Tag: Bear

Bear stuck in ice given Pop Tarts during ill-advised rescue attempt

A Minnesota bear that picked the wrong place to hibernate wound up stuck in the ice in a culvert alongside a road near Wannaska.

A Minnesota bear that picked the wrong place to hibernate wound up stuck in the ice in a culvert alongside a road near Wannaska, leading to an ineffective and ill-advised rescue by a well-intentioned public.

Area residents discovered the stuck bear Sunday and attempted to dig the bear out that evening, as reported by TwinCities.com.

“We were going to go out there and take every precaution necessary, but basically we just wanted to dig it free enough so it could get out,” Spencer Krohn told TwinCities.com.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Ice fisherman catches odd-looking fish that was considered suspicious

Some “well-meaning folks” started to dig the bear out and tried to feed it before officials from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources arrived and blocked off the area as evening arrived.

Before then, the citizen rescuers had “served him up a smorgasbord of six Pop Tarts, a head of lettuce, a dead sucker minnow, some Fancy Feast cat food, bird seed and a Swedish fish,” DNR stated on its Facebook Page.

“That might work for ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ in Eric Carle’s book, but it’s no good for bears,” DNR wrote. “Luckily, because bears don’t have the desire to eat in the winter, the bear didn’t bite.”

The next morning, the bear was sedated by biologists and relocated to another den at the Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area in Marshall County.

The bear denned up in a culvert that began flowing during a recent warmup and became stuck when it tried relocating.

“He tried to push himself out and kind of got wedged on some frozen water that had frozen and thawed, frozen and thawed, and got stuck in place and tired,” Andy Tri, bear project leader for the DNR, told TwinCities.com.

Using a rope with “paw cuffs,” conservation officers spent 20 minutes to extract the drugged bear from its icy predicament.

Tri examined the bear and pronounced him healthy, estimated its age at 6 years and its weight at 375 to 400 pounds, and said it was a male.

“If you’re ever concerned about a bear’s safety by all means give us a call,” the DNR wrote on Facebook. “But don’t try to move it or feed it! Doing so can result in a bad situation (either for you or for the bear).”

Tri told TwinCities, “I was worried we’d have a sick bear mortally wounded or gravely injured or something like that. This is a happy story all the way around.”

Photos of the stuck bear, drugged bear and relocated bear courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Poacher kills first black bear documented at NY wildlife refuge

A hunter has illegally killed what was described as “likely” the first black bear documented at New York’s Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

A hunter has illegally killed what was “likely” the first black bear documented at New York’s Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

The hunter was located after Department of Environmental Conservation officers responded to a Nov. 18 report that a K-9 unit had tracked a bear that had been shot earlier in the day.

The K-9 unit had been part of a nighttime spotlighting detail involving officers trying to catch hunters illegally using lights to locate and shoot deer.

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The DEC reported that after an investigation, officers interviewed the hunter at his home and he confessed to shooting the bear with a compound bow.

The refuge does not allow bear hunting and the hunter failed to turn in a harvest report that helps the state keep track of legal bear kills.

The man was cited and ordered to appear in federal court on charges related to the illegal harvest of a bear on a national wildlife refuge.

–Image showing officers with the poached bear is courtesy of the DEC

Bears decorate tree in a manner befitting the holidays

An image showing brown bears positioned like Christmas decorations in a towering pine was shared last week by a wildlife-viewing facility in Transylvania.

An image showing brown bears positioned like Christmas decorations in a towering pine was shared last week by a wildlife-viewing facility in Transylvania.

“Pine ornaments for sale,” the company, Bear Watching in Transylvania, joked on Facebook.

The image reveals that bears in the region are prolific climbers. In this instance, their faces peering toward the camera from different spots in the branches make them appear as adorable decorations.

The Facebook post inspired dozens of comments in Hungarian language, such as, “How cute they are! Such a rare moment!”

The image was subsequently uploaded to a Facebook page that features the brown bears of Alaska’s Katmai National Park, and inspired more silly and amusing comments, such as “Don’t forget the tinsel” and “Best decorations ever.”

Bear Watching in Transylvania boasts guaranteed sightings from designated sites during “wildlife-watching” programs that last 1-2 hours.

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Watch: Bear smells worst kind of trouble on tree, reacts accordingly

Video footage captured in Canada’s Yukon Territory shows a black bear hightailing it to safety after smelling porcupine scent on a tree.

