In the State of Maine, Aroostook County is one of the best places to find them. Male black bears can weigh up to 600 pounds but average about 250 to 350 pounds, while females grow to only 100 to 200 pounds. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) is charged with managing Maine's abundant wildlife resources. Bears were bountied as vermin until 1957, but were granted game species status in 1969 when mandatory monitoring of annual harvests began. Most conflicts with bears can be prevented by removing common food attractants around homes. The spring represents a period of food stress, as most bears emerge from the den. However, each year, primarily in the spring and early summer, the Department receives numerous calls from homeowners when bears have destroyed bird feeders or disturbed garbage. 284 State Street In 2001, the Department set new management goals and objectives to direct bear management through 2015 based upon the recommendations of a public working group representing diverse interests. More recently, cubs are born in both years in northern Maine, following several years of lower but consistent beechnut crops. Learn how to avoid conflicts by making sure your property and neighborhood are not attracting black bears. He held out for a color phase bear right up until the last minute. See More: Tracking Maine Black Bears | Photos. We regulate bear numbers primarily through annual hunting and trapping harvests. Roy compared population characteristics of the bears living in these 2 study areas for his PhD. Maine is blessed with a healthy, stable population of black bear, conservatively estimated at 35,000. Radiocollars send out a signal revealing each bear's location in her den as she hibernates under the winter snow. Although they’re omnivorous, their diet is mostly vegetarian. Any black bear topping the 300-pound mark is considered large. The program began as a study in 1975 when Roy Hugie in cooperation with the Department established 2 study areas consisting of 4 townships each - Spectacle Pond (20 miles West of Ashland) and Stacyville (near Patten). Black bears are found in most forested areas from Mexico north to the edge of the tree line in Canada and Alaska. Because of this practice, and the loss of their forest habitat, black bears were rare in the Commonwealth in the 1800s and early 1900s. If you need assistance, view our PDF Help page, or email us. Bears are compact, with stocky legs, small eyes, short, rounded ears, short curved claws, and a short, inconspicuous tail. % African American: 1.79% # Of African American … 4. Bears often make trips up to 40 miles outside of their ranges to feed on berries or nuts (or occasionally to an orchard or field of oats or corn) in late summer or fall. This post was first published in 2007 and has been updated. If you’re looking for a bear, though, you’ll have to be patient. In the spring, it takes about two weeks after rousing from torpor for bears to return to normal activity levels. This work is possible thanks to a federal tax on firearms, ammunition and other hunting related items. Black bears lead solitary lives, except for breeding pairs, family groups comprised of adult females and their offspring, and occasional aggregations at concentrated food sources. We use data collected from annual harvests and telemetry studies to guide bear management decisions in Maine. Bear cubs are born with blue eyes, which turn brown during their first summer. We tag the ears of all cubs and yearlings to identify them. They will try to avoid humans as much as humans try to avoid them. 6. And yes, they love honey. These goals are set about every 15 years. Maine is home to more than 35,000 of the bears, up from just 23,000 less than 15 years ago. Since 1990, Maine’s bear season framework has remained fairly constant with a 3-month fall hunting season that opens the last Monday in August and closes the last Saturday in November. Bears are not true hibernators, but instead enter torpor, a state of dormancy during which their body temperature and metabolic rate drop. A reassessment of the past, present, and future status of bears, their habitat, and demands on the bear resource was completed in 1999. In … Bears can run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. Prior to 1952 black bears could be killed by anyone, at any time. The funds from this federal tax (known as Pittman-Robertson funds) pay for about 75% of the cost of the program. As fascinating as black bears are, on occasion they can cause problems for people. Approximately 900,000. This may include advice on taking in bird feeders, handling outside trash, and how to prevent damage to agricultural crops. Therefore, conflicts between bears and farmers, beekeepers and orchardists, and rural residents in the State can occur. Although, female bears remain within or near the range of their mother their entire life, male bears disperse long distances (often up to 100 miles) as subadults (1-4 years of age) prior to settling into adult ranges that may exceed 100 miles squared. They have a brown muzzle, and occasionally a white throat or chest patch or "blaze". In September and October, trappers can set 1 foot snare or cage trap for bears. Female bears in Maine become sexually mature at 3-5 years of age. On average, most bears taken by hunters weigh somewhere between 125 and 300 pounds. Maine Has Black Bears…And a Few Fools. Even with the additional permit, permit numbers haven’t returned to previous 2000 levels (Table 1). While the number of bears harvested by hunters each year is known, the number dying from other causes and the numbers entering the population must be determined by our research. Maine seeking plan to manage growing black bear population. Throughout the summer, males travel over large areas to enhance their chances for encountering mates. They are amazingly adaptable to human presence, and are able to survive in close proximity to housing developments and suburban areas wherever escape cover exists. We ear-tag many males while trapping and in the dens as well. Unforeseen disease or insect outbreaks may influence forest composition and harvest strategies in the future. ... No matter the complexity of carrying capacities, the petitioner blames the fact that his claim of 10,000 too many bears is the fault of MDIFW, bear hunters, and guides who use “food” for attracting bears for hunting. 