Making Life Bearable

Black bear illustration.

Making Life Bearable

Whiskeytown is home to many black bear (Ursus Americanus). The black bear has always been a natural part of the Whiskeytown area, eating grasses, berries, insects and other foods provided by nature. Recently though, the black bear has discovered a new provider of food: people.Black bears deserve our protection and respect, as well as a healthy dose of caution.

Bear Facts

Name: Ursus Americanus.
Color: Black, brown, blond.
Life expectancy: 15-20 years.
Weight: Males usually weigh less than 300 lbs, females usually weigh less than 175 lbs.
Height: Adult on all four feet, 2 ½’ to 3 ½’.
Speed: 30 mph or 45 yards in 3 seconds.
Offspring: Adults mate mid-June to mid-July. Cubs are born in January or February.
Natural foods: Berries, insects, fish and carrion.
Daily habits: Most active in early evenings and early mornings. Usually rests during late night hours.

 

Illustration of a bear digging through trash.

The Problem

Bears have very good memories. If human food is easily accessible in campgrounds and from garbage cans, they will return again and again. In the process of seeking out human food, they often lose their fear of people and become aggressive and dangerous.

Unfortunately, bears may need to be destroyed if they threaten human safety or repeatedly cause serious property damage. Bear problems are a direct result of bears becoming accustomed to human food or garbage. The responsibility of keeping bears from acquiring a tastefor human foods rests with all of us.

 

What We Are Doing

Whiskeytown’s goals are to maintain a natural bear population while allowing visitors an opportunity to understand and appreciate these wild creatures in their natural habitat, and to minimize the number of negative human-bear interactions.
Whiskeytown is accomplishing these goals by:

• Providing bear-resistant garbage cans in all picnic areas and primitive campsites.
• Providing bear-resistant food lockers in all campgrounds.
• Informing park visitors about bear problems through educational handouts, ranger contacts and programs.

What You Can Do

When Camping or Picnicking:

• Keep the area clean.
• Never leave food out unattended.
• Never leave food or food items in your tent.
• Use bear-proof trash cans when provided.
• Put food and all related items in food storage lockers when provided.
• Bears can break into vehicles, so take care to store food odor-free and out of sight.
• Suspend food in a tree at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet away from the tree trunk.
• Do not feed bears or other park animals.

If You See a Bear:

• Keep a safe distance.
• Do not approach or follow a bear.
• If a bear approaches, try and scare it away by throwing rocks, shouting, or waving your arms.
• If a bear attacks, fall to the ground in a fetal position. Protect your neck and head with your hands.

Report all bear sightings to a park ranger or call park headquarters at [phone].