Black bears are not always black. Often, they are brown, blonde, and sometimes cinnamon. But all bears that roam our Mountain community are black bears. If you’re still confused, just call them bears. But refrain from calling them to dinner.

The black bear is the most common of bear species in the U.S., and the only
one found in our area. It is estimated there are about 30,000 in Oregon, and
they thrive on the Mountain.

They vary greatly in size based on where they live. Our black bears average
between 130 and 190 pounds and five to seven feet in length – but can
occasionally top out at as much as 500 pounds. The record size was recorded
in New Brunswick at 1,100 pounds.

The black bear is clever and can use its paws and claws to open screw-top
jars and door latches. Their physical strength is remarkable, with cubs able to
flip over 300-pound rocks. They are sure-footed, and can reach speeds of 30
mph. They are strong swimmers, and besides looking for fish, will often swim
for pure pleasure.

As indicated in Gary Brown’s “Great Bear Almanac,” they make 20 different
sounds, including growls, woofs, snorts, bellows and roars. The black bear has
much better eyesight and hearing than humans, and a sense of smell seven
times keener than dogs, according to Brown.

The black bear breeding period usually occurs between June and July. Both
sexes are promiscuous. The gestation period lasts 235 days with litters
typically of two or three cubs being born in January or February.
The average lifespan of our local bear is 18 years.

Typically, they enter their dens in October or November after putting on up to
30 pounds of body fat to get them through the 3-to-5 month hibernation.

Biologist Susan Barnes of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, has
encountered bears during her adventures in the woods. While participating in
a population study in the Bull Run Watershed she came across a mother and
her cubs.

“The sow reared up on her hind legs,” Barnes said. “This allowed the cubs to
climb a tree.”

That was apparently the end of the confrontation, as Barnes is around to tell
the tale.

She also noted that a bear rearing up is not usually a sign of aggression,
rather an attempt to get a better view of the situation and to pick up a scent.
The black bear without doubt has the ability to kill a human, but they tend to
avoid us whenever possible. They rarely attack, instead resorting to mock
charges, digging at the ground with their forepaws and making aggressive
blowing noises.

However, they can be motivated by hunger, especially if they have become
habituated to humans, as around campgrounds, garbage dumps, and natural
feeding grounds like berry patches.

They are omnivorous, with grass, fruit and berries supplying the bulk of their
diets. They will include the occasional mammal and amphibian, and, according
to Barnes, enjoy the odd insect as well.

Humans should never allow our black bears access to food, garbage, or
outdoor pet feeders. Once they find such a feeding ground they can become a
real threat to human safety – often leading to the bear needing to be
destroyed.

In short, they belong in the wild and we should never provide the bear with
the temptation of becoming habituated.

Safety Steps
Keep pet foods indoors;
Hang bird feeders from a wire at least 10 feet off the ground and 10 feet from
the trunk;
Add lime to compost piles to reduce odors, and never compost meat, bones,
fruit or grease;
Secure garbage cans in a garage or shed;
Take garbage with you when leaving a vacation home;
Don’t leave scented candles, soap or suntan lotions outdoors or near open
windows;
When berry picking, don’t go alone, make noise, even carry a whistle.
When camping:
Keep you campsite clean;
Sleep at least 100 yards from cooking areas;
Keep pets on leashes;
Give any bear you encounter a way to escape, step off the trail and slowly
walk away, stay calm, avoid eye contact;
In the unlikely event of attack, fight back, shout, be aggressive, use rocks,
sticks and hands to fend off the attack;
Pitch your tent away from dense brush and avoid what might be an animal
trail to a river or stream;
Use a flashlight at night;
and, don’t camp alone.

Mythology
Bears figure prominently in the culture of nearly every American Indian tribe.
They are considered to have magical powers and are symbols of strength and
wisdom and are associated with healing and medicine.

A bear’s claw was one of the talismans frequently included in medicine
bundles, and warriors of many tribes wore bear claw necklaces to provide
power and strength.

Some tribes also tell stories about monsters resembling man-eating bears the
size of elephants which prey on innocent people and must be slain by heroes.
The devoted maternal behavior of female bears is often noted in folktales with
mother bears sacrificing themselves for their cubs or adopting human
children.