Bear Season
HoneyBunny Bear, photos courtesy of Tori Reibel.
As the leaves start to fall and the breeze takes on a bit more of a chill, this time of year reminds me of a few things. Time with family, comfort food, favorite holiday movies, and that this is the time of year when we see some of our Appalachian wildlife start to prepare for winter. This means they are out looking for food, and a den to hibernate the winter away in. This time of year also means more chances where people are more likely to encounter wildlife. It is the time of year in Appalachia that we will start to see an increase in black bear sightings and other wildlife as they start to get ready for the winter season, and I am always reminded of how significant the black bear is to Appalachian culture at this time of year.
In Cherokee culture, there is a story that tells how the bear came to be. The story is beautiful and shows the deep respect that the Cherokee have always had for yanu or bears. Through the years that respect has been passed down generations and is still strong in many parts of Appalachia. For many who still live in the mountains, the black bear is viewed as a much loved and respected animal, especially since it is a close neighbor for many of us.
Tori Reibel, the Education and Communications Coordinator for Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) in Townsend, Tennessee, has worked to rescue black bear cubs with ABR since 2019 where she started right before the COVID-19 pandemic. Reibel has a background in natural resource management and wildlife work. She has always found herself to be drawn to non-profit work. The mission of ABR is to care for injured and orphaned bear cubs while rehabilitating them to be released back in the wild while also working to educate the public on co-existing with bears.
“Black bears are intriguing and intelligent. Some biologists believe them intelligent enough to be ranked with the higher order primates. I think that this intelligence and their other similarities to man have instilled this sense of kinship between the two. Bears represent strength and resilience. They have incredible memories and are curious by nature. They can walk bipedal and even engage in play. I think bears are a strong symbol in Appalachian culture because we see much of ourselves in them,” said Reibel.
Little Trouble.
ABR is not far from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, a park that frequently posts warnings and guides to visitors about black bears. Some of these postings and signs share details on how black bears are trying to get ready for hibernation. There are those visitors who are respectful of wildlife and keep their distance when they encounter a bear, but then there are others who are not as respectful.
“Too many times you’ll see one of those viral videos of a tourist mob chasing after a bear or getting much too close. It’s recommended to stay a minimum of 100 yards away from larger wildlife species, like black bears, and illegal to be within 50 yards of one knowingly,” said Reibel. Just recently, a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway had to be shut down due to documented reports of people trying to hold a bear cub and feeding the bears.
According to the National Park Service, a black bear diet mostly consists of berries and nuts, and they will eat insects and animal carcasses when those are available. However, many people and visitors to parks continue to think that it is safe to feed the bears. Feeding wildlife, especially black bears, is death sentence for them because they start to think of humans as a food source, and this can lead to dangerous situations that never turn out well.
There is also the fact that bears will get into trash if they are able to, and that can lead to issues as well. “Unsecured human garbage, bird feeders, and grills are common bear attractants. Bears have an exceptionally good sense of smell. This paired with their intelligence, kind of creates a perfect storm. Once they find easily accessible food in urbanized areas, it’s very unlikely they will leave,” said Reibel when asked for advice for those who have frequent black bear activity in their neighborhoods or communities.
Black bears go into hibernation in the winter months with cubs being born in early January to mid-February. According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, adult bears have no natural predators, except for humans, and first year cubs have about a 20% morality rate from several factors out in the wild. Predators, such as foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and other bears can harm or kill black bear cubs. Other factors include abandonment from their mothers or displacement.
The black bear in Appalachia is an animal that holds a special place in many people’s hearts. No matter what part of Appalachia someone is from, they never forget the first time they have an encounter with a black bear, and it is crucial that this species continues to do well in the wild.
“Bears are considered an umbrella species, which means that the effects they are experiencing trickle down through the rest of the ecosystem. So, conserving the black bear, indirectly conserves the rest of the Appalachia landscape that we all love. Their presence correlates to greater health and diversity of other plant and wildlife species. For example, they are great seed dispersers and aid in returning nutrients back to the soil through scavenging and grubbing,” said Reibel.
When asked what people throughout Appalachia can do to help black bears thrive, Reibel said, “Continue to learn and educate yourselves about these marvelous animals. They are a favorite of many, and for good reason. People care the most about the things they understand, and if we understand the black bear we will continue to protect it. Also, store your trash. It cannot be emphasized enough that the best place for a wild black bear is out in the wild, and anything that contradicts their natural, wild behaviors can have dire consequences for people and bears alike.”