Bears-News

News about bears, from around the world. Updated continuously.

July 2nd, 2009

UK scientist 'beared' his soul
Source: Kentucky.com: Op-Ed - Jun 27, 2009

A year ago last week, University of Kentucky professor and wildlife researcher David Maehr died in a plane crash while tracking Florida's black bear population.

I won't pretend that I knew Maehr well. But during a frigid winter day in the Letcher County mountains, amid the anxiety of a research mission gone awry, I experienced firsthand Maehr's fierce concern for the animals he studied.

It has become a haunting memory.

I was a reporter for the now-closed The Kentucky/Cincinnati Post when I'd first interviewed Maehr for a long article on Kentucky's elk comeback.

Maehr liked the article, and during follow-up conversations invited me to see the critical research he and colleagues were conducting on the health and sustainability of Kentucky's black bear population.

Bear on the run
Source: Republican American (Waterbury, Connecticut) - Jun 26, 2009

Waterbury animal control officers are chasing a bear spotted rambling around the Bucks Hill neighborhood on Friday morning. Last report the bear headed back to the Mattatuck Forest.

Bear skips veggies for chocolate in Calif. home
Source: Erie Times-News (Pennsylvania) - Jun 29, 2009

SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS, Calif. (AP) -- Deputies say a bear with an apparent sweet-tooth broke into a San Bernardino County home and gobbled up a box of chocolates from a couple's refrigerator.

Bear knocks down woman near Siren
Source: TwinCities.com - Pioneer Press: Most Viewed (Minnesota) - Jun 30, 2009

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is investigating a report of a black bear knocking a woman down Sunday night outside her home on the western outskirts of Siren in Burnett County.

Grizzly bear spotted near Fort Benton
Source: Big News Network: Montana - Jun 30, 2009

FORT BENTON, Mont. (AP) -- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials have confirmed the sighting of an adult grizzly bear north of Fort Benton, far outside of established habitat in the foothills of ...

Bear knocks down woman near Siren
Source: TwinCities.com - Pioneer Press - Most Emailed (Minnesota) - Jun 30, 2009

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is investigating a report of a black bear knocking a woman down Sunday night outside her home on the western outskirts of Siren in Burnett County.

Idaho man injured in grizzly attack
Source: Deseret News - Utah - Jun 30, 2009

State fish and game officials say they are monitoring a radio-collared grizzly bear that attacked an Idaho Falls hunter near...

Bear sighting closes canyon sites temporarily
Source: Deseret News - Utah - Jun 30, 2009

PROVO — It was on its best behavior Sunday, but a 2-year-old black bear still isn't allowed to mingle with people...

Wood harvest puts pandas at risk
Source: BBC News - Science and Nature - Jun 26, 2009

Fewer trees must be chopped for firewood in China's panda reserve.

2 black bears in Dare Co. too accustomed to humans
Source: WLOS (North Carolina) - Jun 30, 2009

NAGS HEAD, N.C. (AP) -- Two black bears living in coastal Dare County have become so accustomed to being fed by humans that they respond to the sound of a potato chip bag being crinkled.

Time to be on lookout for bear
Source: Concord Monitor - Living (New Hampshire) - Jun 27, 2009

Certain times of the year black bears become a nuisance. More specifically, when the birdfeeder alerts go out.

Men hound-hunting black bear near Island Park run into a Grizzly with cubs
Source: Ralph Maughan's Wildlife News (Idaho) - Jun 28, 2009

Bear bites back News Release – 6/28/09 Idaho Department of Fish and Game Three eastern Idaho bear hunters got an unpleasant surprise Sunday morning, June 28, when their hounds surrounded a female grizzly with cubs. The bear took after the hunters, knocked one man down, bit him on the right arm and tossed him around. The names of the three [...]

Humane Society: 2009 Spring Bear Hunt Closes (BC)
Source: Bear Matters BC - Jun 28, 2009

http://www.hsicanada.ca/wildlife/grizzly_bears/spring_bearhunt_closes.html Home > Wildlife > Grizzly Bears > 2009 Spring Bear Hunt Closes

Summer Panda Fun!
Source: San Diego Zoo (California) - Jun 29, 2009

As we start our summer hours, the Giant Panda Research Station at the San Diego Zoo is open until 8:30 each evening during Nighttime Zoo. Since we are open later, a few changes are occurring to condition the bears. Usually in the summer we offer their evening feeding a little later, so as we start [...]

Man Cited For Killing Grizzly Bear
Source: Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks - Jun 29, 2009

Jared Bain of Kalispell was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution from Lake Count Justice of the Peace Chuck Wall for the unlawful killing of a grizzly bear. In addition to the restitution he was fined $2,000 of which $1500 was suspended for shooting the bear during a closed season, fined $1000 of which $500 was suspended for the unlawful possession of the claws, sentenced to 180 days in jail all suspended and lost his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for 12 months.

Grizzly bear spotted near Fort Benton
Source: Great Falls Tribune - Local News (Montana) - Jun 29, 2009

A sighting of an adult grizzly bear was confirmed Sunday evening north of Fort Benton, 100 miles from the Rocky Mountain Front, as grizzlies continue to roam far outside of established habitat this spring.

Black bear found in Billings
Source: Great Falls Tribune - Local News (Montana) - Jun 29, 2009

Female grizzly attacks Idaho hunters
Source: KTVB (Boise, Idaho) - Jun 28, 2009

Bear essentials: Teton County enforcing new rules for bear areas
Source: The Casper Star Tribune - Wyoming News - Jun 26, 2009

JACKSON -- Teton County is requiring residents in some areas to follow new garbage and bird-feeder rules to help reduce conflicts with hungry bears.

Busy Day For DOW As Bears Come To Town
Source: cbs4denver.com - Pets (Colorado) - Jun 26, 2009

It was a busy morning on Friday for Colorado Division of Wildlife crews after they had to tranquilize two bears.

Bouncing Bear Breaks Trampoline
Source: TheDenverChannel.com (KMGH 7) - Local News (Colorado) - Jun 26, 2009

A black bear that wandered into a Highlands Ranch neighborhood has been tranquilized and moved to the foothills.

Bears Avoid Humans; Attracted To Food
Source: Harrisonburg Daily News Record - Local News (Virginia) - Jun 27, 2009

Virginia is home to about 12,000 black bears, about half of which live in the central Shenandoah Valley, according to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Bear essentials: Teton County enforcing new rules for bear areas
Source: The Casper Star Tribune - Wyoming News - Jun 26, 2009

JACKSON -- Teton County is requiring residents in some areas to follow new garbage and bird-feeder rules to help reduce conflicts with hungry bears.

Anderson Island golf course has a new hazard -- bears
Source: KOMO - News - Local (Washington state) - Jun 26, 2009

A black bear apparently swam to the island earlier this week, and there have been several sightings since.

Wyoming grizzly bear relocated after eating cows
Source: KULR-8 Television: Wyoming News (Billings, Montana) - Jun 26, 2009

Oregon woman who fed bears ousted from house
Source: Erie Times-News (Pennsylvania) - Jun 26, 2009

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) -- Karen Noyes often fed the black bears that came to her home near the Oregon coast. Then things got out of hand.

NEW INFO: Mama Bear Waits in Tree for Cub after Baby Hit by Vehicle Near Wausau
Source: WSAW: Headlines (Wausau, Wisconsin) - Jun 25, 2009

The DNR says it plan of disposing of a dead bear cub after it was found dead along Hwy. 52 east of Wausau Thursday morning.

Young black bear transported to Oaky Woods
Source: Macon Telegraph: The Sun News(Georgia) - Jun 24, 2009

A young black bear that surprised Hogansville residents last week is now probably checking out his surroundings in the Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area south of Warner Robins.

Glasscock County Authorities Attempt to Locate Bear
Source: KWES-TV NewsWest 9 (Midland, Texas) - Jun 25, 2009

Officials with the sheriff's office and Texas Parks and Wildlife have set a trap off of County Road 125, just west of Garden City. They are still on the scene.