After a bear has experienced the sting of porcupine quills, it’s understandable that the mere scent of a porcupine would signal a flight response.

The accompanying trail-cam footage, featured Sunday by Yukon Wildlife Cams, shows a black bear exhibiting remarkable speed and agility after sniffing a tree that had presumably been claimed by porcupines.

David Troup, who runs Yukon Wildlife Cams, explained Sunday via Facebook:

“The highly acute sense of smell that bears possess provides them with information to do such things as find food and in this case, avoid potential danger. The tree of interest was scent marked many times by porcupines over the summer, and this wet bear’s fight or flight instinct seemingly kicked into gear.”

One comment reads, “Must’ve had quills before.”

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Another: “I wish my dogs would react the same.”

And this: “Always amazes me how fast these large bears can move.”

Troup’s cameras are stationed on remote wilderness trails and he shares footage sporadically, sometimes weeks later. The bear footage was captured in August.

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Oregon launches probe after two bears are found dead in trees

Oregon is seeking help from the public in locating the person(s) responsible for shooting a bear and leaving the animal to waste.

Oregon is seeking help from the public in locating the person(s) responsible for shooting a black bear and leaving the animal to waste.

The Oregon State Police Wildlife Division explained via news release that on Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. Troopers responded to a tip about a dead bear in a tree with an arrow in its flesh.

They found that the bear had also been shot two times with a gun. The Jackson County Fire Department assisted in retrieving the carcass.

Jackson County Fire Department was called to retrieve the bear carcass

The incident occurred near Anderson Creek Road, outside of Talent.

ALSO: In San Diego, a dead great white shark and a plea to anglers

On October 31, a second bear was found dead in a tree in the same area. Its body was decomposed but OSP believes the animal’s death was “human-caused.”

Both incidents are under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888, text *OSP (*677), or email at TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Case number is SP22291483.

–Top image is generic, courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Biologists discover huge grizzly bear den with ‘spectacular view’

As grizzly bears fatten up in advance of hibernation, some might wonder what features are important for grizzlies as they seek den sites. “It’s the view!”

As grizzly bears fatten up in advance of hibernation, some might wonder what features are important for grizzlies as they seek den sites.

“The view of course!” Idaho Fish and Game Upper Snake joked on Friday.

A Facebook post by the regional IDFG office featured images showing an enormous den discovered by biologist Jeremy Nicholson and Officers Chris Johnson and Joe Heald as they searched for a dropped tracking collar from a 600-pound research bear.

The view from outside the den. Photo: IDFG

The top image shows Johnson posing at the entrance of the den to reveal its size. Another image features a stunning view from just outside the den.

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“Check out the spectacular view from the den and what it takes to excavate a den large enough to hold a grizzly bear,” the Facebook description reads.

The den even featured a ceiling vent for easy breathing.

The bear was not seen, but the group located what was left of the tracking collar inside the den.

Grizzly bears might move a ton of earth to excavate dens comfortable enough to support them during the winter. Depending on the weather, they typically begin preparing for hibernation in late November.

Male grizzlies are first to emerge from their dens in the spring, usually beginning in March. Females with cubs emerge in April or early May.

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Black bear attacks family on trail, critically injuring two women

A family on a sunset hike Monday in British Columbia, Canada, fell under vicious attack by a black bear, leaving two of the four family members critically injured

A family on a sunset hike Monday in British Columbia, Canada, was run down by a black bear that critically injured two of the four family members.

Both victims were women, aged 30 and 48, the according to the CBC.

A third family member, a teenage boy, suffered less serious injuries after being swatted by the bear, according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.

The attack, which is under investigation, occurred on the Wolverine Trail near Dawson Creek.

“They turned to run and the bear chased after them,” the COS explained. “One woman was attacked by the bear, while another woman and teenage boy were also injured trying to help.”

The COS and Royal Canadian Mountain Police responded to the attack site and found the bear guarding the two female victims. RCMP shot and killed the bear, an adult male.

“No additional bears were located during a sweep of the area,” the COS stated, adding that a necropsy will be conducted on the bear.

All three victims were hospitalized. The trail and surrounding area were closed to the public after the incident.

Watch: Hiker lets bear pass within petting distance on narrow trail

Without other options, a hiker on a narrow trail did what she sensed was the only thing she could do when a bear came walking at her.