2. We will consider increasing hunting opportunities to meet bear management goals, if hunter participation continues to decline, especially during the early bear season. Adult males average 250-600 pounds, and measure 5-6 feet from tip of nose to the tip of their tail. Bangor. Although most black bears are not much larger than humans, their weight can vary tremendously with the season of the year. Bears that eat a lot of non-natural human foods tend to die earlier. Black bears mate during the early summer months. [1] However, that doesn't mean they won't enter towns and neighborhoods. Over the past century, conflicts between bears and humans in Maine have lessened with changes in agricultural practices, the decline of farming, increased interest in bear hunting, and the species’ rise in status as a game animal. These hunters and the rules that control their methods are the tools that managers use to ensure the bear population is not overharvested and to keep the bear population from "crossing the line". That phenomenon is changing. Bears store body fat during the fall months to supply energy during their long winter denning period, and are heaviest in late fall. Bears store body fat during the fall months to supply energy during their long winter denning period, and are heaviest in late fall. Length: Five to six feet long. Black bears tend to be very shy and avoid being seen, but when you do you can expect males to weigh between 250 and 600 pounds while … One of our most celebrated and treasured animals is the black bear. Females are smaller, weighing 100-400 pounds, and measuring 4-5 feet in length. The oldest wild black bear lived 39 years, but it is more common to find female bears living into their 20’s. They will assess whether the bears in question can be captured and rehabilitated at a private rehabilitation facility. Although many people enjoy an abundant bear population, too many bears can create problems for the bears and the people who live with them. Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Mailing Address: In 2004, the Stacyville study area was discontinued and a new study area was created in Downeast Maine (northeast of Beddington). Our current management goal for bears is to provide hunting, trapping, and viewing opportunity for bears. 7. Cub production has been more consistent in central Maine, where more stable fall food supplies result in nearly half of adult females giving birth each year. The remaining 25% comes primarily from hunting and fishing license sales. When they emerge from their winter den as yearling bears, they remain with their mother until she goes into estrus in the spring. Forestry practices are continually evolving, which changes the world the bears live in and the food they depend on. Although males become sexually mature at 1-2 years of age, most do not participate in breeding until they have reached full adult size, at about 4-6 years in Maine. Housing units, July 1, 2019, (V2019) 750,939: Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2015-2019: 72.3%: Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 Nearly 50 percent of cubs don’t survive their first year, often due to starvation. Since 1975, we’ve monitored bears in four separate study areas across the state. About 30,000 black bears (Ursus americanus) live in New England. Black bears historically ranged over most of the forested regions of North America, including all Canadian provinces, Alaska, all states in the conterminous United States, and significant portions of northern Mexico (Hall 1981). Periodic trapping efforts are necessary to maintain a representative sample of bears in each study area. A black bear got caught on camera raiding my neighbor’s beehive last summer. Weight:Adults vary in weight from 150 (small female) to 500 (large male) pounds. By the time bears in Maine reach 2 years of age their survival exceeds 90%, and nearly all deaths of adult bears are due to hunting or other human-related causes. Our management goals and objectives are set by interested members of the public that have reviewed and discussed the latest MDIFW bear assessment (Public Working Group). To prevent conflicts with black bears each spring (April 1-October 1): Each year, primarily in the spring and early summer, the Department receives numerous calls from homeowners when bears have destroyed bird feeders or disturbed garbage. Forestland ownership and market conditions are constantly changing as well, which also impacts forest resource management. The Marching Band at the University of Maine performs pregame and halftime shows at all home football games, providing spirit and entertainment to UMaine fans. When feeding on a concentrated food source, bears may use areas as small as several acres; when searching for dispersed food or mates, they can cover several miles in a day. A large part of our bear monitoring program involves trapping and radiocollaring bears in late spring and early summer. Black bears require forests for protection and food. TTY: Maine Relay 711 Starting in 2008, trappers and non-resident deer hunters are required to purchase a permit to harvest a black bear. https://mainehuts.org/discover/blog/3-most-dangerous-animals-maine-woods Females are smaller, weighing 100-400 pounds, and measuring 4-5 feet in length. Bears are opportunists, and feed on a wide range of vegetation and animal matter. Maine’s bear population remained fairly stable through 2005, but has been increasing over the last 5 years and our current estimate is between 24,000 and 36,000 bears. This study area was established to address a longstanding need to better represent a portion of Maine's bear population in eastern Maine living under habitat conditions not well represented by the other 2 existing study areas. A rise in permit fees in 2003 (resident $5.00 to $25.00; non-residents $15.00 to $65.00) and the down turn in the US economy have likely contributed to declining resident and non-resident hunter participation in recent years. 