Road barriers to be set up to protect bears
Source: Kathimerini (Greece) - Jun 25, 2009

Environment and Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias yesterday heralded the construction of barriers along sections of the Egnatia Highway in northern Greece and the use of electrified wire to prevent road deaths among the local brown bear population, a... ...

Bear Feeding Woman Ordered To Stay Away From Her Home
Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting - News - Jun 25, 2009

A Yachats woman convicted of feeding bears outside her home was ordered by a judge Thursday to stay away from her property for three years.

Bear did not need to be killed - LETTER
Source: The North Bay Nugget (Canada) - Jun 25, 2009

I am appalled the North Bay Police shot and killed a young bear this week. The bear could have easily been kept away from any people and school children. Bears are not normally aggressive to people - they are only on the quest for food.[...]

READER PHOTOS: New bear sightings around the Hudson Valley region
Source: Times Herald-Record News Headlines (New York) - Jun 25, 2009

There have been many bear sightings around the region lately. Click below to see photos and videos from recent sightings.

Black bear removed from Fish Creek area
Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide (Wyoming) - Jun 25, 2009

State bear managers relocated a black bear Monday after the animal tried to enter residences on Fish Creek Road.

Sightings of big bear cub stir up city neighborhood
Source: The Morning Call - Police News (Pennsylvania) - Jun 24, 2009

ALLENTOWN <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tXxqqRR1F50ucdNdVrx0a0frhRs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tXxqqRR1F50ucdNdVrx0a0frhRs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tXxqqRR1F50ucdNdVrx0a0frhRs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tXxqqRR1F50ucdNdVrx0a0frhRs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a>

Ore. woman who fed bears ousted from house
Source: Seattle Post Intelligencer - U.S. News (Washington State) - Jun 25, 2009

NEWPORT, Ore. -- Karen Noyes often fed the black bears that came to her home near the Oregon coast. Then things got out of hand.

Family Of Bears May Be Near Homes
Source: Local6.com (Florida) - Jun 25, 2009

Wildlife officials say a family of bears may be roaming a Central Florida neighborhood.

Greece sets up electrified highway barriers to protect bears
Source: The Earth Times Online Newspaper - Environment News - Jun 25, 2009

Athens - Greece's environment ministry plans to construct barriers and will make use of electrified wire along sections of a highway in the northern part of the country to prevent road deaths among the local brown bear population, reports said Thursd...

Keeper Questions: Panda Behavior
Source: San Diego Zoo (California) - Jun 25, 2009

Hello again, panda fans! I was excited to read all of your questions in response to my previous post (see Panda Keeper Questions)! It seems that our Panda Cam provides not only entertainment but a chance for our viewers to study panda behavior and to wonder where some of the pandas’ actions come from. Well, [...]

B.C. officer uses CPR to resuscitate bear
Source: The Grizzly Bear Outreach Project (GBOP) BLOG - Jun 25, 2009

<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tTMW94cCvFo/SkOmaOnr4WI/AAAAAAAAAL4/J-veYEm8rn4/s1600-h/bc-090623-bear-cpr-from-cellphone1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 172px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tTMW94cCvFo/SkOmaOnr4WI/AAAAAAAAAL4/J-veYEm8rn4/s400/bc-090623-bear-cpr-from-cellphone1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351303751777640802" /></a> A conservation officer in Prince George, B.C., used his CPR training to save a bear's life after it was tranquillized. This photo was captured by cell phone camera. Gary Van Spengen's conservation team was called to a residential neighbourhood Monday after a female bear was spotted in a tree. A biologist tranquillized the bear while it was up the tree, and after what Van Spengen described as a "soft landing," the bear stopped breathing after it hit the ground, but still had a heartbeat. Van Spengen said he has never seen a bear stop breathing after being tranquillized in his 20 years as a conservation officer. "We could tell the heart was still beating … but the chest wasn't moving at all. I didn't want to lose this bear because I wanted to get a radio collar on it, so I started doing chest compressions on the bear to try to get air in and out of the lungs," Van Spengen told CBC Radio's B.C. Almanac on Tuesday . While he said he did consider mouth-to-mouth breathing, another component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Van Spengen jokingly said, "[Bears] usually don't carry breath mints." Van Spengen said it was similar to doing chest compressions on a person, where the diaphragm is pushed up and down, to move air in and out of the chest cavity. "I've gotten a bit of razzing from it, but it's all in good fun," he said. After 10 to 15 minutes, the bear started breathing on her own. After being fitted with a radio collar, the bear was released south of Prince George. Conservation officers plan to track the bear's movements as part of a study on the interaction between humans and bears in the area. Van Spengen said this particular bear was a good candidate because it hadn't started eating garbage, so would not be considered a nuisance bear. "She's wandering around doing bear things right now, eating and trying to fatten up for the winter," he said. Source: <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/06/23/bc-bear-chest-compressions.html">CBC news</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/36791871-1623010730504859557?l=bearinfo.blogspot.com'/></div>

An unnamed four-week old giant panda cub sleeps on the chest ...
Source: Yahoo! News Photos - Jun 25, 2009

(AP) - An unnamed four-week old giant panda cub sleeps on the chest of its seven-year old mother, Lin Hui, at Thailand's Chiang Mai zoo in Chiang Mai province, Thursday, June 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Wichai Taprieu)

Bear relocated to Collier County finds its way back to Palm Beach County
Source: Naples Daily News (Florida) - Jun 24, 2009

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission successfully removed a black bear in Palm Beach County on Wednesday afternoon. The 300-pound bear has been spotted several times over the past three days in the Wellington area. The bear will be relocated to the Osceola National Forest in North Florida.

Menominee County deputies, homeowner remove can from bear's head
Source: Daily Press (Escanaba, Michigan) - Jun 24, 2009

STEPHENSON TOWNSHIP - Menominee County Sheriff's Department deputies responding to an unusual animal complaint early Tuesday had to just "grin and bear it" when they arrived at the scene and found a bear with its head stuck in a milk can. Shortly after midnight, deputies were dispatched to a Stephenson Township home where they found a bear with a milk can on its head.

Polar bear appearances grow on oil fields
Source: The Seward Phoenix LOG (Alaska) - Jun 24, 2009

Polar bear encounters on the North Slope oil fields have risen to record levels the last two years, a sign that increasing numbers of the white giants may be prowling on land because the sea ice they prefer is shrinking, scientists said.   Oil field sightings along the southern Beaufort Sea coast jumped to 321 in 2007 and 313 in 2008, said Craig Perham, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist in Anchorage. That’s more than double the 15-year average of 138. It’s also a sharp rise from 232, the previous high in 2005. Oil companies are legally required to report a polar bear encounter to Fish and Wildlife that involves any change in the animal’s behavior, even if the bear simply lifts its head to sniff the air, Perham said. The measure is designed to protect polar bears and humans by providing information on the bears’ whereabouts and behavior.     Increased sightings might also be up because new exploration work has taken place on the near-coast areas where polar bears are usually found, he said. For example, ships doing seismic exploration in the Beaufort Sea have waited out storms on barrier islands those years, giving workers the chance to spot polar bears numerous times, sometimes the same animal. Perham hasn’t “teased out” the data to find out exactly what it means, he said.   “Truth be told, we don’t know,” he said. But the rising encounters are in line with what scientists expect to find — as sea ice shrinks, polar bears spend more time on land, he said.   Polar bears prefer the ice because it provides access to ringed and bearded seals, he said. But the seals are harder to find when the ice recedes so far — more than 70 miles off the coast — that it no longer sits over the shallower and biologically productive continental shelf. The sea ice has shrunk to record levels in recent summers. One day last August, there were 400 miles of open water between the Alaska coast and pack ice. Interestingly, the majority of oil field sightings have come in August and September, Perham said. In September, the sea ice is farthest from shore. In those two months, oil field workers have reported spotting polar bears more than 240 times in 2007 and 2008. During the winters of 2007 and 2008, oil field workers reported seeing polar bears no more than 14 times. In the past, most sightings took place in the winter. Despite the increased sightings, the oil industry hasn’t reported killing a polar bear since 1993, Perham said. If bears come too close, workers might shoo them away by shouting or slamming a car door. If that doesn’t work, they might scare it away by firing off loud cracker shells. Scientists believe the shrinking sea ice has lead to declining numbers of polar bears. If sea-ice loss continues as forecasted, the bears could someday disappear from large areas, including Alaska’s coastal waters, said Eric Regehr, a federal wildlife biologist. “It’s pretty grim,” he said. He said the Fish and Wildlife Service tentatively estimates the southern Beaufort Sea polar bear population at 1,526 in 2006, a drop from the previous estimate of 1,800. The world population of polar bears is estimated between 20,000 and 25,000, he said.   Alex DeMarban can be reached at 907-348-2444 or 800-770-9830, ext. 444.

