The bears of Hunter

[kingslug]

While skiing at Hunter last Monday I got to talking with a guy about the 3 bears I ran into last season on Hellgate. He told me they had to be killed because they started to break into peoples homes. People where seen feeding them which probably caused this. Is this true ????? because if it is ...then that is one of the most f#$%$^ked things I have heard in a while. I'll wait until I hear some confirmation about this before I go on a rant...and maybe make some calls. Any info on this?

 

[dmc]

It is true... Merry Christmas...

People feed bears and they become a problem... Totally sucks.. Relocating isn't all that viable due to territorial issues.. At least thats what I've been told.. The bears in my neighborhood are cool... Nobody feeds them. they eat my apples and mushrooms...

It is pretty sad...

 

[kingslug]

That.....sux....I'll save the rant for after xmas...but this stuff really pisses me off. We cause it...then go and do that to cure it...unbelievable.

 

[powhunter]

Yea sad but true....Was great to see them while skiing though!!

 

[kingslug]

I almost skied into them while flying down Hellgate. i was about 30 feet away when I stopped, they didn't seem to care as they wandered off into upper crossover. And now they're gone.

 

[powhunter]

Heard those Grateful Dead hippy freaks were hand feeding them at mt. Jam

steveo

 

[dmc]

Heard those Grateful Dead hippy freaks were hand feeding them at mt. Jam

steveo

Actually they were breaking into tents for food

 

[catskills]

Kingston Freeman Article.

A female DEC officer had to destroy the mother and two cubs. The officer said it was the hardest thing she ever had to do. The bears entered a home where they were scared away only to enter another house not far away. Once Bears start home entry there is very little that can be done.

 

[riverc0il]

That.....sux....I'll save the rant for after xmas...but this stuff really pisses me off. We cause it...then go and do that to cure it...unbelievable.

Unfortunately, it needs to be cured or else food aggressive bears will start attacking people. It is not cool that it happens but most if not all outdoor recreational business and organizations promote not feeding animals.

This is always a problem in the Whites, especially at campgrounds due to uneducated city folk leaving food out on tables then leaving the area. Try as campgrounds might to promote safe handling of food... people are lazy and uneducated.

So when you come back for your post Christmas rant, you'll probably want to start by taking issue with lazy and uneducated people that do not heed warnings. There is not anything that can be done about a bear that becomes territorial and food aggressive accept let it hurt people or put it down.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

In all my years living outside of Yellowstone and growing up in the Daks these are the first bears I have ever heard of that don't hibernate in the winter.

Here at the Bush there is a parcel in Slidebrook that is critical bear habitat managed by the Vermont Fish and Game and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. If the bears didn't hibernate there would be no access in Slidebrook in the winter and the lift would have never been allowed to be built.

There are homes and a couple of condo complexes at the base of Mt Ellen and once in awhile in the fall/summer/spring a bear visits but if the homeowners do not use bearproof containers or upon a spot inspection are not keeping their trash properly disposed of they can fined by the state.

 

[riverc0il]

In all my years living outside of Yellowstone and growing up in the Daks these are the first bears I have ever heard of that don't hibernate in the winter.

Seems like this is in regards to spring skiing last season when the bears were spotted. The video above definitely was taken in the spring for sure.

 

[dmc]

Seems like this is in regards to spring skiing last season when the bears were spotted. The video above definitely was taken in the spring for sure.

I don't think they really hibernate

 

[kingslug]

Yes, my issue is with the people who fed them. They think they are doing them a favor but have no idea the consequences. Worst of all is that they probably have no idea what happened.

 

[campgottagopee]

It is true... Merry Christmas...

People feed bears and they become a problem... Totally sucks.. Relocating isn't all that viable due to territorial issues.. At least thats what I've been told.. The bears in my neighborhood are cool... Nobody feeds them. they eat my apples and mushrooms...

It is pretty sad...

Very sad....obviously DEC knows there's an issue with the bears at Hunter so why don't they relocate them before the issue arrives. Hate to see ANY wild animal put down do soley to human intervention. That shit sux!!

 

[dmc]

In all my years living outside of Yellowstone and growing up in the Daks these are the first bears I have ever heard of that don't hibernate in the winter.

Do you think they hibernate in Florida?

It's a lot colder in VT or ADKs then the Catskills..
We see tracks in the snow during the winter. But they don't really come down off the hill - at least where i live.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Do you think they hibernate in Florida?

It's a lot colder in VT or ADKs then the Catskills..
We see tracks in the snow during the winter. But they don't really come down off the hill - at least where i live.

Actually they do...from the the Florida Wildlife Dept. Snow and cold temps are not the only trigger

"Florida's black bears hibernate from approximately late December to early May. Pregnant females give birth to 2 to 4 young and stay in the den without eating for the 5 to 6 month period. Males and non-pregnant females come out of their dens several times, for short periods, only to re-den."