In 1997, while bow hunting in the Ocala National Forest. I saw two large male bears eating grubs and one of them caught and begun to eat a Cotton Tail rabbit. They were approximately ½ mile from each other. It seemed like the very second that the bear with the rabbit tore it apart, I saw the other bear lift his nose to the air and was at a full run and was to the other bear within a minute. The first bear was bigger, but the second bear seemed to be hungrier and quickly took the remains of the rabbit away and out of sight. Thinking that it was a waste of time to remain in the area I returned to my jeep to head back to camp and get some lunch for myself. Upon reaching the logging road that lead to my jeep, I found large bear prints within my …show more content…
Prior to the late 1900s they roamed throughout Florida, over 53,000 square miles of land. From the Panhandle to the Keys, to the southern edges of our neighboring states. At that time an estimated twelve to twenty thousand black bears roamed throughout Florida.
Since then, between deforestation, unregulated hunting prior to 1950’s, habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, have resulted in the loss of a substantial portion of the Florida black bear population and 80% of its habitat. As a result, in 1974 the black bear was listed by the state of Florida as a threatened species in through-out the state with the exception of The Apalachicola National Forest and Baker and Columbia counties. At that time all hunting for Black Bears in the state of Florida was suspended until future notice.
In 1974 bear estimates were between 300 and 400 bears, in 2002 just eight years later with the help of Central Florida Farmers Association approximately 132,000 acres were set aside for bear habitation. Due to these and the efforts groups like TreeHuggerofAmerica, Defender.org and the FWC (Florida Wildlife Commission) the bear population started growing and growing and growing. From three to five hundred in 1974 to a little over three thousand in 2002. As of 2015 the current estimates are four thousand three hundred fifty bears and the amount of human / bear contact has
habitats helps with the environment. American Black Bears live in at least 40 states in North
This means that they eat nuts, berries, fruits, leaves, and roots and other animals from rodents to moose. For being 800 pounds and also being 5 to 8 feet they are fast animals running up to 30 miles and hour or sometimes 35 miles per hour. Grizzly bears once lived in much of Western North America and even the Great plains. When the europeans settled they killed many of these bears from both of these areas. Today the Grizzly bear population in the U.S. are safe because they are protected by law.
Bear hunting is an extremely dangerous activity for one to partake in. There are many precautions one must take in order to successfully kill a bear. Although bears are typically calm creatures they can become extremely aggressive and dangerous if threatened. Therefore, one must be aware of their surroundings at all times and ready for any encounter. Normally bears are baited using some kind of container cut open with fruit and other strong smelling foods to draw the bears in. Though dangerous bear hunting does also provide a considerable amount of food for a family. Those you hunt typically do so in order to obtain the meat from the animal. A typical black bear weighs about 240 pounds on average. Though not all of that weight is eatable much of it
Today, Louisiana has made extraordinary rescues with species that were once considered threatened or endangered. Due to safe planning and the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service projected to remove the Louisiana Black Bear from the list of threatened species. In May 2015, approximately 350 black bears to 600 black bears existed in Northern Louisiana in which $900,000 was invested to restore its population. Severe habitat loss of the black bear is what initially led to the decline in the population. In 1992, the Louisiana Black Bear was placed on the list of endangered and threatened species and in May 2015, they were officially removed (Wildlife Division - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
The Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) is a subspecies of the American black bear (Ursus americanus). The Louisiana black bear was once found roaming all over Louisiana and parts of Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi. However, during the 18th and 19th century, bear hunting became popular and large amounts of forest areas disappeared due to the demand for wood and agricultural land. By the 1950's, the Louisiana black bear's population was down to eighty to one hundred twenty. In efforts, to save the species the Director of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries temporarily closed hunting season for the Louisiana black bear. Despite the noticeable decline of the bears' population, illegal harvesting and deforestation took place until the
Another observation done by Bass is that the projected estimate of a population growth of 132 to 1,800 is just that an estimation. As Bass stated “ bears do not sit down for a census”(Bass 2). If grizzly bears are listed there is a chance that hunters will accidently over hunt bears once again. If bears bears are delisted it will not be because the bears will be ready it will be because hunters have been persistently asking for the chance to hunt. If bears are delisted it can be years before they can be relisted and by then it may be far too late.
Another observation made by Bass is that the projected estimate of a population growth of 132 to 1,800 is just that an estimation. As Bass stated “ bears do not sit down for a census”(Bass 2). If grizzly bears are listed there is a chance that hunters will accidently over hunt bears once again. If bears are delisted it will not be because the bears will be ready it will be because hunters have been persistently asking for the chance to hunt. If bears are delisted it can be years before they can be relisted and by then it may be far too late.
Unfortunately, these bears are losing critically important foods, especially when craving something larger than their usual diet. Cutthroat trout, Whitebark pine seeds, and Elk populations have decreased, leaving bears in
Specific Purpose: To argue that the federal government should take the grizzly bears off of the endangered species act for the bears that are around and in Yellowstone National Park.
Black bears and Grizzly bears live in the Rocky Mountains, Alaska, and Canada. There are over 600,000 black bears in North America and thousands of Grizzly bears. The bears are out there. Anytime that you are spending time in bear country it is important that you know how to be safe and to keep your children safe.
Despite the stereotype of black bears being a threat to one’s safety, Animal-zone explains how black bears are actually very gentle, joyful animals that have a predictable behavior. Black bears live all around the world. Black bears, like all animals, have unique characteristics, behave differently as male or female, exhibit special adaptations and live in several types of habitats. Black bears have various characteristics to help them flourish in the wild.
The black bear, ursus americanus, roams in different places in America including Texas. Its North America the black bears habitat ranges from Mexico all the way to Canada. In the state of Texas, the black bear is under threatened status, it also has the same status under the United States (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department). According to the Texas Parks Wildlife Department (2016) in the state of Texas they are usually found in the Western area in the Trans Pecos ecoregion. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (2016) has reported that there have been recent sightings of the Louisiana Black Bear in the Eastern part of Texas, where they used to have a strong population. This comes as surprising since the Louisiana Black Bear has an endangered status in the United States, as well as in the state of Texas. Even though the black bear species population in Texas is not as strong as it used to be in the past, many efforts are being done to recolonize the black bear in the South Western region of Texas by, studying their habitat as well as their eating habits, checking the DNA of the bears already in the area to see their genetic structures, regulating protection policies for black bears, and educating the people on the species.
According to the FWC, hunting supports keeping population size in check, fewer bears being pushed into neighborhoods and increasing wariness and fear of humans. Bears were removed from Florida’s threatened species list in 2012. About 300 bears are expected to be killed by an unlimited number of permitted hunters. Florida has an estimated 3,150 black bears in four regions — the eastern Panhandle, Northeast Florida, east-central Florida and South Florida — where the hunts would be conducted, according to the Panama City New Herald. The numbers are based on 2002 estimates for the eastern Panhandle and South Florida, and a 2014 count in the Northeast Florida and east-central Florida regions.
The question I chose for my inquiry research project was “How will change in precipitation affect black bears and brown bears in British Columbia?”. I think that in 1000 years bears will still be able to survive.
Bear is a true carnivore, but if not prevented the black bear could be a huge problem to humans.