Black Bear numbers are increasing in the United States. It has only been recently that Black Bears have not been regarded as a nuisance. A great boon to the Black Bear population was the migration, after World War 2, of people from rural areas to the cities.
When humans left the countryside to take up work in the cities, forests were able to start a regeneration process. The forests saw a recovery surge of certain wild animals-deer, turkey, and Black Bears. This continued until the 1990’s. As the human population grew, Black Bears and humans once again started sharing space.
Unlike a century before humans did not start clearing bears away by killing them. Wildlife Conservationists, Naturalist groups, and Government agencies began setting aside protected parkland and Wildlife sanctuaries. These areas provide a safe place where Black Bears and other animals can roam at will. They are not exposed the stresses of human sprawl.
Of course with more and more houses being built in or near Black Bear country chance encounters become more frequent. But unlike before they do not end with the death of either a Bear or a human. We have to thank the many people who spend time each year educating the public in the proper way in which to interact with Black Bears. Education not only trying to changing human behavior but background on Black Bears and their place in the Eco-system. I think it is a measure of their success that we in the United States will even consider being aware of the Black Bear plight, when less then 50 years ago we would have killed them without feeling the least bit guilty. Slowly, slowly we are learning to coexist. Because coexistence must be learned for the continued future of Black Bears. I think we can do it. An example: Researchers that monitor Black Bear behavior have noted people have decreased attempting to feed bears, a definite contrast to just 20 years ago.
But our cruelty still continues in many ways. The world wide trade in bear organs and parts has reached the North American Black Bear. Since the Asian bear population has been decimated. Illegal traders have begun poaching Black Bears and sending their organs back to Asian countries for medicinal purposes. This trade continues to flourish as the selling of bear parts is very lucrative.
Still, I have hope humans can change. The logging industry, for decades combative against environmentalists, has altered several practices. Clear-cutting trees was the accepted norm. This would destroy much of a Black Bear’s habitat. Now, many companies in the logging industry have created smaller animal friendly methods which encourage berry and tree growth. Trees may be taken and bears will not lose their homes.
As I’ve stated before, Black Bears are very tolerant of humans. They appear to adapt well and can even live on the fringes of a city. If given space and privacy the Black Bear has no problem thriving. Their main challenge will be the expanding needs of human beings. It will be us pushing the bears even further away.
The future of the Black Bear has to be linked with human education. We are the only species who have the means (and the willful ignorance) to completely destroy the Black Bear population.
It is up to us (you and me) to help them remain on this earth.
Tomorrow- Black Bear images.
When humans left the countryside to take up work in the cities, forests were able to start a regeneration process. The forests saw a recovery surge of certain wild animals-deer, turkey, and Black Bears. This continued until the 1990’s. As the human population grew, Black Bears and humans once again started sharing space.
Unlike a century before humans did not start clearing bears away by killing them. Wildlife Conservationists, Naturalist groups, and Government agencies began setting aside protected parkland and Wildlife sanctuaries. These areas provide a safe place where Black Bears and other animals can roam at will. They are not exposed the stresses of human sprawl.
Of course with more and more houses being built in or near Black Bear country chance encounters become more frequent. But unlike before they do not end with the death of either a Bear or a human. We have to thank the many people who spend time each year educating the public in the proper way in which to interact with Black Bears. Education not only trying to changing human behavior but background on Black Bears and their place in the Eco-system. I think it is a measure of their success that we in the United States will even consider being aware of the Black Bear plight, when less then 50 years ago we would have killed them without feeling the least bit guilty. Slowly, slowly we are learning to coexist. Because coexistence must be learned for the continued future of Black Bears. I think we can do it. An example: Researchers that monitor Black Bear behavior have noted people have decreased attempting to feed bears, a definite contrast to just 20 years ago.
But our cruelty still continues in many ways. The world wide trade in bear organs and parts has reached the North American Black Bear. Since the Asian bear population has been decimated. Illegal traders have begun poaching Black Bears and sending their organs back to Asian countries for medicinal purposes. This trade continues to flourish as the selling of bear parts is very lucrative.
Still, I have hope humans can change. The logging industry, for decades combative against environmentalists, has altered several practices. Clear-cutting trees was the accepted norm. This would destroy much of a Black Bear’s habitat. Now, many companies in the logging industry have created smaller animal friendly methods which encourage berry and tree growth. Trees may be taken and bears will not lose their homes.
As I’ve stated before, Black Bears are very tolerant of humans. They appear to adapt well and can even live on the fringes of a city. If given space and privacy the Black Bear has no problem thriving. Their main challenge will be the expanding needs of human beings. It will be us pushing the bears even further away.
The future of the Black Bear has to be linked with human education. We are the only species who have the means (and the willful ignorance) to completely destroy the Black Bear population.
It is up to us (you and me) to help them remain on this earth.
Tomorrow- Black Bear images.
Some great Blogging- interesting stuff and some great points. Debz :)
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