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CODE OF ETHICS Code of Ethics BEAR TEAM Code of Ethics The Bear Team is committed to maintaining the highest degree of integrity and honesty in all our interactions with our clients, in terms of confidentiality, and the protection of all personal information received during our interactions. We will conduct business in an honest manner and expect those who interact with us to give us the same courtesy.

2ead3ad6-eece-4485-a6e8-3e039beaeac7 BLACK BEAR DIET Downy Arrowwood Viburnum rafinesquianum August, September Summer A Medium sized shrub(3’ to 9’ tall) that commonly grows in NE Minnesota, often forming colonies. Grows in moist to dry upland forests in full sun to part sun to deep shade. The berry, which is eaten by black bears, is initially green becoming bluish-purple to purplish-black when ripe.

e798485f-cf75-475b-a57d-5aaff82ba507 < Back Slide 35 of 83 < > Blister rust does not spread from tree to tree, so it's not necessary to cut infected trees to protect the forest. But worries about this disease led foresters a half century ago to make a bad decision.

WHITE PINES To black bears, not all trees are created equal. In the forests of northeastern Minnesota, bears definitely prefer to be near majestic white pines. Read Paper Are White Pines Too Valuable To Cut? To cut or not to cut? Here are some of the research findings foresters must weigh in managing Minnesota's old-growth white pines. Read Paper Supercanopy White Pine and Wildlife A survey of the literature showed that scattered supercanopy white pines perform a different wildlife function than do white pine communities. Read Paper Bark Probably the biggest reason black bears make their beds near big white pines is the white pine's bark. Old white pines have deeply-furrowed, strong bark that make them easier for cubs to climb for safe refuge. Cubs often fall from trees with flaky bark, like spruces, jack pines, and red pines, and the often fall from trees with smooth bark like birches and the upper branches of aspens. Shade White pines have another advantage for bears in spring before deciduous trees leaf out. White pines offer shade to escaping cubs that may spend hours in trees until danger passes. Bear fur can reach 185 degrees Fahrenheit in the sun. The need for shade becomes a matter of life and death when panting can no longer keep body temperature below 104 degrees. Strong Branches The long, strong branches of white pines provide greater safety to cubs than do other trees in northeastern Minnesota. Strong white pine branches can support entire bear families if necessary. Slideshow courtesy of White Pine Society Visit whitepines.org Watch Slideshow Tree Age Calculator Use this online tool to help you easily calculate the age of a tree using simple measurments Visit Site Tree Measuring Guide Friends of the White Pine Society, Robert Leverett and Will Blozan have shared with us a few diagrams from their book "Stalking The Forest Monarchs - A Guide to Measuring Champion Trees." Read Guide

