Baby Bear In The Hood

Above, a bear cub at Yellowstone Bear World in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday morning, we had a little bit of excitement in the neighborhood.

I had just gotten onto Interstate 40 to go to Gallup when my next-door neighbor called and said a baby bear was in a tree at a neighbor's down the street (about three doors away) from my home. He was concerned that the mother bear might be nearby.

Bears have been coming down from the mountains lately, probably looking for water. One was killed a month ago on I-40 and another was seen in the town of Milan (around 40 miles to the east) a couple of days ago. 

The Department of Fish and Game was called in on the baby bear and they darted her and took her away and is going to a rehabilitation center in Espinola, New Mexico. Apparently, the cub came out of Albuquerque with mom but she abandoned this one and another cub. She was already tagged.

Fish and Game was still at the neighbor's when I got back from Gallup. 

Navajo Nation Man Killed By Bear

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A bear attack in the Navajo Nation resulted in a fatality.

One may ask, "There are bears in the Navajo Nation?" Incredible as it may seem (not to those of us who live in New Mexico), not all of the Navajo Nation is in the desert. There are some mountainous areas with forests within the Navajo Nation.

We have bears in the Cibola National Forest near our community of Jamestown. One bear was hit recently by a vehicle when it tried to cross Interstate 40 near our community. Personally, I have not seen any bears while driving in Six Mile Canyon of the national forest.

The bear attack took place near the community of Crystal, which is in the Chuska Mountains.  

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported:

Black bears attacked two people in New Mexico this week, killing one, as drought conditions continue to drive the animals out of their habitat, increasing human-bear encounters.

The fatality occurred Thursday in Crystal on the Navajo Nation in northwestern New Mexico, The Guardian reported Friday. The victim has not been identified.

It was only the second fatal bear attack reported in a century. The last was 25 years ago.

Navajo Nation police officers killed the bear, according to the report. Tribal officials did not respond to The New Mexican’s inquiry Friday about the incident.

To read more, go here. 

Camper Left Food and Trash Outside, A Black Bear Paid The Price

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World in Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Just as stupid people shouldn't be allowed to vote, stupid people shouldn't be allowed to camp either. 

Neither of which will ever happen, but one has to wonder how some campers in Montana left food and garbage outside that attracted a black bear. Sadly, the bear had to euthanized. Incredibly, there was a bear-resistant storage box at the campsite for them to use.

Above, a bear-resistant storage container at a campsite in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Travel posted an article on the aforementioned incident and why it is important to properly store food and garbage.

They begin it with:

Wildlife officials in Montana euthanized a black bear after it repeatedly raided campgrounds near Red Lodge. One of its last stops was an unattended campsite where food, cooking grease, dog food and garbage had reportedly been left outside, even though a bear-resistant storage box was available.

The incident is a sobering reminder that leaving food and trash unsecured in bear country isn’t simply untidy. It can teach bears that campgrounds are easy places to find meals, increasing the risk to everyone camping nearby.

To read the full article, go here. 

Poll: Have You Ever Encountered A Bear While Hiking Or Camping?

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World wildlife park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Have you ever encountered a bear while hiking or in a campground? 

I have never encountered any bears in a campground or while hiking, but I have seen a mother bear and cubs near the Sequoia National Park my daughter and were staying at from a distance. We have also seen bears while in a tour bus in Yellowstone National Park.

That is the topic of a new poll by RV Travel. 

They start it off with:

It seems like bear encounters have been making the news more frequently lately. Just this week, a hiker in Glacier National Park suffered a broken arm after a surprise encounter with a grizzly bear on a popular trail. Earlier this season, several campgrounds and trails across North America reported temporary closures or warnings due to increased bear activity.

Of course, that’s not necessarily because bears are becoming more aggressive. Summer is when both people and bears are spending more time outdoors. More RVers are heading into national parks, national forests, and remote camping areas, and that means more opportunities for humans and bears to cross paths.

