In this paper the authors tested the ability to use stable isotope analysis (by plucking hair from captured bears) to quantify garbage in bear diet. They contrasted hairs taken from spring harvested bears and bear captures in Missoula, Montana in 2009. Results: 1. Stable isotopes seem promising for actually identifying garbage in diet, but there are still some issues to be worked out; 2. Garbage was not a significant food source for bears around Missoula in 2008.
One of the most rewarding discoveries for a bear in an urban area is an unsecured grease vessel. Many restaurants and eateries use these vessels to store used cooking oil which is then collected by companies that recycle the oil into products like biodiesel. Although this is an important environmental service, when mishandled, it can come at the cost of a bear’s life. A full standard barrel contains 210 liters of oil. That translates into a whopping 1.6 MILLION calories for the smaller vessels (in bear terms, that is a MAJOR SCORE… equal to many weeks of foraging for berries). The caloric value, combined with the smell of tasty fryer fixings, makes grease vessels irresistible. Attractants such as this draw bears into urban areas. Once there, it is often easy for bears to opportunistically find unsecured food, garbage, or other attractants. It only takes one food reward for a bear to start becoming food conditioned. Food conditioned bears are at a much higher risk for being killed due to human-bear conflict.
This report to experimentally tests the efficacy of education and enforcement in altering human behavior to better secure attractants (garbage) from bears. We conducted 3 experiments in Aspen CO, USA to evaluate: 1) on-site education in communal dwellings and construction sites, 2) Bear Aware educational campaign in residential neighborhoods, and 3) elevated law enforcement at two levels in the core business area of Aspen.
Recently, the Grizzly Bear Outreach Project (GBOP) team skyped Get Bear Smart to learn more about creating bear smart communities in Washington. I'm sure many of you have the same questions, so I thought I'd provide a summary of the conversation.
This research project aimed to identify why communities struggle to meet the "Bear Smart" standards and to provide recommendations on how the managing agency can more effectively implement the program.
A delightful picture book for kids 9-12 who live in bear country.
Follow young Josh on his quest to write a story about black bears for his school newspaper. Sometimes funny, always informative, this program provides young viewers with what they need to know to live safely with black bears.
Living in Bear Country provides practical advice on minimizing problems with bears in the places that people live. It shows how a few simple adjustments to your daily routine can reduce the risk of property damage and human injury from bears.
This 27-minute program contains important information on how people can reduce their chance of encountering a polar bear and how to best respond if they do meet a bear.
In a hurry for the latest on coexisting with bears? Why not subscribe to The BearSmart Leader, our monthly e-newsletter. The BearSmart Leader provides the latest news, research and information on the Get Bear Smart Society and the larger world of human-bear coexistence.
Establish bear smart working practices to ensure the safety of all workers on site.
Non-lethal alternatives provide an effective management tool and incorporate a more holistic, long-term approach to bear management.
The first rule of BearSmartness is to not attract bears to areas frequented by humans. Securing attractants is the single best way to keep people safe, prevent property damage, and avoid the unnecessary destruction of bears.
See how Whistler scored in terms of meeting the six criteria for becoming a BearSmart Community.
Jun 16, 2009 — Web Page: Online Store
Bear Smart Stuff for Sale
These guidelines provide exact specifications and drawings to build a bear-proof garbage enclosure. There are three design options; two completely secure buildings - a smaller enclosure without recycling options and a larger one to accommodate recycling. The third option is for aesthetics only and a bear-proof container would have to be placed inside.
These guidelines provide criteria for bear-proof waste containers.
Bear Safety Essentials: Keeping Encounters Positive and Free from Conflict
Staying Safe in Bear Country, Working in Bear Country and Living in Bear Country provide important information to help reduce human injuries and property damage from grizzly and black bears throughout North America while also reducing unnecessary bear deaths.
Abstract: A variety of approaches have been used by wildlife agencies to educate people about encounters with American black bears (Ursus americanus), but little evaluation of their effectiveness has occurred. We distributed brochures, posters, and adhesive signs with messages about how to be safe around black bears in 2 areas of New Mexico where this information had not been widely disseminated and where encounters between people and black bears were common. To evaluate the effectiveness of our efforts, we used identical survey instruments to poll residents and campers in the 2 areas where safety information was widely distributed
(treatment areas) and residents and campers in 3 other areas where information was not distributed (reference areas). Knowledge levels of respondents in treatment areas were higher than those of respondents in reference areas for residents and to a lesser extent for campers. Residents in treatment areas had the highest knowledge levels of all sample groups. Respondents generally understood the critical role anthropogenic food plays in creating nuisance behavior. We discuss recommendations for further research.