PEPPER SPRAY Q&A What is pepper spray? An aerosol product containing capsaicin, a naturally occurring extract of peppers, which, when sprayed in an animal's face, causes only temporary, but extreme discomfort. How do I use it? Keep at the ready - clipped to your belt, in your hand, easily accessible pocket. It won't do any good in the bottom of your backpack or purse. Aim toward the bear’s face, or slightly below. Spray going over the bear’s head will not be effective. (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/bears/encounters.html ) Mind the overspray so you don't accidentally spray nearby persons or equipment. Residual spray can act as a bear attractant. What's the difference between pepper spray and bear spray? Both have the active ingredient of capsaicin and related capsaicinoids and can cause temporary blindness, nausea, burning sensations, inability to breathe temporarily and other bothersome symptoms. The EPA regulates bear spray as a pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and requires a minimum size of 7.9 oz while pepper spray is typically sold in 1.5 oz canisters. Bear spray is also dispensed more forcefully than pepper spray. Product Type Product Example Product Size Percent Capsaicin Spray Range Bear Spray Counter Assault 8-9 ounces generally 2% 25+ feet Pepper Spray Halt 1.5 ounces 0.35% 10+ feet Pepper Spray Halt II 1.5 ounces 1.00% 10+ feet Don't I need to use bear spray instead of pepper spray? Nearly all close encounters with black bears involve bears seeking food. These bears are only mildly aggressive. The weaker types of pepper spray like Halt and Dog Shield have proven to be plenty potent against black bears seeking food. These products are not EPA-approved for bears, but Ely researchers believe anything more potent is overkill in black bear country. Is pepper spray effective on black bears? Sue Mansfield of the Wildlife Research Institute reports good success discouraging nuisance activity and instilling renewed fear of humans when residents sprayed visiting bears with capsaicin spray which their group provided (pers. comm. July 2006 - The Return of the Black Bear to Eastern Kentucky - page 49 ) Is pepper spray safe to use? Your mail carrier thinks so. The USPS states "The repellent has been accepted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pesticides Regulation Branch and has been registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and bears registration No. 7754-1. It has been registered in all states requiring such registration. The significance of these registrations is that they identify the product(s) as effective and safe." (https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2007/html/pb22205/dogkit.3.21.html ) Does pepper spray make bears mad? In all the testing researchers in Ely, Minnesota have done with various brands of pepper spray, no bear has shown the slightest hint of anger. All quietly retreated to deal with the temporary eye irritation. None of the bears made any vocalization, blew, chomped its teeth, extended its upper lip, nor showed any other sign of aggression after being sprayed. (Rogers - Reactions of Free-Ranging Black Bears to Capsaicin Spray Repellent ) Can pepper spray be used as a bear repellent? No. It actually has the opposite effect. It is not meant to be sprayed on yourself or equipment as that can actually attract bears since they like to investigate novel smells. (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/bears/encounters.html ). From the results published in Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska (Smith ) - "We analyzed 11 incidents of spray misuse that resulted in unintended consequences. In 45% (5 of 11) of incidents, persons applied spray to objects they hoped to protect from damage by curious bears; these efforts all failed. In 2 instances (18%), persons applied sprays as a zonal repellent but reported bears inordinately attracted to these locations (i.e., tent and on river bank. In 2 instances (18%), persons reported bears attracted to spray residues following use of bear spray for practice purposes." Aren't I safer carrying a gun? Actually a spray is more effective than a gun. One reason is because it is easier for you to aim the spray, than a gun. Even if you slightly miss the aim, the spray can provide you with increased chances of survival. It encourages human safety but it also helps in bear conservation. (Smith ) It is more effective than a gun: A wounded bear may charge you – a sprayed bear will not. (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/bears/encounters.html ) Research has shown that a mortally wounded bear usually lives long enough to seriously injure its attacker. People using guns against bears are more often attacked and more severely injured than those using bear spray to defend themselves and deter the bear. While so-called “bear spray” cannot prevent an encounter with a bear, it is by far the best known method of preventing attack and injury, if an encounter occurs. Bear spray is also nontoxic and will not permanently harm either the bear or the person exposed to it. (https://igbconline.org/be-bear-aware/encounter/#1635196031702-59a40ed2-874e ) Are there any other benefits to carrying pepper spray? The spray works on nearly all mammals and may be useful should you find yourself in a rare, but possible, unsafe wildlife encounter. Obviously it is effective against dogs which may be threatening you or your pet. It can also be used to keep other dogs at a distance if your dog is aggressive/reactive. Where can I buy pepper spray? It is easiest to purchase pepper spray online. Below are some sources (February 2022). Retailer Product Unit Price Price 6+ Price 12+ Product URL Chewy Halt $9.69 https://www.chewy.com/halt-dog-repellent-spray-15-oz-bottle/dp/168707 Amazon Halt $11.50 https://www.amazon.com/Halt-Dog-Repellent-1-5-oz/dp/B000E4Q7BS/ref=cm_wl_huc_item Walmart Halt $10.99 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Halt-Dog-Repellent-Red-62-1-5-oz/133409796 Amazon Halt II $13.84 https://www.amazon.com/Halt-Repellent-Repeller-Protector-Agressive/dp/B00NDMBDB2/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Halt&qid=1643124768&sr=8-5 Forestry Suppliers Halt II $8.25 $7.95 https://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/products.php?mi=51530&itemnum=25449 Gemplers Halt II $8.99 https://gemplers.com/products/halt-dog-repellent?variant=31085605355635 Northern Safety & Industrial Halt II $7.44 $7.06 $6.55 https://www.northernsafety.com/Product/177937/Halt-Halt-II-15-oz-1-Capsaicin-Dog-Repellent-Aerosol-Spray-Each

b44a6d0c-9d84-4471-8f56-4a7d4fc2c7e8 BLACK BEAR DIET Black Ash Fraxinus nigra April Late Winter The black ash grows up to 80' tall and is common in swampy areas and shores throughout Northern Minnesota. Bears feed on the flowers produced by these trees in early spring.

b2a3477f-07e5-4c39-b976-ae6be70810f7 Polar Bears: Living with the White Bear A Russian researcher details his observations of polar bear behavior after spending four years living among them in the High Artic. Nikita Ovsyanikov January 1, 1996 144 Pages:

997f9a51-2a0c-430c-a9eb-ebdee8b22597 < Back Tongue Clicks During Courting Tongue-clicks are most intense when they are from a male to an estrus females.

