Post by BT on Jul 19, 2010 15:53:28 GMT -5
The Black Bear is one of the most adaptable and intelligent of game. The Black Bear came from Asia some 500,000 years ago. Smallest of the bear, but most bear attacks are with Black Bear, due to the fact there are more of them, but very few attacks are fatal.
In Maine the bear are plentiful. We have black bear hunting guides working in very high concentration of big bear, and more bear are taken in Aroostock County, Maine than any other county.
The Black Bear is classified as a carnivore (meat eater) because of its (four) large canine teeth; (the same teeth set-up as the coyote). 75% of his diet is vegetation, which actually makes the Black Bear an omnivore.
The Black Bear is an opportunist and will eat anything from grasses to pork, its favorite food, and has a real craving for sweets.
The bear can gain or lose 100 pounds in 30 days. Standing 30”-36” tall at the shoulders, large males average 300-400 pounds. Females are much smaller. All Black Bear attain their greatest weight in the fall before denning, consuming as much as 20,000 calories per day and burning 4,000 calories per day while denned.
Bear do not see very well because they are nearsighted, but they can pick up quick movement and have excellent hearing and smell. The bear’s closest relative is the wolf.
Black Bear are truly nocturnal. Most of their travels are in the evenings, the best time to hunt them. A very tough and powerful animal, the Black Bear is stronger than ten men. Bears usually den late November through April.
All bear hibernate, even in Florida. Pregnant females den first. Females with cubs, solitary females and males den next, in that order. Bears are not true hibernators, as the woodchuck or the ground squirrel. During their winter dormancy, when the weather warms up into the 40s, bear in February may even emerge from their dens to look around. The bears body temperature reduces less than 15 degrees and the heart rate slows to (8) beats per minute. During the bear’s summer sleep, by comparison, the bear’s heart rate is about 40 beats per minute. During hibernation, bears do not feed, drink, urinate or defecate for up to six months. Breeding starts at 3 1/2 years of age and is in June and July. Cubs are born in January and February, with 90% of hem born in January. Newborn cubs weigh an average of 12.8 ounces and are 8-10 inches long. An average litter is two cubs. Once the egg of the female is fertilized during breeding the egg does not implant in the uterus until late November or early December. This phenomenon is called delayed implantation. The embryo only develops for about 6 weeks from the time of implantation until birth. When the cubs emerge from the dens in April, they are 3-4 months old.
puss Footen’ Black Bear are not inclined to wander very far from their dens in early spring due to sensitive foot pads. Late each winter, Black Bears shed all of their previous year’s tough, calloused foot pads.
Black Bear have been clocked at over 30 miles per hour. They are excellent swimmers and memory retention is excellent.
The bounty of $15.00 on Black Bear was taken off in 1957. Since then, the Black Bear has been on the increase.
1981–The last spring season on bear. Maine biologists estimate the Maine Black Bear population at 35,000 to 40,000. This is approximately 4 times the number of bear estimated during the 1970’s and the bear population is expected to increase, along with the unusually high level of farm crop damage by bear, which costs the State large amounts in revenue. This, along with the natural food source, makes a superb fall season. Maine has the highest population of bear in the nation.
The only thing predictable about bear is, they are unpredictable. It’s a real challenge to any hunter to put a bear down for keeps. They take a lot of lead and have a real will to survive. Should you think you hear a man walking around your stand, it’s a bear!
This hunt will be an unforgettable memory!
Bear meat, like any other meat, depends on how you cook it. It’s excellent and tastes between pork and beef.
I truly hope this information will help you better understand this beautiful creature, the Black Bear
In Maine the bear are plentiful. We have black bear hunting guides working in very high concentration of big bear, and more bear are taken in Aroostock County, Maine than any other county.
The Black Bear is classified as a carnivore (meat eater) because of its (four) large canine teeth; (the same teeth set-up as the coyote). 75% of his diet is vegetation, which actually makes the Black Bear an omnivore.
The Black Bear is an opportunist and will eat anything from grasses to pork, its favorite food, and has a real craving for sweets.
The bear can gain or lose 100 pounds in 30 days. Standing 30”-36” tall at the shoulders, large males average 300-400 pounds. Females are much smaller. All Black Bear attain their greatest weight in the fall before denning, consuming as much as 20,000 calories per day and burning 4,000 calories per day while denned.
Bear do not see very well because they are nearsighted, but they can pick up quick movement and have excellent hearing and smell. The bear’s closest relative is the wolf.
Black Bear are truly nocturnal. Most of their travels are in the evenings, the best time to hunt them. A very tough and powerful animal, the Black Bear is stronger than ten men. Bears usually den late November through April.
All bear hibernate, even in Florida. Pregnant females den first. Females with cubs, solitary females and males den next, in that order. Bears are not true hibernators, as the woodchuck or the ground squirrel. During their winter dormancy, when the weather warms up into the 40s, bear in February may even emerge from their dens to look around. The bears body temperature reduces less than 15 degrees and the heart rate slows to (8) beats per minute. During the bear’s summer sleep, by comparison, the bear’s heart rate is about 40 beats per minute. During hibernation, bears do not feed, drink, urinate or defecate for up to six months. Breeding starts at 3 1/2 years of age and is in June and July. Cubs are born in January and February, with 90% of hem born in January. Newborn cubs weigh an average of 12.8 ounces and are 8-10 inches long. An average litter is two cubs. Once the egg of the female is fertilized during breeding the egg does not implant in the uterus until late November or early December. This phenomenon is called delayed implantation. The embryo only develops for about 6 weeks from the time of implantation until birth. When the cubs emerge from the dens in April, they are 3-4 months old.
puss Footen’ Black Bear are not inclined to wander very far from their dens in early spring due to sensitive foot pads. Late each winter, Black Bears shed all of their previous year’s tough, calloused foot pads.
Black Bear have been clocked at over 30 miles per hour. They are excellent swimmers and memory retention is excellent.
The bounty of $15.00 on Black Bear was taken off in 1957. Since then, the Black Bear has been on the increase.
1981–The last spring season on bear. Maine biologists estimate the Maine Black Bear population at 35,000 to 40,000. This is approximately 4 times the number of bear estimated during the 1970’s and the bear population is expected to increase, along with the unusually high level of farm crop damage by bear, which costs the State large amounts in revenue. This, along with the natural food source, makes a superb fall season. Maine has the highest population of bear in the nation.
The only thing predictable about bear is, they are unpredictable. It’s a real challenge to any hunter to put a bear down for keeps. They take a lot of lead and have a real will to survive. Should you think you hear a man walking around your stand, it’s a bear!
This hunt will be an unforgettable memory!
Bear meat, like any other meat, depends on how you cook it. It’s excellent and tastes between pork and beef.
I truly hope this information will help you better understand this beautiful creature, the Black Bear