Black Bear Caught In Wellington
Source: WPBF-TV: Local News (West Palm Beach, Florida) - Jun 24, 2009

State wildlife officers have caught an elusive bear spotted several times in Wellington the past few days.

Teton County enforcing new rules for bear areas
Source: KULR-8 Television: Wyoming News (Billings, Montana) - Jun 24, 2009

Bear seen near Springboro dialysis clinic
Source: Dayton Daily News: Local News (Ohio) - Jun 24, 2009

SPRINGBORO — State wildlife officials urged residents to give the bear roaming Warren County the time

Bear spotted in Arroyo Grande before it is hit and killed
Source: KSBY-TV: News (San Luis Obispo, California) - Jun 22, 2009

A bear is spotted in Arroyo Grande, and it's all caught on tape.

Can't bear it anymore? Send us your story
Source: The Sudbury Star (Ontario, Canada) - Jun 24, 2009

Have you had an encounter of the bear kind? The Sudbury Star is looking for stories, photos and videos taken by residents of our local ursines. The Star will run the best stories and photos in July and feature them on UR Sudbury website as people submit them.[...]

U.S. taxidermist led illegal bear hunts
Source: The North Bay Nugget (Canada) - Jun 24, 2009

An American taxidermist has had his Ontario hunting licence suspended for 10 years for providing black bear hunting services without a licence in the New Liskeard area. Daniel Vanderwalker, of Middleport, N.[...]

Help keep bears out of the hood
Source: BayToday (Ontario, Canada) - Jun 24, 2009

OPP News Release ******************** North Bay OPP cluster which includes Mattawa and Powassan Detachments have responded to several complaints of bears in their neighbourhood. In the ... continued on BayToday.ca

Bear spotted in Daytona neighborhood
Source: Orlando Sentinel - Animal Crazy (Florida) - Jun 23, 2009

Sentinel reporter Ludmilla Lelis sent over this photo from Daytona Beach police, who spotted a bear wandering around Indigo Lakes, a subdivision on the western outskirts of the city. It's close to Tiger Bay State Forest, which is true bear...

Wildlife officers tranquilize bear in Wellington
Source: WPTV Local News (West Palm Beach, Florida) - Jun 24, 2009

Bear seen in woods, broadcast live on TV.

County prepares for new bear standards
Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide (Wyoming) - Jun 24, 2009

Teton County residents who live or work in bear habitat will need to take extra care with garbage and bird feeders starting in a week...

Polar twins off to T. O.
Source: Timmins Daily Press (Canada) - Jun 24, 2009

When the Polar Bear Habitat opened in Cochrane five years ago, visitors arrived to find a pair of females already housed there. The twins Aurora and Nakita had been placed at the facility a few months before it was officially opened to the public.[...]

Black bear visits Daytona neighborhoods
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal - Local News (Florida) - Jun 23, 2009

DAYTONA BEACH -- When Fran Stump let her dog out for its morning constitutional Tuesday, little did she know it would result in an encounter of the bearish kind.

Bear 106 relocated to Banff National Park
Source: Canmore Leader (Alberta, Canada) - Jun 24, 2009

Grizzly bear 106 has covered a lot of ground since he first appeared in the Canmore area a month ago, but after several closed calls that nearly took his life, wildlife officials decided to relocate the bear to a safer area on Monday.[...]

OMI: Remains are bear, not human
Source: KOB-TV: Albuquerque Metro News (New Mexico) - Jun 22, 2009

Remains found over the weekend near Belen belonged to a bear, not a human.

Rangers Close Trail Due To Bear Sightings
Source: TriCities.com (Tennessee) - Jun 22, 2009

Bear sightings have forced park rangers to close a popular Great Smoky Mountains National Park trail for the second time this month.

Human-bear conflicts eased by wet weather in Sierra
Source: Tahoe Daily Tribune - News (California) - Jun 24, 2009

Wet weather in June has spurred a bumper crop of berries and other vegetation favored by bears, leading to a considerable decrease in human-bear conflicts in the Sierra, wildlife biologists said.

Black Bear Hangs Around Daytona Beach Target
Source: Central Florida News 13 - Jun 23, 2009

Early Tuesday morning, employees of a Target store in Daytona Beach were startled to see a black bear sitting behind the store, which is located on International Speedway Boulevard.

Black bear killed on highway
Source: Idaho Mountain Express & Guide - News - Jun 24, 2009

A motorist driving along state Highway 75 in the early morning hours on Friday struck and killed a female black bear that was attempting to cross the roadway.

Pandas: A Better View
Source: San Diego Zoo (California) - Jun 24, 2009

As we approach the birthing window for Bai Yun, we are busy making preparations to ensure that things go smoothly for her this summer. Over the years, we have a series of tried-and-true checklist items we believe help us to ensure the health and wellbeing of our prolific panda and her offspring. One of the [...]

Bear Cub Spotted Near Volusia Neighborhood
Source: WESH (Orlando, Florida) - Jun 23, 2009

A bear cub was spotted Tuesday near a Volusia County subdivision.

Green bins no picnic for wandering bears
Source: The News - Local News (Nova Scotia, Canada) - Jun 22, 2009

WEST RIVER – Residents in one West River neighbourhood are reporting regular sightings of two black bears, one adult and one adolescent, that are looking for a bite to eat.

Young bears attracted to backyard food sources
Source: WLUC TV6 (Michigan) - Jun 22, 2009

With mother bears leaving their yearling cubs in preparation for the breeding season, encounters with young bears attracted to back yard food sources are increasing across northern Michigan

Inuit Skills, DNA Analysis Inform New Polar Bear Tracking Method
Source: Environment News Service - Jun 22, 2009

Lin Hui, a seven-year old giant panda, plays with its four-week ...
Source: Yahoo! News Photos - Jun 21, 2009

(AP) - Lin Hui, a seven-year old giant panda, plays with its four-week old baby at the Chiang Mai zoo in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, Monday, June 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Wichai Taprieu)

Bear 71 a huge loss to national park
Source: Banff Crag and Canyon (Alberta, Canada) - Jun 16, 2009

By Larissa Barlow Larissa@thecrag.ca When Parks Canada talks about what constitutes “the perfect bear,” Bear 71 always came up. She was a great mother, giving birth to many grizzly cubs to help bolster the dwindling population.[...]

Bear warning issued for trails
Source: Banff Crag and Canyon (Alberta, Canada) - Jun 16, 2009

By Larissa Barlow Larissa@thecrag.ca A bear warning was issued last week for the Sundance Canyon, Marsh Loop, and Healy Creek areas and later extended to Vermilion Lakes and Fendland Trail. Bear 64, a grizzly with two, three and a half year old cubs, have been hunting in the areas.[...]

Black bear spotted near Darlington
Source: The Capital Times (Wisconsin) - Jun 19, 2009

A black bear was spotted crossing Wisconsin 81 near Otter Creek Road east of Darlington at about 10:40 a.m. Friday morning.