2060f0bf-850e-4037-b22d-8dbfbf96e72d BLACK BEAR DIET Juneberry Amelanchier sp. Mid-June through July Summer Juneberries are a native and small deciduous shrub or tree in northern Minnesota that grows along the edge of a dry open forest and around rocky outcroppings. It is also known as serviceberries, saskatoons or shadbush. They are an early season fruit crop that produces delicious fruits that are similar to blueberries with the ripe fruit colors ranging from purplish red to deep purple to blackish. An important early fruit crop for black bears.

DEN CAM OBSERVATIONS Video files provided by the Wildlife Research Institute There's a lot happening in the den! Preparing for Cubs This black bear mother is preparing for the birth of her cubs by gathering balsam fir branches that she then chewed up for more bedding. Jaw Clenching During Labor As labor began she clenched her jaws and flexed her head muscles. Body Slams During Labor Twelve hours before delivery our mother bear began slamming her body against the side of the den. Licking Just Before Birth A half an hour before birth she begins licking herself. Birth of Cubs! Birth! Listen for the sound of a cub and the welcoming grunts of the mother. Notice the bedding made of chewed up logs. Licking the Cubs Dry Mothers immediately lick the birthing fluids off each cub and warm it. Protecting Cubs from Cold To warm the cubs, mothers tuck their cubs underneath them and breath on them with her head tucked under her chest. The cubs are not hibernating. Their job is to nurse, sleep, and grow quickly. Elimination of Waste When the mother had to urinate or defecate, she backed into a corner—or to the entrance. The cub cried for the mother to come back and keep it warm. Notice the trail of urine at the end of the video. Eating Snow To get water, mothers ate snow. Eating Icicles Mothers also ate icicles to get water. Play Between Mother and Cub When cubs’ eyes opened around 6 weeks of age, they began to play. They played with their mothers. Play Between Cubs Cubs played with each other. Play Between Mothers and Yearlings In fact, all family members played, including this mother with yearlings. The way they expended energy on play when they had no food made us think how important play is to family relations. Reciprocal Tongue Licking A bonding activity that may also have other benefits was reciprocal tongue-licking that all family members did in dens and out of the dens as the cubs grew up. Grooming Grooming was frequent. Mothers groomed their cubs and their yearlings, and yearlings groomed their mothers. Yearlings Suckling Yearlings suckled in the den every day, making this pulsing hum—even though they got little or no milk. In spring after emergence, some well-fed mothers resumed lactation and nursed their yearlings right up to the day of family breakup in May or June. Fecal Plug As one of these yearlings makes the suckling sound, the mother is eating a yearling’s fecal plug that rolled back into the den after the yearling backed to the entrance to defecate. Fecal plugs are mainly cells that slough off the digestive tract during hibernation and build up in the colon. Footpad Chewing Again as we hear a yearling suckle, the mother is removing her right rear foot pad to expose the new one that is growing beneath it. Mothers sometimes also help their yearlings remove footpads. REM Sleep by Mothers Both mothers and young went through stages of sleep that included the eye movements and twitches of REM sleep. Does that mean they dream? Blustery Reaction Could dreaming explain why this mother woke up from REM sleep blustering forward as if disoriented before turning toward the den entrance? Does the fact that she immediately calmed down when she realized nothing was there suggest that she can separate bad dreams from reality?

cff36573-bae9-4ca9-9a26-ef3a52aa2abd < Back Slide 42 of 83 < > They also survive well in western and southern Minnesota where it's too warm and dry for blister rust to be a big problem.

ac5ae65f-3da4-4706-95a9-48008362673d Discovering Black Bears, Mom's Choice Awards Recipient Discovering Black Bears is a nature activity book that explores the natural history of the American black bear, its behavior and habitat. It also covers bear-human conflicts and how problems can be resolved. This engaging book, aimed at children of all ages, introduces the reader to real-life bear biologists, who have new insights into bear behavior. Discovering Black Bears has full color illustrations, a sheet of black bear stickers, and contains 20 activities designed to challenge children s minds. Margaret Anderson October 31, 2007 40 Pages: