Bears -- Biology, Conservation &
Education
(http://www.nativehabitats.org/bears.htm)
Updated August 2005
"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
Bears are intelligent and opportunistic animals
-- just like people! As such, they are particularly susceptible to
being conditioned 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, bird feeders 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, gear, and people 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.
And we must add....for the many of you from whom we hear that you would
love to "die by the bear" - please remember that when a person is killed
by a bear, that bear is then at high risk for being killed by people. We
believe you have a right to make that decision for yourself - but NOT for
the bears.
Remember...a fed (by humans) bear is a DEAD (by humans) bear!
And ... remember also please, that one of the most effective ways you can
help conserve bears as a species and as individuals, is by NOT under-estimating
them.
"Bears aren't harmless - they're blameless!"
-Georgia Stigall, Native Habitats
The case against feeding wildlife - Why human
provided food is NOT love to wildlife
Bear safety -- for bears only
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
Bears Are Not to Blame
http://www.nps.gov/yose/bears.htm
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
Alliance for the Wild Rockies
Email: awr@wildrockies.org
Web:
http://www.wildrockiesalliance.org/
Support for the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, HR 488 (NREPA).
"The region covered by the bill boasts unparalled expanses of untrammeled
wildlands and a full complement of native species. Biologists used the latest
science to identify and connect the most important habitats in the region
and ensure they were properly connected to allow species to spread throughout
them."
Bear Sounds
Web:
www.bear.org/Kids/Sounds.html
Be Be Aware / Wildlife Stewardship Campaign
"...The objective of both web sites is to reduce human/wildlife conflicts,
especially with bears and alligators. "
Web:
http://bebearaware.org/
Craighead Environmental Research Institute
"...to increase humankind's understanding, appreciation, and protection of
our natural environment; particularly wildlife populations and wild landscapes.
Our goal is to enable human beings to live in harmony with other
species."
www.grizzlybear.org/
Get Bear Smart Society - "Coexisting with
Bears"
Web:
www.bearsmart.com
Great Bear Foundation
PO Box 9383
Missoula MT 59807
Email: gbf@greatbear.org
Web: www.greatbear.org
"...dedicated to the conservation of wild bear populations and
their habitat worldwide"
Grizzly Bear Outreach Project
Web:
www.bearinfo.org
"Promoting an accurate understanding of grizzly bears and
their recovery in the North Cascades Ecosystem through community education
and involvement."
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: www.bearbiology.com
Natural Resources Defense Council
Web: www.nrdc.org
Spirit Bear preservation (rare white American black bear)
Cooperative effort between: Great Bear Foundation (contact info
on this page),
Valhalla Wilderness Society
Email: info@vws.org Web:
http://www.savespiritbear.org
Swan View Coalition - Kalispell, MT
Web: www.swanview.org
"People Helping People Help the Earth"; protection for Swan ecosystem including
Grizzly conservation & much more...
Tahoe Council for Wild Bears
Web:
www.tahoewildbears.org/
"...dedicated to keeping bears alive and wild"
Ursus International
"...dedicated to providing education and information about the conservation
needs of bears."
Website: www.ursusinternational.org
http://www.ursusinternational.org
Vital Ground Foundation
Email: bart@vitalground.org
Web: www.vitalground.org or
www.bartthebear.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."
Native Habitats, 17287 Skyline Blvd #102, Woodside,
CA 94062-3780, U.S.A.
email:
info@nativehabitats.org
web:
www.NativeHabitats.org
(email & web addresses not case-sensitive)