Giving a grizzly bear a physical is like pulling teeth for Fairbanks veterinarian
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Local News (Alaska) - Jun 19, 2009

FAIRBANKS — Getting close to a grizzly bear doesn’t always involve an unexpected encounter in the woods. Sometimes, you just need anesthesia.

Bears in the Back Yard
Source: LakeFront Hartwell (Georgia, USA) - Jun 18, 2009

<a href="http://www.lakefronthartwell.com/recreation/wildlife/bears-in-the-back-yard.shtml"><img src="http://www.lakefronthartwell.com/bm~pix/black-bear~s180x360.jpg" alt="Black Bear" border="0" align="left" hspace="15" /></a> This time of year, young male black bears are roaming and often stumbling into what is considered non-traditional bear range, including urbanized areas and suburbs. A black bear sighting in an urban area, even in metro Atlanta, is not altogether unusual, especially during the springtime. That’s because during the spring and summer, young male bears on their own for the first time are experiencing territorial competition with other adult male bears.

Black bear spotted twice at Girl Scout camp
Source: Dayton Daily News: Local News (Ohio) - Jun 18, 2009

A black bear roaming Warren County for more than a week was most recently spotted at a Girl Scout camp

Bear heritage - Preservationist to restore crumbling bruin cage in Missoula
Source: Big News Network: Montana - Jun 18, 2009

Philip Maechling, Missoula's historic preservation officer, scrapes at the mortar holding the rocks together at the old bear cage in Greenough Park on Wednesday morning. The city is planning to d...

Nelson County Bear Scare
Source: WVIR - Local News (Virginia) - Jun 19, 2009

A black bear has a Nelson County family so scared that they have moved out of their home and are living in a hotel.

Black Bear Encounters on the Rise in Erie County and All of Western New York
Source: Associated Content - Local News - Jun 19, 2009

Black Bears are finding their way into more populated areas of western New York. Not all the encounters end well.

Source: Stewart Lindsay
Published: Jun 19, 2009

Polar Bear And Walrus Populations In Trouble, Stock Assessment Report Suggests
Source: Science Daily - Jun 19, 2009

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released reports documenting the status of polar bears and Pacific walrus in Alaska. The reports confirm that polar bears in Alaska are declining and that Pacific walrus are under threat. Both species are imperiled due to the loss of their sea-ice habitat due to global warming, oil and gas development, and unsustainable harvest.<img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~4/tAqMgsO0-vU" height="1" width="1"/>

Decorating Diva, Version 4.0
Source: San Diego Zoo (California) - Jun 19, 2009

I had planned to write a simple, uneventful post—how the panda kids have settled into their exhibits, how Bai Yun continues to quietly thrive behind the scenes, how ultrasound procedures have begun (more to re-acclimate Bai Yun to the routine rather than to find anything at this early date)—but shame on me. It really is [...]

Bear may now be out of the area
Source: WRDW News 12 - Top Stories and Breaking News (Georgia) - Jun 18, 2009

A bear spotted in several Columbia County neighborhoods over the past few days may be on his way home. Click here to get a map of bear sightings from the Columbia County GIS Department.

Giant panda uses ice to cool itself
Source: China Internet Information Center: Environment - Jun 15, 2009

A giant panda lies on an ice block to cool itself at the Wuhan Zoo in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, June 15, 2009.

Bear warning in Banff
Source: CTV Calgary (Canada) - Jun 18, 2009

Parks Canada is warning hikers in Banff National Park to be on the lookout for bears. Several popular trails have warning signs after a sow and her cubs were spotted.

Curious Bear Sighted Hanging Around S. Colorado Springs
Source: KKTV 11 (Colorado Springs, Colorado) - Jun 18, 2009

An 11 News viewer snapped photos of a bear in the neighborhood around 8 p.m. in the intersection of Airport and Chelton in Colorado Springs. The bear went around the corner by Michigan Ave.

Bear eludes officials trying to capture it
Source: AugustaChronicle.com - Today's News (Georgia) - Jun 17, 2009

Columbia County's wandering bear eluded authorities for a third day Wednesday, traveling through Evans subdivisions along Washington Road.

Don’t feed the bears!
Source: Summit Daily News (Frisco, Colorado) - Jun 18, 2009

Rash of sightings spurs warning from wildlife experts

Romanian resort relocates bears
Source: Southeast European Times - Jun 18, 2009

BUCHAREST, Romania -- Authorities have launched an operation to relocate about 25 brown bears at the Sinaia Mountain resort, in an effort to ensure t...

Bear Sightings Have Damascus Residents Wary
Source: TriCities.com (Tennessee) - Jun 17, 2009

Town police Lt. Kermit Turner was driving his cruiser through the middle of Damascus when he was startled by the sight of a bear.

"Calm" bear chows down, leaves Colorado house
Source: Denver Post - Denver & the West (Colorado) - Jun 17, 2009

A woman says a "very graceful, very calm" bear crawled into her house through a pet door, ate a bowl of dog food, uprooted some herbs in pots and then left after about 10 minutes.

Wyoming briefs
Source: The Casper Star Tribune - Wyoming News - Jun 17, 2009

Bear cubs get new home BOYD, Texas -- Three black bear cubs have a new home in Texas for frolicking, feeding and finding their way without their mother.

Bear activity forces closure of part of Turnagain Arm bike trail
Source: KTUU (Alaska) - Jun 18, 2009

Brown bear activity near a bike path from Indian to Girdwood has caused the Chugach State Park officials to close part of the path. A half-mile section of the trail that runs alongside the Seward Highway from Mile 96 to Mile 97 is closed.

New tracking approach will help protect polar bears
Source: EurekAlert - Biology (Washington DC) - Jun 17, 2009

(Queen's University) A new approach to tracking polar bears, developed by Queen's University researchers, will shed more light on the potentially endangered Arctic animal and help boost the economy of Canada's north.

Sun Bear Enrichment
Source: San Diego Zoo (California) - Jun 18, 2009

It has been a while since I updated you on the progress of Palu and Pagi, our sweet sun bear cubs (see post, Sun Bears: Adieu to the Den). Now nearly eight months old, the cubs can be seen taking the exhibit by storm each afternoon, climbing high, getting dirty in the mulch, and [...]

The offspring of female panda Lin Hui lies on a mattress at ...
Source: Yahoo! News Photos - Jun 17, 2009

(Reuters) - The offspring of female panda Lin Hui lies on a mattress at Chiang Mai Zoo, north of Bangkok, June 18, 2009. Lin Hui, a female panda on loan from China, gave birth to the baby panda in Thailand on May 27 after being artificially inseminated with her partner's sperm for a second time. REUTERS/Phichaiyong Mayerku (THAILAND ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Dog Food Is Juuuust Right For Colorado Bear
Source: KKTV 11 (Colorado Springs, Colorado) - Jun 17, 2009

A western Colorado woman says a "very graceful, very calm" bear crawled into her house through a pet door, ate a bowl of dog food, uprooted some herbs in pots and then left after about 10 minutes.

Bear spotted near playground
Source: BayToday (Ontario, Canada) - Jun 17, 2009

There are reports that a bear was sighted near a playground in the Sage Road area around 6:30 am Wednesday morning. If you see a bear in the city area call the MNR Bear hotline at ... continued on BayToday.ca

Bears coming down from the mountains frustrate hillsides residents
Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California) - Jun 16, 2009

DUARTE - Bear season is in full swing, with hillsides residents complaining that the fuzzy mammals are invading their neighborhoods, rummaging

Bear Enters House Near Granby, Eats Pet's Food
Source: TheDenverChannel.com (KMGH 7) - Local News (Colorado) - Jun 17, 2009

A western Colorado woman says a "very graceful, very calm" bear crawled into her house through a pet door, ate a bowl of dog food, uprooted some herbs in pots and then left after about 10 minutes.

Would like to see the captive bears in Cherokee treated better
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times - Opinion and Editorials (North Carolina) - Jun 16, 2009

I've often been contacted by distraught individuals who visited Cherokee and saw the barren concrete pits where bears languish.

