Problem: We needed to educate people about black bears. Leaving too much food and trash outside, and feeding bears leads to an unhealthy alliance between bears and humans. This heightened level of contact could eventually result in bears being extirpated again in Missouri.
Solution: The team decided to spread the word to people in campgrounds, around our community, and even on the internet about how to reduce bear contact. Educating people on using bear resistant containers, different bear tactics, keeping our distance, and not feeding them will lead to a happy and healthy relationship with our Animal Allies.
We made a poster about bears and human interaction. The problem was people didn't know how to handle bears, and they were treating them wrong. One big thing is that people were feeding bears. "A fed bear is a dead bear," says Ashley Schanake. She is a wildlife expert we interviewed. When bears get close to humans and we have to go trap the bear, if once trapped and it's too comfortable it means it's not afraid of humans. Sadly that could mean the possibility of a future attack because of close proximity to humans and would have to be put down. Bears do need to have a healthy fear of humans, if you feed it the bear will lose the fear of you. Please remember that a fed bear is a dead bear.
Close to the Branson, Missouri Airport there is a black bear, Black Bear 1001. He has been spotted five times and has been tagged. Black Bear 1001 is a male and he weighs 455 lbs. He has roamed about 765 miles. He is 16 years old and in great condition. To find out more about Black Bear 1001 and see if there is a bear in your area visit this site by the Missouri Department of Conservation: Black Bear GPS. Picture used by permission from Missouri Dept. of Conservation.
A bear safe container is a container that bears can't open. Bears don't have thumbs so containers that screw on/off are great. Keep food in bear safe containers and trash too! Don't leave pet food out, especially in the spring if you have bears in the area. Go to this site to purchase bear proof containers . OR check back soon for a video that we made of a DIY version of a bear safe container pictured on the left. Check out our DIY video HERE or just watch it below.
Here are ten things more likely to kill you than a bear. Some surprised us, they might surprise you too. This is from an article from a magazine put out by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Click on the link below to take the quiz on the information that you learned. Watch the video in the link below first!
This is our Missouri Bears skit that we perform for the judges, you can also share this with other family members, friends, and anyone else. You don't have to, but we would love if you could get as many people as possible to view this video. If you like the video, hit the like button on youtube!