Black bears rebounding throughout the U.S.
By Jennifer S. Holland, National Geographic
If you live in the eastern United States, you might want to keep an eye on your backyard for some surprising summer visitors.
Bears.
The American black bear (Ursus americanus), which was heavily diminished by overhunting, habitat loss, and fragmentation in the past century, is making an impressive comeback in parts of North America — particularly the East. An estimated 800,000 black bears roam the continent, slowly returning to many of their old haunts.
Three success stories highlight the resurgence of the up-to-600 pound omnivores. The Department of the Interior announced in May that Louisiana’s black bears may be pulled from the Endangered Species List, where they’ve sat since 1992. Years of legal protection, better habitat, and a reintroduction program have helped boost the population from as few as 200 animals to some 750 or more.
In Florida, an extensive new survey shows bear numbers have doubled, to some 1,200 animals, in one area and increased by almost a third in another since 2002.
The people problem with their trash and bears is an ongoing situation that needs to be dealt with.
Talk with your neighbors about keeping the bears out of the trash. Call the Bear Leaugue for advice at 525-paws, call Clean Tahoe to enforce the rules about trash.544-4210
I think we’ve made some progress, as on my street there’s no bear rmess, no more.
Take care bear, OLS
Yeah but can they dunk? Can they hit the open man on the ‘give and go’ and not end up in the popcorn machine?
Time for expanded hunting seasons.