Young grizzlies out on the plains, east of Interstate 15 in Montana
Source: Ralph Maughan's Wildlife News (Idaho) - Jun 16, 2009

Is the move out of the mountains due to the long winter and wet spring? We’ve been talking about grizzly south of Interstate 90 in Idaho, but a more obvious unusual movement is the presence of two or more grizzly bears out on the plains, well east of the Rocky Mountain front. Young grizzlies push farther eastward. [...]

New Russian Arctic Park to protect key polar bear habitat
Source: WWF International (Switzerland) - Jun 17, 2009

<a href="http://www.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?uNewsID=167241"><img src="http://assets.panda.org/img/mw_pbs_174219.jpg" width="146" height="91" alt="Polar Bears (ursus maritimus) swimming © WWF-US" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" /></a>The ‘Russian Arctic’ park is located on the northern part of Novaya Zemlya, a long island that arcs out into the Arctic Ocean between the Barents and Kara Seas. It also includes some adjacent marine areas. WWF has long been lobbying for the park, which is also a key area for walrus, wild reindeer and bird population. The park creation excludes all industrial activities. “This is exactly the sort of thing we need to see from Arctic governments,” says Neil Hamilton Director of WWF International’s Arctic Programme. “The only way these Arctic populations are going to survive the ecological havoc caused by global warming is by providing them with enough breathing room.” “If industrial activity is kept far enough from key habitat, the animals have a chance.” “We also need urgent global action on climate change to ensure that the parks stay cold enough for animals such as polar bears and wild reindeer.” While WWF is pleased with the park creation, it notes that the protected area is smaller than the 5 million hectares initially planned. “Despite the fact that the Russian Arctic Park is our big achievement, we’re sorry that not all planned territories were included in the park area,” says Oleg Sutkaitis, Head of the Barents Sea Ecoregional Office for WWF Russia. “Franz Josef Land and Victoria Island were crossed out from the project, but we will now work on widening the park’s borders.” When announcing the park, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he hoped it would be a major attraction for tourism, and announced that he personally plans to vacation there.

Dog food is juuuust right for Colorado bear
Source: Denver Post - Denver & the West (Colorado) - Jun 17, 2009

GRANBY, Colo.—A western Colorado woman says a "very graceful, very calm" bear crawled into her house through a pet door, ate a bowl of dog food, uprooted some herbs in pots and then left

Grizzly victim, savior reuniting in Glacier 50 years after attack
Source: Great Falls Tribune - Local News (Montana) - Jun 17, 2009

HELENA — Joseph Williams was a 20-year-old Midwesterner hungry for adventure in 1959 when a hike through Glacier National Park turned into a vicious encounter with a grizzly bear.

Bear Investigation Continues (Idaho)
Source: Bear Matters BC - Jun 15, 2009

Bear investigation continues: Shoshone News Press By NICK ROTUNNO Staff writer The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently investigating the killing of a grizzly bear Sunday night in the Rose Lake area, according to an Idaho Department of Fish and Game press release.

Games will be used to Spotlight 300 Dead Bears (BC)
Source: Bear Matters BC - Jun 17, 2009

Chance to halt damnation closing rapidly, ecologists say By Ethan Baron, The ProvinceJune 17, 2009 7:20 AMBe the first to post a comment

Hey, Su Lin!
Source: San Diego Zoo (California) - Jun 15, 2009

Right now we have the two sister pandas on exhibit! Su Lin will be four years old on August 2, and she is about 190 pounds (86 kilograms). She has already gone through her first estrus with flying colors and has been very active out on exhibit so far. When we move the pandas into different [...]

Firefighters rescue 200-pound bear from residential neighborhood
Source: Pasadena Star-News: Latest News (California) - Jun 16, 2009

PASADENA -- Firefighters rescued a 200-pound black bear that had climbed up a tree on a residential street on Tuesday night, Pasadena Fire Department officials said.

2 pandas fertilized with semen from aged wild panda
Source: China Internet Information Center: Environment - Jun 17, 2009

Two female giant pandas have been artificially fertilized with semen from a 21-year-old panda, the equivalent of 60 in human years, said experts at a giant panda breeding base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Wednesday.

More bear sightings in Columbia County
Source: WRDW News 12 - Top Stories and Breaking News (Georgia) - Jun 16, 2009

A black bear has been spotted roaming around Columbia County for the second day in a row.

Bear sighted in Columbia County neighborhoods
Source: WRDW News 12 - Top Stories and Breaking News (Georgia) - Jun 15, 2009

A black bear has been spotted roaming around Columbia County.

Bear spotted in Columbia County this morning
Source: AugustaChronicle.com - Today's News (Georgia) - Jun 15, 2009

Pickup truck hits, kills black bear in Henry Clay
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Pennsylvania) - Jun 14, 2009

The incident at 11:41 a.m. happened near 4523 National Pike in Henry Clay when an unidentified motorist driving a Chevrolet pickup truck on the road struck the animal, Fayette 911 said.

Grizzly shot by Idaho elk farmer south of Interstate 90
Source: Ralph Maughan's Wildlife News (Idaho) - Jun 14, 2009

Second killing of griz in two years shows some grizzlies getting past the Interstate Highway 90 barrier- Interstate Highway 90 cuts across NW Montana and the Panhandle of Idaho creating a massive barrier to grizzly migration and restoration to central Idaho. That’s the bad news. The good news it is not absolute. Although finding a grizzly by [...]

Bear attacks woman in her driveway
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times - Local News (North Carolina) - Jun 14, 2009

BLACK MOUNTAIN -- A Black Mountain woman was hospitalized Sunday night after a bear reportedly attacked her in the driveway of her home.

Province Newspaper: Investigation Underway After Bear Baiter Found(Great Bear Rainforest)
Source: Bear Matters BC - Jun 14, 2009

http://www.theprovince.com/Investigation+underway+after+bear+baiter+found+conservationist/1693970/story.html By Laura Stone, The ProvinceJune 13, 2009 3:22 PMBe the first to post a comment Fish heads and guts were among the bait that conservationists claim was used to lure Grizzly bears to be shot in a Bella Bella conservancy area Thursday night. Ian McAllister, a conservation director for Pacific Wild, says an RCMP investigation is underway [...]

Stay out of the way of bears
Source: The Record-Courier (Nevada) - News - Jun 14, 2009

Everyone knows there’s bear in them thar hills. If you’ve spent any time in the Sierra or perhaps even the Pine Nut Mountains, you’ve probably had personal experience or heard stories about bear encounters. Residents of the Tahoe...

Bear Watch - June 14, 2009
Source: Cumberland Times-News - Local News (Maryland) - Jun 13, 2009

Bear euthanized for campground behavior
Source: St. Petersburg Times (Florida) - Jun 13, 2009

It seems like every day or two there is another confrontation between man and bear in Florida. On Friday, a bear that discovered a human campground was a good place to find food was trapped and euthanized by the Florida...

Beach tourist brings his own fur coat
Source: St. Petersburg Times (Florida) - Jun 12, 2009

Seems that every day there is a story of a bear and humans interacting somewhere in Florida. The latest is from Naples, according to naplesnews.com. The more surprising thing is that the creature, thought to be an adult, wandered onto...

Grizzly hunt in the line of fire
Source: Vancouver Sun: Top Stories (British Columbia, Canada) - Jun 11, 2009

The debate over the management of B.C.’s grizzly population is less about how many should be shot, but whether they should be killed at all.<img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/canwest/F229/~4/raOZoRDFAD0" height="1" width="1"/>

Bear Spotted In Naples
Source: WINKTV: News (Southwest Florida) - Jun 13, 2009

NAPLES - A security guard called police after spotting a black bear.

Abrams Falls Trail in Cades Cove closed Tuesday after bear confrontation; several incidents reported this spring
Source: The Daily Times (Tennessee) - Jun 13, 2009

Park officials closed Abrams Falls Trail in Cades Cove on Tuesday evening after a black bear became aggressive toward two groups of hikers. In recent weeks, five backcountry campsites have been closed.

