DON'T FEED THE BEARS!

This past weekend, I spent some time in the Blackwater Area. (I know imagine that). I like spending time there getting to know the people and just enjoying as much of the area as I can. I took my kids up with me this time, all three of them. I am considering a move to the area and they wanted to check it out. My "city" kids seem to enjoy the country much more than I expected, the lack of cable television didn't even kill them. And the two oldest were thrilled when they looked out the window early on Saturday morning to find a large doe with twin fawns. Absolutely a treat for them. Now we spent some time looking at a couple of properties in town to check out what was available and we were told that there was a black bear cub that has been coming down to the new bridge being built in Davis. I have to admit I was a little shocked because bear cubs really shouldn't be quite ready to leave mom and this little guy seems to travel alone. I asked for more info, thinking that the bear had found a particularly rich berry patch or some such thing and thinking that we might stake it out later and see if we could see him. Then the bomb was dropped on me. Apparently this little guy is being fed regularly by the tourists and the road workers. A part of me understands why they would be drawn to share with an incredibly cute black bear cub, but the rest of me is completely infuriated. Infuriated because they don't have any idea what they are doing to this animal or to the people that live in this town year-round. See eventually they all go home or move onto another job and this little bear has now become a full grown 3-400 pound animal that does not know how to forage for itself in the wild. I know this may come as a shock but bears really don't normally eat donuts, or hamburgers, or fries or whatever snack you might have handy in your car.

Now just flash forward a bit. The road crew is gone and the tourists are more afraid than intrigued by this large animal. No one is tossing him sweet little treats because he is cute and alone. Do you know where he eats now? He wanders into town and raids garbage and gardens and if hungry enough will make his way into cars and homes. The people in town begin to feel threatened and have no real choice but to report this 400 pound marauder. He gets labeled a nuisance and rounded up by the DNR, who are just doing their job on this one. He is sedated and moved to a new location only no one knows if he will really stay there and often he will make his way back home or into another town and resume the bad habits humans have taught him. So the DNR is called again and he is moved again. Eventually his bad habits overtake all else and it is deemed that he must be put down. Yes that is right the bear is slaughtered, for lack or want of a better word.

Please I implore you, do not feed wild animals, especially the young. If you think that an animal has been orphaned or abandoned, particularly in the case of an animal such as a black bear, contact your local DNR office, they will know what to do. As is often the case, human interference leads to long term effects for wild animals. The deer in the state park are already not afraid of humans at all and will come right up to you.

If you are visiting the Blackwater Area, please have some respect for the people and animals that reside there and DON'T FEED THE BEARS!