center Facebook Page Button Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Bear Facts Minnesota DNR Button The Get Bear Smart Society has been a catalyst in bear education and bear smart community work, helping people manage attractants and encouraging managers to choose non-lethal options. Get Bear Smart Button We invite you to “Be Wise About Bears”. You may find that human and bear coexistence is not that difficult. Wise About Bears Button NIDIS is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, planning, and information at national, state, and local levels across the country. National Integrated Drought Information System Button