Nuisance bear incidents up in Park
Source: The Daily Times (Tennessee) - Jun 13, 2009

In recent weeks, five backcountry campsites have been closed and bear warnings were posted for 16 campsites and trails.

Small Bear Wanders Into Colorado Springs Home
Source: KKTV 11 (Colorado Springs, Colorado) - Jun 13, 2009

A small bear wandered into a Colorado Springs home and was shot and killed by the homeowner.

Tales of black bears enthrall gathering
Source: Nashoba Townsend News (Massachusetts) - Jun 12, 2009

By Anne O'Connor Correspondent TOWNSEND -- A rapt audience at the annual meeting of the Friends of Willard Brook oohed and aahed at the photos and stories of Ben Kilham's black bears.

Boise man is alive because he stayed calm during bear attack near Yellowstone
Source: Idaho Statesman - Idaho Outdoors - Jun 12, 2009

after being attacked by a sow grizzly bear in Gallatin National Forest, near West Yellowstone, Mont.<img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/IdahostatesmancomIdahoOutdoors/~4/xOiCLQX8XB8" height="1" width="1"/>

People encountering more brazen bears in U.S.
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Alaska) - Jun 13, 2009

HARLAN, Ky. - Bobby Koger was deer hunting on a Kentucky hillside when a black bear gave him the fright of his life.

EBay Should Halt Trophy Hunt Sales
Source: Bear Matters BC - Jun 12, 2009

http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=12226 Chris Genovali / raincoast.org There is an amazing array of things one can purchase on EBay, from used lawn furniture to vintage dolls to bongs allegedly used by Olympic athletes. Among the myriad items being sold on EBay are guided hunts of North America’s grizzly bears, black bears, wolves and cougars. It’s hard to believe, but [...]

Waste Pro, FWC partner to keep bears away from garbage
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - General Wildlife News - Jun 13, 2009

[6/11/09]

Bear Trapped, Euthanized In Central Fla.
Source: WFTV: Local News (Florida) - Jun 13, 2009

A 17-day old giant panda cub plays on the chest of its 7-year ...
Source: Yahoo! News Photos - Jun 13, 2009

(AP) - A 17-day old giant panda cub plays on the chest of its 7-year old mother Lin Hui at the Chiang Mai zoo in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, Saturday, June 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Wichai Taprieu)

Boise man attacked by grizzly bear identified
Source: KTVB (Boise, Idaho) - Jun 12, 2009

Conflicts worry wildlife managers
Source: Big News Network: Montana - Jun 10, 2009

WEST GLACIER - A rash of run-ins between people and bears has wildlife managers wondering whether the trouble lies with problem bears, or problem people.“You know,” said Glacier Natio...

The Humane Society of Canada Offers Reward in Black Bear Killing
Source: Marketwire: Breaking News - Jun 10, 2009

Attention: Assignment Editor, Environment Editor, News Editor, Science Editor VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwire - June 10, 2009) - Through its Victims of Cruelty Reward Program, The Humane Society of Canada (HSC) has posted a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for killing a female black bear near Brochet, Manitoba. Reportedly a man taking part in a fishing derby killed the mother, leaving three young bear cubs orphaned. Two were later killed by Manitoba Conservation Officers, and the third escaped back into the wilderness."Whoever needlessly killed this bear needs to be brought to justice and punished to the fullest extent of the law," says Al Hickey, The Humane Society of Canada's (HSC) Western Regional Director. It is illegal in Manitoba to kill a female bear with cubs and to hunt without a license. Encouraging animal cruelty can also lead to violence against people."Canadians are nature lovers according to the animal chari

Black bear takes a romp through northeast Iowa
Source: KTTC: Local News (Minnesota) - Jun 10, 2009

CASTALIA, Iowa (AP) -- A black bear caused a stir in northeast Iowa but hasn't been seen since night fell as the animal sought refuge in a tree. People first spotted the 150 to 200 pound bear Monday traveling

Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association Beastly Ball Annual Fund-raiser is June 20
Source: Zoo and Aquarium Visitor (Ohio) - Jun 10, 2009

<img src="http://www.zandavisitor.com/dailynews/image/0906/1609/R100_1aaa laz bears.JPG" width="100" height="92"> Bear Feeding Featured a Feast for the Zoo's Two Bears Prepared by Event's Chefs By Laura Stegman Los Angeles, CA- As a preview for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association BEASTLY BALL annual fund-raiser on June 20, nine chefs from Los Angeles' top restaurants "catered" a feeding for the Zoo's two California bears this morning (Thursday, June 4, 2009). The event's "menu" began with remarks by Greater LA Zoo Assn. (GLAZA) President Connie Morgan, GLAZA Chairman Tom Mankiewicz, Zoo Director John Lewis, LA City Councilmember Tom LaBonge; and Beastly Ball honoree Laura Z. Wasserman previewing the Beastly Ball.

Black bear spotted in Warren County
Source: Dayton Daily News: Local News (Ohio) - Jun 10, 2009

Wildlife officers believe a black bear sighted walking in a field near Waynesville is the same one observed

The Star wants to hear about your bear encounters
Source: The Sudbury Star (Ontario, Canada) - Jun 10, 2009

The Sudbury Star would like to hear from readers who have had close encounters with bears. Please e-mail rpunch@thesudburystar.com or call Rachel Punch at 674-5271, ext. 214. Please include a phone number where you can be reached in case a reporter needs to contact you in regards to this story.[...]

Killings of black bears near Glacier at 4
Source: Big News Network: Montana - Jun 10, 2009

By The Associated Press GREAT FALLS - Four young black bears have been killed in the recent weeks after trying to get into garbage containers near the St. Mary Lodge and Resort near the east entrance...

Conflicts worry wildlife managers
Source: Big News Network: Montana - Jun 10, 2009

WEST GLACIER - A rash of run-ins between people and bears has wildlife managers wondering whether the trouble lies with problem bears, or problem people.“You know,” said Glacier Natio...

Victim of Glacier Park grizzly attack talks about ordeal
Source: Big News Network: Montana - Jun 10, 2009

KALISPELL - It happened in a flash, and Thomas Nerison did not have the bear spray he almost always carries on his runs in Glacier National Park.The 60-year-old Kalispell man was on the Lake McDonald ...

2 Bears Keep City Game Officials Busy
Source: KOAT 7 - Local News (Albuquerque, New Mexico) - Jun 9, 2009

Two wild bears spotted and caught in the metro area Tuesday made a busy day for Department of Game and Fish officials.

'Group of Bears' : The Compton Gardens sculpture is used to teach children about the state�s black bears.
Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - Jun 10, 2009

BENTONVILLE � Compton Gardens here was filled with the sounds of little human bears Tuesday as a group of elementary-school children visited the "Group of Bears" sculpture to learn more about Arkansas' native black bears. (Benton County Daily Record)

Bear Spotted In North Attleboro
Source: WBZ-TV - Pets and Animals (New Hampshire) - Jun 9, 2009

Police in North Attleboro are warning people to watch out for a bear on the loose.

Bear believed behind attack on Coniston woman
Source: The North Bay Nugget (Canada) - Jun 10, 2009

CONISTON — A Coniston woman had to be treated at hospital after an encounter with what may have been a bear early today. The 30-year-old Michael Drive resident was in her driveway about 1:45 a.m.[...]

READER PHOTOS: Bear sightings around the Hudson Valley region
Source: Times Herald-Record News Headlines (New York) - Jun 10, 2009

There have been many bear sightings around the region lately. Click below to see photos and videos from recent sightings.

Bear attacks Sudbury woman
Source: Timmins Daily Press (Canada) - Jun 10, 2009

SUDBURY — Police in the Sudbury, Ont., area are warning about the possibility of bear attacks. A 30-year-old woman was on her driveway in the community of Conniston Wednesday just before 2 a.m. when she was attacked.[...]