23,000 bears are estimated to inhabit the state. Sounds:Bears make huffing, snorting, and jaw-popping sounds when nervous or distres… These marked males offer additional information regarding their movements and mortality when they are re-encountered through hunter harvest, roadkill or our own trapping efforts. We have found marked differences in reproduction, survival, and recruitment between study areas as well as within study areas over time while habitat and weather conditions change. Traditionally, beechnut production has been linked to cub production in northern Maine, but these nuts have been less reliable in recent years and are less important in southern areas. 10. Because males often damage their ears while fighting, we also tattoo their inner lip for a permanent mark. Black bears breed from May through August, with most breeding activity peaking in June and July. All of our collared female bears are visited each winter in their dens, which allows us to determine the number of cubs born. Adult males average 250-600 pounds, and measure 5-6 feet from tip of nose to the tip of their tail. A big part of managing bear nuisance problems involves modifying human behavior to lessen the number of negative bear/human interactions. Cubs enter dens with their mother the following fall. Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Phone: (207) 287-8000 How long do wild black bears live? See our living with wildlife page to learn more about how you can minimize conflicts with bears. California is thought to have the largest Black Bear population in the lower 48 states with … Cubs weigh about 12 ounces at birth, and depend on their mother for warmth and nutrition during the remainder of the winter. Fact #8 - Aside from body weight, black bears are judged by the size of their skull, with a Boone & Crockett minimum eligibility score of 21 inches and a Pope & Young score of 18 inches. Bears sto… Mailing Address: 41 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0041 Maine Black Bears Schedule 2020-21 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 … From time to time, moose are seen on the island---how many there are is unknown as far as I can determine. Although most black bears are not much larger than humans, their weight can vary tremendously with the season of the year. Their current distribution is restricted to relatively undisturbed forested regions (Pelton 1982; Pelton et al. Current Black Or African American Population in Maine 2020, 2019 with Demographics and Stats by age, gender. Our population objective is to stabilize the bear population (no significant increase or decrease in numbers) through traditional hunting and trapping activities. Closely tracking food production would help us explain year-to-year variations in cub production and survival. The band also performs at parades and high school exhibition shows during the fall season. This diet is supplemented with insects, including ants and bees (their larvae, adults, and honey), and occasional mammals and birds. The official athletics website for the University of Maine Black Bears By contrast, humans on bed rest for a similar length of time, although eating a balanced diet, have lost 54 percent of their muscle strength. Black bears are found in most forested areas from Mexico north to the edge of the tree line in Canada and Alaska. In years when fall foods are abundant, bears will feed until snow makes travel difficult, and normally enter dens in late November. Follow along with photographer Carl D. Walsh as he accompanied wildlife biologist Randy Cross and his crew of technicians in the Maine black bear monitoring program. In January and February, female bears give birth to 1-4 cubs inside the winter den. They’re the smallest of the North American bear species. Today, hunting pressure is more evenly distributed across the bears' range in Maine. Because cubs remain with their mother for 16-18 months, female bears do not breed in the summer following the birth of their cubs. In 1981, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife took over Roy's project and established a new study area near Bradford (north of Old Town) in 1982. The first part of any management program is to have clear goals and objectives. Statewide we average 9 bears/100 square miles; in our area, WMD 9, the percentage is much higher. If Maine hunters don't kill between 3,000 and 4,500 bears each year, he says, the animals' population will soar—causing many bears to die from starvation and disease. An 11-year-old boy from New Jersey shot and killed a 502-pound black bear in Bethel on Monday, one of the largest bears bagged in Maine in two years. It is "our finger on the pulse of the bear population". We have learned a lot about bears in Maine over the last 35 years, but we are still discovering new things. About 30,000 black bears (Ursus americanus) live in New England. This setting should only be used on your home or work computer. If a female is unable to store sufficient body fat prior to entering the den, the pregnancy is terminated. For the first 8 years, Maine residents purchased the majority of permits and permit numbers fluctuated between 10,000 and 11,000 (Table 1). How do biologists determine the proper number of animals that needs to be harvested? The combined effects of all these complex variables on bears are most easily measured by continually monitoring the bears' successes and failures directly in their dens. Alert: Stay up to date on Maine's COVID-19 Response, Home → Fish & Wildlife → Wildlife → Species Information → Mammals → Black Bears. They supplement with insects (including beetles, ants, and bee larvae) and the occasional fish, small mammal, bird, or carrion. For example, if we found that our radiocollared females in our study area in the northern commercial forest were particularly successful in raising their cubs in a given year, then we would assume that other females living in the northern commercial forest were also very successful. Although black bears breed in the summer, fetal development is delayed until early winter, after the female has entered a den. The annual bag limit is 2 bears per year with one taken by either hunting or trapping or both. By 2002, permit sales peaked at over 15,000. The black bear is the smallest of the three species of bears inhabiting North America (black, brown/grizzly, and polar), has the widest distribution on the continent, and is the only bear living in the eastern United States. Current Bear Status in Maine Black bears exist throughout the state with the exception of the extreme south-coastal region of the state. Each field season of data collection still reveals unexpected surprises. Currently, we have three active study areas in northern, north-central and eastern Maine. FACT: More people come to Maine to watch wildlife than to kill it.More than 200,000 people travel to Maine every year to view wildlife, spending more than $141 million to do so (1). After the spring bear hunt in Ontario was closed in 1999, non-resident hunters became more interested in hunting black bears in Maine. 