To read more and participate in the poll, go here. 

How Fast Can A Bear Run? Very Fast!

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I have seen bears at a national park twice. The first was in Sequoia National Park and the second was in Yellowstone National Park.

If one encounters a bear, keep in mind that they may be many yards away, but they are fast runners.

That is the topic of an article in RV Travel, along with a video.

It begins with:

The video below from RVingWithJoe is only 30 seconds long, but it bears watching (pun definitely intended). Why? Because it answers the question, “How fast can a bear run?” Turns out bears can run pretty darn fast when they want to.

Joe happened upon this bear rapidly running across the road. Luckily, he was safely in his vehicle, but he did manage to get footage. We might think of bears as big, slow, lumbering creatures, but this video proves that it is not true.

To read more and see the video, go here. 

Hiking & Camping In Black Bear Country

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In view of my last post of a bear incident near Aspen, Colorado and that summer camping season is almost upon us, I thought it would be a good idea to post the following from the American Bear Association.

It is about hiking and camping while in bear country.

They begin with:

Hiking & Camping in Black Bear Country

Recreational use of parks and wilderness areas is increasing. Tolerance and an appreciation for the unpredictable nature of resident wildlife is increasingly important. Negative encounters are often a result of human carelessness rather than an aggressive act by the animal. This is especially true with bears. Most bear “attacks” are caused by surprising a bear and usually can be prevented. Understanding bear behavior and recognizing bear sign are important when hiking or camping in Bear Country. 

Before the Trip

Plan ahead – be prepared. Contact the local wildlife agency or park headquarters for information about the area wildlife, hiking/camping procedures and precautions as well as for any current bear activity areas.

• Familiarize yourself with bear behavior and signs.
• Avoid packing odorous food and nonfood (fragrant cosmetic, toiletries, etc.) items. Use bear-proof containers, doubled plastic bags or airtight canisters to seal in odors.
• Bring extra bags for leftovers and for packing out garbage, if necessary.
• Pack a flashlight and binoculars.
• Avoid taking a dog or keep it leashed.

 To read more (a lot more), go here.

 

Yellowstone Bear World

Above, a resident of Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My previous post on bears vs. recreational vehicles jogged a memory of ten years ago this month.

It was then that my daughter Amber and I took an RV trip to Yellowstone National Park. It was the first real trip in the RV (although we did go to Las Vegas in it a few weeks before). 

Above, here, visitors can feed bear cubs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along the way to Yellowstone National Park, we stopped at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. It is a wildlife park in which visitors can drive in areas set aside for different species of animals including, of course, bears.

Above, outside of the gift shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

From Yellowstone Bear World's website:

About Us

No vacation to the Yellowstone National Park or Grand Teton National Park region is complete without an adventure into the wild at Yellowstone Bear World, a drive-thru wildlife park. During your visit you will be surrounded by the free-roaming wildlife of North America as you drive your personal vehicle through the park.

Wildlife you will see includes Rocky Mountain Elk, Bison, White-tail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Goats, and of course American Black Bear and Grizzly Bear. Remember to visit our petting zoo, enjoy the amusement rides, dine at the Hungry Bear Cafe, and explore the animatronic dinosaurs in Jurassic Creek! Located 5 miles south of Rexburg, Idaho on US HWY 20 we are easily accessible from both Jackson Hole, Wyoming and West Yellowstone, Montana. (see map) When you visit this beautiful region don’t miss Idaho’s #1 wildlife attraction, Yellowstone Bear World.

Above, a moose relaxing in his section. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 It was a fun park to visit. to access their website, go here. 

Your RV Won't Stand A Chance Against a Bear! (Video)

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Are RVs impervious to bear attacks?

Apparently not! A northern California man's fifth wheel trailer was trashed by a California black bear. The bear tore a big hole in the trailer's roof to get inside to feast upon stored foods.