Update: Cop spots bear in Woonsocket, bear runs
Source: Providence Journal - News Blog (Rhode Island) - Jun 10, 2009

WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- On Tuesday night, an on-duty Woonsocket police officer on Sunrise Avenue and Dawn Boulevard, saw a prowler he didn't expect. A black bear ran into a yard on Dawn Boulevard and later went into a wooded area off Bound Road at the city's border with Cumberland and disappeared. On Monday, a black bear was spotted in North Attleboro on Fales Road, Hoppin Hill Road and Sheldonville Road, prompting Town Hall to put out an activated phone message warning residents to beware the black bear and not to leave young children and animals unattended. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, which has received several calls from people who said they saw a black bear -- in the yard at the bird feeder or crossing roads in Cumberland and Woonsocket near the Massachusetts border -- has issued tips on "co-existing with black bears." According to the DEM, as black bear populations continue to increase in neighboring states, it is likely that the bear-sightings in Rhode Island will become a routine occurrence. Young male bears that usually leave the care of their mother when they are about 18 months old after spending their second winter with her, have a tendency to wander great distances when on their own for the first time. This usual takes place in early summer. They will be harassed by any adult bear into whose territory they enter. Eventually they will settle in a location that is not already occupied by an adult male and establish their own territory. Black bears are generally shy and secretive and usually fearful of humans. However, if they become dependent on backyard food sources they can lose their fear and become a nuisance. They are intelligent and adaptable and can learn quickly to adjust to the presence of humans. They have a keen sense of smell. The following are are some of tips offered by the DEM: Take down bird feeders from April to November. Natural food sources for birds are plentiful at this time of year. Do not feed pets outside. If you do take the dishes inside at night. Store garbage in sheds and garages, away from doors. Double bagging and using ammonia will reduce odors that attract bears. Garbage for pick up should be put outside the morning of collection, not the night before. Keep barbecue grills clean of grease. Do not put meat or sweet food scraps in your compost pile. (This entry was first posted at 11:04 a.m.)

Local briefs
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (California) - Jun 9, 2009

Officer forced to shoot injured black bear on Highway 32 BUTTE MEADOWS — A young black bear, possibly struck by a vehicle and found injured on Highway 32 near Humboldt Road, had to be shot and killed by a California Highway Patrol officer

Black bear captured in Bremerton, relocated
Source: KING5.com - Animal News (Seattle, Washington) - Jun 10, 2009

For the third time in about two weeks, state Fish and Wildlife officers responded to a Western Washington city to capture a roaming black bear.

Grizzly with cubs appears, Bear 106 hazed from tracks
Source: Canmore Leader (Alberta, Canada) - Jun 10, 2009

The tragic death of producing female grizzly bear 71 is in the back of wildlife managers minds as they work to keep other bears safe in the Bow Valley. Grizzly bear #106, the three-year-old offspring of bear 71, has been making several appearances in the Canmore area over the past two weeks.[...]

Female grizzly and cub killed on tracks
Source: Canmore Leader (Alberta, Canada) - Jun 10, 2009

Healthy female grizzly 71 was struck and killed by a train, along with her one-year-old cub, on the CPR tracks by Old Camp beside Highway 1A east of Canmore on Saturday night.[...]

Bear visits Sunnydale Road
Source: The Sault Star (Canada) - Jun 10, 2009

A bear took a leisurely stroll in a west-end neighbourhood Wednesday. But she seemed more interested in taking in the sights than chowing down. Susan Dumanski spotted a female bruin in the area of Sunnydale Road and Sherwood Parkway between 9:45 a.[...]

Bob Barker Implores Cherokee Nation to Close Cruel Bear Pits
Source: PETA News Releases - Jun 8, 2009

Man mauled by bear west of West Yellowstone
Source: Great Falls Tribune - Local News (Montana) - Jun 10, 2009

Four orphaned bear cubs now back in the wild
Source: KOMO - News - Local (Washington state) - Jun 10, 2009

PAWS raised them through the winter and now the four are back in the woods where they belong. But not before getting a little tough love.

Bear species: six of eight face extinction
Source: The Grizzly Bear Outreach Project (GBOP) BLOG - Jun 8, 2009

<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tTMW94cCvFo/Si1G_sXqteI/AAAAAAAAALQ/8tJJS--m0ok/s1600-h/panda460_1417358f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 137px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tTMW94cCvFo/Si1G_sXqteI/AAAAAAAAALQ/8tJJS--m0ok/s400/panda460_1417358f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345006392814777826" /></a> The Asiatic black bear is now listed as vulnerable, therefore six of the eight species of bear in the world are now officially facing extinction. The smallest, the sun bear, is the latest to be classified as vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species. Four other species - Asiatic black bear, Sloth bear, Andean bear and Polar bear - are also listed as vulnerable. The giant panda is facing the greatest threat and remains in the endangered category. There is least concern over the European brown bear and the American black bear. The sun bear found in Souteast Asia, Sumatra and Borneo, will be included in the 2007 Red List drawn up by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Previously it was known as 'Data Defficient' meaning not enough was known about it to give it a classification. Rob Steinmetz, co-chair of the IUCN Bear Specialist Group's sun bear expert team, said: "Although we still have lot to learn about the biology and ecology of this species, we are quite certain that it is in trouble. "We estimate that sun bears have declined by at least 30 per cent over the past 30 years (three bear generations), and continue to decline at this rate. Deforestation has reduced both the area and quality of their habitat. Where habitat is now protected, commercial poaching remains a significant threat. "We are working with governments, protected area managers, conservation groups and local people to prevent extinction of the many small, isolated sun bear populations that remain in many parts of Southeast Asia." Bear hunting is illegal throughout Southern Asia, but they suffer heavy losses from poachers, who risk the small chance of being caught against lucrative gains from selling parts. Bile from the bear's gall bladder is used in traditional Chinese medicine and their paws are consumed as a delicacy. Additionally, bears are often killed when they prey on livestock or raid agricultural crops. Bears simply roaming near a village may be killed because they are perceived as a threat to human life. Dave Garshelis, co-chair of the Bear Specialist Group, which met earlier this month in Mexico, to update the status of the eight species, said: "Although the bear population estimates for Asia are not as reliable as we would like, we estimate that bears in Southeast Asia are declining at a particularly rapid rate due to extensive loss of forest habitat combined with rampant poaching." Bruce McLellan, also a co-chair, said: "An enormous amount of effort and funding for conservation and management continue to be directed at bears in North America where their status is relatively favourable. It is unfortunate that so little is directed at bears in Asia and South America where the need is extreme. We are trying to change this situation but success is slow." By Paul Eccleston, Telegraph.co.uk<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/36791871-4999953159829837124?l=bearinfo.blogspot.com'/></div>

New bear baiting law seems odd
Source: Juneau Empire (Alaska) - Jun 7, 2009

I am puzzled by the "new Fish and Game rules" that are the apparent basis for the prosecution of Charlie Vandergraw. I agree that feeding wild animals is very bad practice because it is potentially dangerous both for humans and for animals, but isn't there a proportionality issue here?

Authorities kill Knoxville black bear
Source: Knoxville News Sentinel - Local News (Tennessee) - Jun 7, 2009

KNOXVILLE - Authorities have captured and killed a black bear that entered a West Knoxville woman’s home last week, a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency official said today.

Around the mountains: Grizzly killed in Banff, provoking angst
Source: Summit Daily News (Frisco, Colorado) - Jun 7, 2009

BANFF, Alberta - A train hit and killed a 600-pound male grizzly bear that last year had withstood an attack for four days by the nine wolves of the Bow Valley.

Black bear trapped, relocated
Source: Grand Junction Sentinel (Colorado) - Jun 6, 2009

An adult black bear found pawing through trash outside a Molina home had some time to rethink his snacking habits overnight Friday.

