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e7bc504c-56a8-45f8-971e-3e261223d772 ANDEAN BEAR Back General Description: Also known as the spectacled bear for the rings of white or light fur around its eyes, which can look like eyeglasses (or spectacles) against the rest of the bear's black or dark brown fur. Distribution: Andean bears are South America's only bears and live in a variety of mountain habitats. Habitat: Forested areas in the mountains Diet: Fruits and bromeliads are favored foods, but spectacled bears also eat berries, grasses, bulbs, cactus flowers and small animals such as rodents, rabbits and birds. Population: Fewer than 5,000 Length: 5 to 6 feet Height: 2 to 3 feet Weight: Males: up to 340 pounds, Females: up to 180 pounds Geographic Range

September 14, 2022 Bear registrations drop sharply, as anticipated Bumper berry crop has made hunter baits less effective A young bear looks down from a high perch in an aspen tree. FILE PHOTO Posted Wednesday, September 14, 2022 6:31 pm Marshall Helmberger REGIONAL—Fewer bear hunters are reporting success this year as abundant wild food sources appear to have given the advantage to the bears. As of Sept. 13, hunter registrations statewide are down 34 percent over last year. Last year’s harvest, which fell just shy of 3,000 for the season, was boosted by drought conditions that dried up most berry crops that bears rely on as they seek to put on fat reserves for the winter. Hungry bears are more likely to respond to the baits that hunters put out near their stands, so poor conditions give hunters the advantage. This year, a bumper crop of wild fruits, mushrooms, acorns, and other wild foods have made baiting less effective. “Bear foods are definitely the driving factor here,” said Jessica Holmes, Tower area DNR wildlife manager. This year’s abundant wild foods are helping female bears most of all, and that’s likely to aid in the effort to rebuild the region’s bear population. DNR wildlife managers have been trying to rebuild the bear population in the region, which was cut in half a decade ago by several years of high hunting mortality. But the rebound has been slower than expected, as a series of poor food years have left females more vulnerable to hunters. Female bears are typically more cautious about approaching hunters’ baits, but they tend to overcome that reluctance when natural foods are short. Last year, hunters took an even number of males and females. This year, however, males are making up about 62 percent of the registered bears. “This is quite a contrast to last year,” said Holmes. As of Sept. 13, hunters had registered a total of 132 bears in permit area 25, which includes northern St. Louis and the eastern half of Koochiching counties. Of those, 82 were males, while 56 were female. Hunters had registered 157 bears in permit area 31, which runs from Tower and Ely down to the North Shore, including 107 males and 50 females. Given the pace of the hunt, Holmes said she expects the final harvest will come in right around 2,000 bears this season, If so, that would be the lowest harvest since 2018. The bear season runs through Sunday, Oct. 16, although most bears are taken in the first ten days of the season.

182927fc-f8dd-4f4e-aff1-6df8e35cf747 BLACK BEAR DIET Wild Sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis July, August Summer Wild sarsaparilla is an herbaceous, 12" to 24”, shade tolerant perennial plant that grows in moist to dry deciduous and mixed forests, thickets, river bottoms, bog and prairie edges. The wild sarsaparilla berries grow on a separate stalk under the leaves, are dark purple and are a black bear favorite. They ripen in the middle of the blueberry season, ripening in late July and lasting into early August. For the 2-3 weeks of wild sarsaparilla berries, bears hardly touch blueberries.

6d5c73c5-4c18-45cd-8412-31045142cb52 < Back Slide 55 of 83 < > How important is it to keep enough white pines to maintain the genetic diversity populations need to adapt to new conditions like blister rust? Research has already shown that overharvest has caused white pines to lose some of their genetic diversity.

43eafb72-e756-4a7d-9961-7fa9c9451f46 < Back Slide 62 of 83 < > For example, scattered white pines are important to black bears.