RVingWithJoe posted the following video:

Wyoming Seeing Plenty of Grizzlies and Cubs

Above, a bear at Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As the weather is getting warmer, grizzlies, black bears and their cubs are being seen by Teton County, Wyoming residents.

RV Travel has posted an article on keeping yourself and the bears safe and avoiding encounters. 

They begin with:

Grizzly bears with cubs have begun emerging from their dens in Teton County, Wyoming. As bears become active this spring, Bear Wise Wyoming reminds residents and visitors to secure attractants of any kind and be bear aware.

Seeing a bear in its natural habitat is an awe-inspiring experience. However, living and recreating in bear country requires awareness and actions on our part to keep both bears and humans safe. As the grizzly bear population expands within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, bears continue to disperse across their historical range but also into more populated areas. All of Teton County is now in occupied grizzly bear habitat.

Properly storing all attractants to ensure a bear does not obtain a food reward is crucial to keeping bears wild. Once a bear becomes conditioned to human foods, risks to the bear and humans increase and management options become limited. Whether you have lived in Teton County for decades or are visiting the area for a day, please do your part to help protect bears. 

Above, a mother black bear and cub in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article goes on to provide tips on what to do.

To read more, go here. 

Bears In Winter? It Does Happen

Above, a bear at Yellowstone Bear World in Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One doesn't usually think that bears can be active during the winter months. Most people think they are in deep hibernation.

Here's a story of a bear sighting in Yellowstone National Park during the dead of winter.

From KBZK Bozeman News:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — If you’ve lived in bear country for any time at all you probably know the importance of carrying bear spray in the backcountry. Now, a Yellowstone National Park bear biologist says you may need to consider carrying it year-round.

Yellowstone hiker Devinne Curbow said she and some friends saw a grizzly in the wild the last weekend of January in the park. “It was pretty astounding,” said Curbow.

In the photo, you can see the bear on a mostly snow-free hillside. Curbow is not revealing the exact location because she says she believes the bear has a den nearby and doesn’t want curious bear watchers to disturb the animal.

“We get reports of bear activity every month of the year,” said park bear biologist Kerry Gunther.

He told MTN that seeing a bear in January or February can happen. it’s just not very common. If you’re thinking it has been a warm winter and maybe that is waking up the bears, Gunther has some insight.

“You know hibernation is really based more on a seasonal reduction in food availability,” he said.

To read more, go here. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park Has A Bear Problem

Above, a bear at Yellowstone Bear World in Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Let's face it, forests in this country are the domain of several species of bears. It is man who is the intruder.

Right now, Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California has a bear problem. Much of it is the fault of park visitors for not taking adequate precautions.

Above, a bear-resistant container at Lassen's Manzanita Lake Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

National Parks Traveler reported:

The amount of Lassen Volcanic National Park backcountry closed to overnight use due to a bear or bears obtaining food from backpackers has been greatly expanded to encompass most of the eastern half of the park. 

Earlier this month the park closed an area of one mile in all directions from the following lakes frequently accessed from Summit Lake Trailhead: Echo, Upper Twin, Lower Twin, Swan, and Rainbow Lake.  

"There have been multiple reports from visitors of a bear (or bears) coming into campsites and searching backpacks for food in these areas," park staff reported at the time. "This is a learned behavior from visitors leaving scented items in their backpacks and not storing them in proper bear-resistant containers." 

Now, because of additional reports of troublesome bears, the park has closed the area east of Lassen National Park Highway (CA State Highway 89) and east of Hat Creek and Kings Creek to overnight backpacking use. This closure does not impact day use including hiking and stock use or camping within developed campgrounds. 

“We have received additional reports of human-bear interactions from outside the original closure area,” said Lassen Volcanic Superintendent Jim Richardson. “It is necessary to expand the area of the closure in an effort to prevent more negative interactions,” Richardson added. 