Without other apparent options, a hiker on a narrow trail overlooking Southern California did what she sensed was the only thing she could do when a bear came sauntering down the trail right toward her. She stayed calm and still, and let it pass.

The encounter occurred last month on the Mt. Wilson Trail above Sierra Madre, located east of Pasadena. The bear came within petting distance of Victoria Pham, whose previous bear training helped her assess the situation.

“This is a Black Bear (in California) and they are generally easily scared off,” Pham wrote on Instagram. “I used to work in Yosemite National Park where I’ve gone through bear training and worked in Search & Rescue, so I’m quite familiar with bear behavior and body language.

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“I do recognize that it is a BEAR and can do serious damage. I was already on trail where I wouldn’t be able to outrun the bear going downhill or engage the bear to go back up the trail since there were hikers ahead.

“Know that if I was in Montana or anywhere else in the world, I most definitely would NOT be standing there letting it pass.”

Pham posted video of the close encounter on Instagram (which can be seen below on most servers).

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Victoria Pham (@pham.victoria)

“There were actually a few people behind me,” she told KTLA. “They weren’t in the video, but they were talking to me, like ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ I’m like, ‘I’m going to let it pass.’ They asked, ‘Are you sure?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to let it pass. It’s the best thing to do right now.’”

Fortunately, she was right.

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Montana explains why it killed Yellowstone-area grizzly bear

A Montana grizzly bear that became increasingly habituated to humans was euthanized Wednesday, a day after its capture in the Gardiner Basin near Yellowstone National Park.

A grizzly bear that became increasingly habituated to humans was euthanized Wednesday, a day after its capture in Montana’s Gardiner Basin near Yellowstone National Park.

On Friday, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department explained in a news release that the adult female bear had a growing history of conflicts and had been relocated twice before its capture Tuesday on private land.

“In the weeks prior to the capture, the bear had broken into a fenced compound, frequented a home that had no unsecured attractants or natural foods, and killed chickens secured by electric fencing,” FWP stated. “The bear was largely undeterred by hazing efforts, which included rubber bullets, paintballs, electric fencing and noise-making devices.”

ALSO: Viewers challenged to spot mountain lion hiding in arroyo

The decision to euthanize the bear was made in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (The bear had a small cub, which will be placed in a zoo.)

FWP stated that bear activity is high as the animals feed intensively in the weeks leading to hibernation, and that conflicts with humans have recently spiked.

On Tuesday, the same day as the Gardiner Basin capture, an adult male grizzly bear was shot and killed west of Emigrant by hunters who said they were acting in self defense.

On. Sept. 14, hunters reported being charged by a grizzly bear in the Tom Miner Basin. One hunter shot the bear with a pistol. A subsequent search involving ground and helicopter crews failed to locate the injured animal.

Conflicts with black bears, FWP stated, also have increased in residential areas such as Bozeman, Big Sky, Belgrade, Helena and Butte.
Several black bears were euthanized after gaining access to unsecured attractants, creating a public safety threat.

FWP explained that all of Montana is bear country and that securing attractants, such as garbage, bird feeders, and pet food, could help prevent bears from becoming habituated.

In the wilderness, hunters and hikers should always carry bear spray and take appropriate steps to prevent surprise encounters.

–Generic grizzly bear image is courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

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Watch: Grizzly bear chases oil-field worker onto cab of truck

The accompanying footage shows an oil-field worker scurrying onto the cab of his truck to escape an aggressive grizzly bear and her cub.

**Updated to include the original video and explain why the grizzly bear sow was so aggressive. 

When you work at a remote oil field in Alaska, it pays to be bear aware.

In the accompanying footage, an oil-field employee is shown scurrying onto the cab of a truck to escape an aggressive grizzly bear and one of her two cubs.

The tense encounter occurred inside an Arctic Pipe Inspection yard at Prudhoe Bay, where the momma bear and her cubs are fairly well known to employees.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/24DESy87TwM

The employee shown watching from the yellow loader vehicle told FTW Outdoors that the sow was aggressive because had temporarily lost sight of her other cub. (The employee did not wish to disclose his name.)

Another employee captured the footage from the safety of the shop.

The tense situation lasted about a minute.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game told the employee that the sow and her cubs routinely feed in area dumpsters.

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