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 Unleash your creativity Downloadable Coloring Sheets Grab your crayons and color these nature themed coloring sheets created just for us Got Bears in Your Trash? Watch how a property owner near Ely recently stymied a bear with simple mesh straps If you would like to try out garbage can straps at your home the Bear Team can provide you with a set at no cost. Just contact us! Learn More Think you know a lot about bears? Test your knowledge by clicking the tiles to find out! Learn More 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 Learn More Do bears and dogs mix? Learn how uncontrolled dogs can be unsafe Learn More Is there a bear party in your yard? What you should know about yearling and adolescent bear behavior Learn More What makes white pines so special? To black bears, not all trees are created equal . In the forests of northeastern Minnesota, bears definitely prefer to be near majestic white pines. Learn More Find out what happens in a black bear den It's a lot busier than you think! Learn More Bears in the news Read about bears in news Learn More Read about black bear myths and misconceptions Separating myths from facts Learn More Bear Deterrents Learn more about capsaicin sprays, electric fencing and securing your trash Learn More Bears, birds and wildlife feeding Strategies for those who love to attract avian and other sorts of visitors Learn More Basic Bear Facts Learn more about their size and appearance, senses and physical abilities Learn More Bears Around the World Minnesota's only bear species is the American Black Bear. Learn more about other bear species. Learn More The Challenges of Gardening in Bear Country Bears often thwart our gardening efforts Learn more by checking out books or DVDs from our lending library Browse resources Learn More Read Published Papers Learn More Watch Videos and Movies

c3279982-cc6e-45ee-9de2-d852ba5ea5dc < Back Play Between Mother and Cub When cubs’ eyes opened around 6 weeks of age, they began to play. They played with their mothers. Previous Next

141a9d28-e9c3-4058-81fd-2221b13ce354 BLACK BEAR DIET Aspen - Big-Tooth, Quaking or Trembling Populus grandidentata, Populus tremuloides April-catkins, May-leaves Late Winter, Spring Big Toothed Aspen is one of the last trees to leaf out in the spring. The most abundant and widespread tree in Minnesota is the aspen; a fast growing pioneer tree species. After a clear cut or a fire, Aspen will often be the first tree to grow back. Aspen catkins are an important spring(April)food for black bears delivering approximately 14% protein. Aspen leaves are eaten by black bears in May when trees start leafing out.

f77e5a38-35da-44c0-9d7f-12d993ab122e < Back Slide 41 of 83 < > But even with all those problems, white pines seedlings can survive if they have the right conditions. For example, white pines still thrive along roadsides where they can find soil, sunlight, and less browsing by deer.

HOW BEARS LIVE Read More Find out more about the five stages of bear activity: Hibernation Walking Hibernation Normal Activity Hyperphasia Fall Transition Read More Read More From January through December, read about a bear's life month by month. Read More Read More Denning remains the least studied aspect of black bear life. Find out more about life for wild black bears in natural dens. (Spoiler Alert - There's a lot more happening than you might think!) Read More

WILDLIFE REHAB FACILITIES Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities Wildwood Wildlife Rehabilitation 4009 W. Arrowhead Road Duluth MN 55811 www.wildwoodsrehab.org Phone 218-491-3604 Wild and Free 10033 Old Highway 18 Brainerd MN 56401 www.wildandfree.org Phone 320-692-5417 CALL Garrison Animal Hospital first Phone 320-692-4180 Wildlife Rehabilitation Center 2530 Dale Street North Roseville MN 55113 www.wrcmn.org Phone 651-486-9453 Wild Instincts 4621 Apperson Drive Rhinelander WI 54501 www.wildinstinctsrehab.com Phone 715-362-4953

b6c120d9-8275-4fae-b4a1-8e043d6a78f8 < Back Slide 37 of 83 < > A half century ago when foresters were deciding not to plant white pines, they were also doing something they did not realize would make it harder for natural seedlings. They were protecting the forest from fire. This kept fires from spreading and kept seedlings from being burned up, but it also made fires unnaturally infrequent.