Bears move in to northern suburbs
Source: Science from Minnesota Public Radio - Jun 6, 2009

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says that northern Anoka and Washington counties now have black bears as permanent residents.<img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/MPR_science/~4/qg-AC4AEhbs" height="1" width="1"/>

Does Stephen Colbert's ursine obsession bear any truth?
Source: Denver Post - Denver & the West (Colorado) - Jun 7, 2009

It's pop culture vs. biology. For years, Stephen Colbert, host of the hip Comedy Central TV show "The Colbert Report," has waged Bear War.

Black bear euthanized after being hit by vehicle
Source: Republican American (Waterbury, Connecticut) - Jun 4, 2009

LITCHFIELD — A black bear was euthanized alongside Route 202 on Thursday after bolting out of the woods and into the side of a moving SUV.

North suburbs, meet your new neighbors: bears
Source: TwinCities.com - Pioneer Press: Most Viewed (Minnesota) - Jun 5, 2009

If you live in northern Anoka and Washington counties, you're living in bear country.

Instincts kick in at bear
Source: Big News Network: Montana - Jun 5, 2009

By MATT HAGENGRUBEROf The Gazette Staff If anyone needed a reason to camp carefully in bear country, Bruno the Bear provided it Friday afternoon.Bruno was celebrating his 9th birthday - and his first...

Black Bear Surprises Mansfield Neighbors
Source: WBZ-TV - Pets and Animals (New Hampshire) - Jun 5, 2009

An unassuming visitor to a Mansfield neighborhood left quite an impression on neighbors Thursday night.

Welcoming home one very special bear
Source: ParrySound.com - Community (Ontario, Canada) - Jun 5, 2009

Just now we have several large enclosures where the bears, who arrived last season as orphaned cubs,...

Molina couple anxiously eye return of bear to their home
Source: Grand Junction Sentinel (Colorado) - Jun 5, 2009

After Colorado Division of Wildlife officers chased away an adult black bear that had trapped Kurt Thompson and his wife in their rural Mesa County home for a couple hours Friday morning, Thompson said it was wait-and-see to determine if that was the last he’d see of the bear.

Bear Cub Gets Head Caught in Birdfeeder
Source: WBAY (Wisconsin) - Jun 5, 2009

A bear cub that got its head stuck in a birdfeeder is now free as a bird, but DNR officers had truoble with its overprotective mother.

Interagency Grizzly Bear Team tells ways to reduce Yellowstone GBear mortality
Source: Ralph Maughan's Wildlife News (Idaho) - Jun 6, 2009

Report issued due to the 2008 spike in Greater Yellowstone grizzly deaths- Numerous methods are identified, but a smaller number give more “bank for the buck” (the buck being not so much money as political or cultural resistance). Yellowstone Mortality and Conflicts Reduction Report. IGBST. June 5, 2009 Note: I hope discussion of this doesn’t result in another [...]

Bears are Coming to Town
Source: TriCities.com (Tennessee) - Jun 5, 2009

Unicoi County is fifty percent national forest, which means it’s a natural habitat for many wild animals. This time of year is when black bears come down the mountain to scavenge for food.

Spirit bear captured on camera
Source: Telegraph.co.uk: World News - Jun 5, 2009

Photographer face to face with animal so rare it was thought to be mythical.

Bear is spotted
Source: AugustaChronicle.com - Today's News (Georgia) - Jun 4, 2009

A black bear sighted between Grovetown and Appling on Thursday morning remained on the loose Thursday night.

A "beary" special birthday celebration!
Source: New England Cable News (Massachusetts) - Jun 4, 2009

(NECN: Lauren Collins, Lincoln, NH) - Pet owners have been known to throw a birthday party for their dog or cat, but an all out celebration for a bear? It's happening at Clark's Trading Post in Lincoln, New Hampshire. The tourist attraction is celebrating 60 years of bear shows. When brothers Edward and Murray Clark debuted the Bear Show at the Family Trading Post in 1949, they did so out of necessity. At that time, Clark's was an Eskimo dog ranch, but the family kept two bears on the property to attract passers by -- a common practice around New England in the 20s and 30s. <a href="http://www.necn.com/Boston/Arts-Entertainment/2009/06/04/A-beary-special-birthday/1244148260.html">read more</a><a href="http://www.necn.com/video/36103" target="_blank"><img border=0 src="http://www.necn.com/themes/necn/img/ico/rss-videoflash.png" alt="Video RSS (Flash video)" /></a>

Yachats woman found guilty of Harassing Wildlife (PHOTOS)
Source: Salem-News.com (Oregon) - Jun 2, 2009

A jury at the Lincoln County Courthouse today found Karen Jean Noyes of Yachats guilty of Harassing Wildlife in the case State of Oregon vs. Noyes. The charge and conviction stems from her feeding of black bears from August 2006 to August 2008. Oregon State Police (OSP) and ODFW believe this is the first time the Harassing Wildlife charge has been used in a case involving the feeding of wildlife.

Officials chase bear cub through Upland
Source: KABC 7: Southern California Breaking News - Jun 4, 2009

A bear cub on the loose ended up in the middle of an apartment complex in Upland.

Young bear goes out on a limb in Waterbury
Source: Republican American (Waterbury, Connecticut) - May 26, 2009

WATERBURY — A young black bear decided to take a wider view of its city surroundings on Tuesday afternoon by climbing up a tree.

Million baht offered to name panda cub
Source: China Internet Information Center: Environment - Jun 3, 2009

A veterinarian holds the newborn of female panda Lin Hui at Chiang Mai Zoo, north of Bangkok. A prize of 1million baht (US$29, 282) is offered in a contest to name the cub born in Chiang Mai last week.

Experts want semen of father panda in Thailand
Source: China Internet Information Center: Environment - Jun 4, 2009

Chinese experts plan to take the semen of giant panda Chuang Chuang to China next year for breeding after the successful artificial insemination of partner Lin Hui, which resulted in the birth of a cub, the Bangkok Post s website reported Wednesday.

Bear Nabbed In Downtown Colorado Springs
Source: KKTV 11 (Colorado Springs, Colorado) - Jun 4, 2009

DOW officials tell 11 News this is strike one for the bear, so they will not have to euthanize him. They plan to move the bear 100 miles away, somewhere in the mountains.

Bears Rescued from Tree
Source: WNEP-TV - Newswatch 16 (Pennsylvania) - Jun 4, 2009

Dozens of people turned out in Archbald to get a first-hand glance to see a mama bear and her two cubs stuck in a tree.<img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/wnep-homenews/~4/IVI8Z6jGNsM" height="1" width="1"/>

Black bear reported roaming today near Grovetown, Appling
Source: AugustaChronicle.com - Today's News (Georgia) - Jun 4, 2009

Unwanted visitor: Spooked bear crashes through home’s door in W. Knoxville
Source: Knoxville News Sentinel - Local News (Tennessee) - Jun 3, 2009

KNOXVILLE — Knoxville Police Department officers are searching a West Knoxville neighborhood for a black bear that broke through a door of a home about 10:20 p.m. Wednesday before scurrying off.

Bear Spotted In Colorado Springs Park
Source: TheDenverChannel.com (KMGH 7) - Local News (Colorado) - Jun 4, 2009

Police officers catch a bear in a Colorado Springs park.

Black bears find new territory in cities, on roads
Source: Kansas City Star - Breaking News (Missouri) - Jun 4, 2009

Black bears are multiplying and on the move across North America, snooping around cities where they've been a rarity, becoming roadkill and leading states to start or expand hunting seasons.

Issaquah bear captured and released
Source: KING5.com - Animal News (Seattle, Washington) - Jun 4, 2009

State fish and wildlife agents captured and released a black bear that had been menacing a Tiger Mountain neighborhood. A "hard release"

Black bears find new territory in cities, on roads
Source: Elmira Star-Gazette - Local News (New York) - Jun 4, 2009

Bear running loose in Knoxville's Bearden community
Source: WVLT - Headlines (Tennessee) - Jun 4, 2009

We've heard of it before. Now, for the second time in as many years, there's a bear on the run in west Kn