Bears -- Biology, Conservation & Education

This page updated 4/9/99

"Bears are made of the same dust as we, and breathe the same winds and drink of the same waters. A bear's days are warmed by the same sun, his dwellings are overdomed by the same blue sky, and his life turns and ebbs with heart-pulsings like ours and was poured from the same fountain..."         (John Muir...upon finding a dead bear in Yosemite)

Ed.note:  Remember to always check with local rangers for "local bear conditions" -- proper behavior varies depending on location, species, season and other variables.  A clean camp, proper food storage and being educated about the "local bear conditions" are critical elements of visiting safely in bear habitat. (Georgia Stigall/Native Habitats)

• The case against feeding wildlife - Why human provided food is NOT love to wildlife
  
  
• Bear safety -- for both bears and humans
  National Park Service Bear Facts; The Essentials for Traveling in Bear Country:
  Web:  http://www.nps.gov/bela/html/morebear.htm
  
  
• Bear safety -- for bears only
  
  
• Bears.org - "dedicated to the preservation of accurate bear beliefs"
  Email:  bear@bears.org
  Web:    http://www.bears.org/  
  Mailing and discussion list web:  http://bears.org/mailman/listinfo/bearfolks
  
  
• Bear Watch - Working to protect grizzly & black bears in British Columbia, Canada
  Box 405 Ganges PO,
  Salt Spring Island, B.C. V5N Canada V8K 2W1
  Phone: 250-537-2404         Toll Free: 1-800-836-5501            Fax: 250-537-2407
  Email: bears@bearwatch.org
  Web:  http://www.bearwatch.org
  
  
• Great Bear Foundation
  P.O. Box 9383
  Missoula MT 59807
  Email:  gbf@greatbear.org
  Web:    http://www.greatbear.org
  "...dedicated to the conservation of wild bear populations and their habitat worldwide"
  
  
• International Association for Bear Research & Management (IBA)
  The International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) is a non-profit tax-exempt (US Tax ID# 94-3102570) volunteer organization open to professional biologists, wildlife managers and others dedicated to the conservation of all species of bears. The organization consists of several hundred members from over 20 countries. It supports the scientific management of bears through research and distribution of information. The IBA sponsors a triennial international conference on all aspects of b ear biology, ecology and management. The proceedings from these conferences are published as peer-reviewed scientific papers in a series entitled Bears-their biology and management.
  Web:  http://www.bearbiology.com
  
  
• Spirit Bear preservation (rare white American black bear)
  Spirit Bear Web:  http://www.aspentradingpost.com/spiritbear.htm
  
  Cooperative effort between:  Great Bear Foundation (contact info on this page), Valhalla Wilderness Society
  Email:  vws@web.net Web:  http://alpinet.net/~williams/valhalla.html and Charlie Russel (see info on this page).
  
  
• The Bear Den
  "For bears everywhere, and for those humans who are on their side."
  Web:  http://www.nature-net.com/bears/
  
  
• Vital Ground  Foundation
  John Weaver, Ph.D., Executive Director
  P.O. Box 2971, Missoula, MT 59806-2971  U.S.A.
  Phone / Fax: 406.542.5470
  Email:  bart@vitalground.org      Web:  http://www.vitalground.org
  "A national non-profit foundation devoted to habitat conservation for grizzly bears and associated plants and animals in Montana...our mission is to return a portion of the living landscape to that witnessed by Lewis and Clark, when the native carnivores like the Great Bear still ventured out onto the Great Plains."
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  From Georgia Stigall/Native Habitats:
  
  Bears are intelligent and opportunistic animals -- just like humans!  As such, they are particularly susceptible to being habituated to human-provided food.  When travelling in bear country, it is critical to use proper food storage techniques so bears are not "set up" for getting in trouble. For a bear, "food" includes all food items including coffee, vitamins, garbage, sunscreen, lip balm, soaps, cosmetics, etc.  Humans living in bear habitat should carefully secure garbage, pet food and other attractants. Every year government agencies kill bears who have become "problem bears" as a result of human carelessness.  Keep bears healthy and wild -- and keep your food and gear safe -- by keeping your food and related items securely stored.  Always check with the local rangers regarding "local bear conditions", as proper behavior and food storage methods vary depending on location, species of bear, time of year and other factors.  
  
  Remember...a fed (by humans) bear is a DEAD (by humans) bear!
  (Georgia Stigall, Native Habitats) 
  
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• Native Habitats, 17287 Skyline Blvd #102, Woodside, CA 94062-3741, U.S.A.
  email: gstigall@aol.com           web:  http://www.NativeHabitats.org