5. In addition, Maine has a small human population (1.3 million) that is mostly concentrated in the southern third of the state where bear densities are lower and therefore bear-human conflicts are less numerous. Thus, the general nature of the forests of northern Maine and the bear foods they provide are very different now than they were years ago, and most likely will be different in years to come. At that time, the Spectacle Pond area was lightly hunted; whereas, bears in the Stacyville area experienced heavy hunting pressure. The author has bagged many black bears, such as this one taken in British Columbia in 2013, on the last day of his hunt. Bears in Maine utilize a wide assortment of natural foods, and the food types that are available in each study area are quite different. The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a medium-sized bear native to North America.It is the continent's smallest and most widely distributed bear species. Trapping bears with foot-snares allows us to collar new bears to replace collared bears that have died or that have been lost due to malfunctioning collars. With the increasing number of bears found in many areas of Massachusetts, it is important for residents to brush up on their bear knowledge. Males are roughly 40 inches tall at the shoulder and measure 5 to 6 feet from nose to tail; females are about 30 inches tall at the shoulder and 4 to 5 feet long. Maine has 69,050 km2 of bear habitat, consisting of mostly second-growth conifer-deciduous forest that provides an ample supply of bear foods (berries, nuts, fruits, and carrion). Bears walk flat-footed, and their broad feet leave 5-toed tracks that sometimes resemble human footprints. Overall SnackAbility 5 Population: 32,095. If late fall food is scarce, bears usually enter dens in October. This long period of parental care leads to females bears producing litters every other year. Females use areas of 6-9 miles squared in Maine. New England State Symbols | Honoring the Quirky, Unusual, and Delicious, Boston Museum of Fine Arts | New England by the Numbers, Yankee Magazine’s Ultimate New England Winter Guide, Yankee Magazine’s Ultimate New England Summer Guide, 63 Reasons Why We Love the Cape & Islands, Yankee Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to Autumn in New England, A Gingerbread Cottage on Martha’s Vineyard | House for Sale, Beef and Guinness Stew | St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Recipe. However, if they do survive and can avoid the other main cause of death — 90 percent of adult black bear mortality is due to hunting and other human activities — they can live to about 30 years old in the wild. The Maine Black Bears are the athletic teams that represent the University of Maine.A member of the America East Conference, the University of Maine sponsors teams in eight men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports.The men's and women's ice hockey teams are members of Hockey East, and the football team is an associate member of the Colonial Athletic Association Within a year, non-resident participation exceeded resident participation. Tracks of female bears rarely exceed 4.5 inches in width; males leave tracks up to 6 inches wide. A total of between 85 and 110 radiocollared female bears are monitored each year in all three study areas combined. This assessment (PDF) provides the scientific basis for management goals. Fall foods are especially important to pregnant female black bears who need sufficient fat stores for fetal development and milk production. Fatal black bear attacks on humans are so rare -- more so than any other species of bear -- that they occur on average of once per year across North America, Garshelis said. The Department also changed the focus of the project by using radiocollared females in each study area to represent bears across the state that are living in similar habitat conditions to that study area. Please report any sick or injured bears or orphaned cubs to your local Game Warden or Regional Wildlife Biologist. If they know of any easy food source they will use it, but they generally travel at night to avoid detection. Although most black bears are not much larger than humans, their weight can vary tremendously with the season of the year. Cubs stay with their mother for up to a year and a half, with as much as the first five months spent in the den. The black bear, featured above at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, is the smallest of the three species of bears inhabiting North America (black, brown/grizzly, and polar), has the widest distribution on the continent, and is the only bear living in the eastern United States. 8. 10 Things to Know About Maine Black Bears 1. Contact Information. Black bears have short, non-retractable claws that give them an excellent tree-climbing ability. They grow to 4-10 pounds by mid-late April, when the mother leads them away from the den. Although bears eat meat, their diet is primarily vegetarian, including early greening grasses, clover, and the buds of hardwood trees in the spring, fruits and berries in summer, and beechnuts, acorns, and hazelnuts in the fall. The variables that cause these differences are many and complicated and are not easy to predict, measure, or even identify. 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