Lassen Volcanic is home to a population of approximately 30 black bears; there are no brown or grizzly bears in the park. Information about black bears in the park is provided in large part by wildlife sighting reports submitted by visitors. 

I camped at Lassen's Manzanita Lake Campground three years ago and each campsite had a bear-resistant container for visitors' use. Even though I camped in a motorhome and didn't really need it, I made use of it anyway so that a foraging bear wouldn't scratch up the motorhome.

Above, The Beast at Lassen Volcanic National Park in Devastated Area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Communities Staging "Bear Hunts"

Above, stuffed bears, like these at Yellowstone Bear World, are employed in the "bear hunts". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With people isolating themselves during this time of coronavirus, inventive ways to keep themselves and their kids occupied are being employed.

One such activity is staging "bear hunts".

According to Fox News:

Neighborhoods across the globe are coming together amid the outbreak with an almost un-bear-ably cute show of community. 

“Bear hunts” are being set up by neighbors and businesses everywhere in a bid to keep kids – and parents – busy during self-isolation, while also adhering to social distancing. 

The activity, which is based on the award-winning children’s book “Going on a Bear Hunt,” involves placing a stuffed bear in the windows of residences or businesses. As kids are out with parents, either driving or walking (while maintaining six feet of distance from others), they “hunt” for the bears.

To read more, go here. 

Portion of Grand Teton National Park Closed Due To Aggressive Bears

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Despite being constantly told by the National Park Service in our national parks, there are still stupid people who do not obey the rules and feed park bears.

This is not good for people (due to attacks by aggressive bears) and it is not good for the bears as many have to be euthanized because of stupid park visitors.

This is from the Seattle Times:

MOOSE, Wyo. (AP) — Part of Grand Teton National Park is temporarily closed due to aggressive bears. 

Park officials say visitors fed bears Tuesday on Signal Mountain Summit Road. A female grizzly bear with two cubs later charged toward park visitors and employees near the road.

Just DON'T feed any national park wildlife!

To read more, go here.

Keeping Bears Out of Campsites

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People like seeing bears in the wild, but at a distance and not in their campsites.

There is a community in Alaska that has more than its share of bears, but they and the residents get along pretty well.

RV Life has an article with a valuable tip on keeping bears away from campsites.

It begins with:

In one remote coastal Alaska town, the bears outnumber the locals. It’s hard to believe the two can usually co-exist without problems, but that’s exactly what life is like in Hyder. Here in this Southeast Alaska outpost, residents know exactly how to keep bears out of campsites, homes and backyards. Here’s how they do it.

Above, a bear-proof food storage container at North Pines Campground in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Idaho Meeting Eclipse Management Challenge

Above, this resident of Yellowstone Bear World will have a ringside seat to the eclipse. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With the expected high numbers of people flocking to Idaho to see the eclipse, the state's transit authority is planning to meet the challenge of managing it.

The Weekly Mailer reported:

BOISE — It's only one week away from the biggest astrological event in the Gem State since 1979. Dubbed The Great American Eclipse, it could also be the biggest tourist attraction and traffic generator in Idaho history. 

Along with many other local and state agencies, the Idaho Transportation Department is preparing for the total solar eclipse that will be visible across the southern portion of the state Aug. 21. ITD is organizing a statewide plan to be responsive when necessary, ready to assist law enforcement, and reduce impacts to travelers in the days surrounding the eclipse.

To read more, go here.

Bear Encounters At Mesa Verde National Park

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This story caught my attention as I've camped at Morefield Campground at Mesa Verde National Park twice. The first time was in a hard-sided travel trailer and then in a tent trailer (or pop-up trailer). During both visits, we saw no bears (just a lot of mule deer) and we really weren't aware of a bear population at the park.

According to The Journal, bear and human encounters at Mesa Verde are on the rise.

They wrote:

Like much of Montezuma County, Mesa Verde National Park has seen more than its share of encounters between bears and humans this summer, and its staff is recruiting volunteers to help. 

According to a news release Friday from Mesa Verde public information officer Cristy Brown, several members of the park’s black bear population have been spotted rooting through dumpsters and unattended food near campsites and picnic tables. Like other recent bear sightings throughout the region, these are likely caused by a shortage of natural food sources due to a late frost, according to the release. To prevent conflicts between bears and humans, the park plans to start a volunteer bear safety education program in conjunction with the nonprofit Bear Smart Durango and other wildlife management agencies.

To read more, go here. 

Bear Encounters Up This Year In Yosemite

Above, a black bear at Idaho's Yellowstone Bear World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Bear encounters have doubled so far this year in Yosemite National Park, according to park officials.

ABC News reported:

Yosemite National Park has had a dramatic increase this year in visitors, but it's not humans who've converged en masse: Bear encounters at the national park rose 100 percent in early June compared to the same period in 2016. 

Officials for the 1,1169-square-mile-park, recorded 16 incidents involving bears so far this year -- with half of them occurring in just two weeks, from May 27 to June 9 -- compared to a 38 total for all of last year. 2016 was a record low year for bear encounters though, according to park rangers.

To read more, go here. 

Space.com: Best Places To View The Eclipse

Above, Yellowstone Bear World is right in the path of the total eclipse. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are planning to head out somewhere in August to view the total solar eclipse, but don't know where to go, Space.com has six suggestions.

They wrote:

Some people may think it absurd to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to see an event that will last less than 3 minutes, but millions of people are expected to do just that to witness the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21. In addition to watching this breathtaking celestial show, there are many other things to see and do in and around the eclipse path.  

The eclipse will cross the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. Skywatchers inside the "path of totality" will see the moon completely cover the disk of the sun. The path is about 70 miles wide and more than 2,000 miles long. It crosses through deserts, forests, national parks and cities. 

Here are six suggestions of great places to see the eclipse, ranging from contemporary to eclectic venues.

The suggestions are great ones. As for myself, I am headed to Rexford, Idaho for my eclipse viewing. I am already familiar with Rexford, as I visited it in 2015 with my daughter. It is the home of Yellowstone Bear World, where we stopped while en route to Yellowstone National Park. Maybe I'll visit the bears again after the eclipse.

To read more, go here.

Yosemite National Park Bear Facts

Above, a bear cub at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last summer, I saw a sad sight: a dead bear cub in the road on Tioga Pass Road in Yosemite National Park. It appeared to have been hit not too long before I saw it.

Unfortunately, bears are being killed by vehicles in the park.

According to the Sierra Sun Times:

2017 Total Bear Incidents: 12 

2017 Total Property Damage: $945 

June 16, 2017 - Compared to this same week 2016 (the lowest year on record for bear incidents), bear incidents in 2017 are up by 100% and damages are up by 34%. Compared to 1998 (when incidents in the park peaked), bear incidents in 2017 are down by 96%, and damages are down by 99%.

It isn't too much to ask for people to drive in any national park to drive carefully. As the Sierra Sun Times wrote:

Please help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways.

To read more, go here.

How To See The Solar Eclipse

Above, the eclipse umbra shadow will pass over Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When the eclipse occurs this coming August, not everyone can head out to areas where the eclipse's umbra shadow can be seen. I will be heading to Idaho for the event.

However, there's a solution for people anywhere to see the eclipse. Travel + Leisure has an article on what they can do.

They reported:

On August 21, the new moon will pass directly between the Earth and the sun in the first total solar eclipse visible from the continental U.S. in almost four decades. 

But for those who won’t be able to view the eclipse this summer, NASA has a solution: The organization, along with online video platform Stream, will livestream coverage of the total solar eclipse from 57 high-altitude balloons across the country. 

The balloons will be set up at dozens of points throughout the eclipse’s “path of totality” (where the moon casts its umbral shadow) as it crosses the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Southeast regions of the U.S.

To read more, go here.