Berries & Bears - Foraging

Torey

We're right at the height of berry season in my area. Raspberries didn't do well this year because of the heat. There were a lot of saskatoons, even if some were shrivelled in the heat. They are just finishing. Oregon Grapes are ripe now as are the blueberries and huckleberries. The blueberries are small this year and I haven't been to the huckleberry patch yet. Hawthorns will be the next ones ready; they are just starting to colour up. The rose hips are getting big, although it will be awhile before they are ready.

We're right at the height of bear season, too. I just spooked a very large one that was having lunch in my apple tree. I hadn't picked the apples cause they aren't ripe yet. But I guess I'll have to pick them under ripe and make jelly. We have had multiple sightings of multiple different bears in my immediate neighbourhood over the past couple of weeks. Two months ago, we spotted a grizzly; a pretty big one, too. We are just outside of what is considered grizzly range but very occasionally one is spotted.

Bears (and other creatures) are also being driven out of their normal ranges right now by wildfires. They will be looking for food in unfamiliar areas and may venture into populated areas.

So be careful when you are out there foraging. Make lots of noise. Carry an air horn, bear banger or bear spray. If you are alone, have a weapon at hand.

VermontCathy

I don't worry about black bears. They are hunted, and generally not aggressive toward people unless you appear to be trying to take their food or get between a female and her cubs. I recall an incident in a neighboring state a few years ago when a black bear wandered into someone's kitchen in search of food. When she came in and found the bear there, it ran away out the door, and unfortunately she was injured by the bear during its escape. But these happenings are very rare.

The black bear population here in Vermont has risen well above the target range of the wildlife management people. It is high enough that they've started giving out free bear hunting permits to hunters who buy a license for some other type of game.

Grizzlies are a whole different story, and I am glad that I do not live in grizzly country.

Torey

There are at least two sows with cubs (one has two and one has three) that have been spotted along my road in a space of about 4 miles. And at least two different boars (different size and colour). Its a bit unusual to have that many at the same time. There is an open hunting season on them in the fall and spring in BC but they aren't often hunted as not everyone is a fan of bear meat. You don't need a license or tag if you shoot one in self defence.

There has been a moratorium on grizzly hunting in BC for the past 4 years. The population was considered to small to be sustainable if hunting was allowed to continue. Not the same for black bears as their population has increased since settlers first arrived here about 170 years ago. We keep making more bear habitat. Logged areas have berry crops as part of the pioneer species that following logging (or a burn). Alfalfa and other feed crops are popular with bears, too. Along with all the fruit orchards and vineyards that we have created, not to mention garbage dumps.

None of the bears in my area have shown any aggression. Except with my apple trees. Some of the branches are broken.

VermontCathy

@torey It's no surprise that we are seeing a rise in the population of species that do well in the kind of habitats that humans either like or create as a side effect of our civilization.

That includes species as different as cowbirds, deer, and black bears.

On the other hand, species that need undisturbed old growth forest or large swaths of open plains are going to struggle, whether they are spotted owls, noise, grizzlies, or wolves.

Species like deer that prefer to live where forest edges meet open lawns or fields do so well in suburbia they quickly overpopulate.

A few years ago a yearling moose wandered into the state capital downtown and wound up with its picture in the local paper. It was probably struggling to find enough food out in the forest. Shades of "Northern Exposure" (!)

LaurieLovesLearning

We were told that bear sightings have been up in certain areas of my province. The honey run has been said to be excellent this year...in this year of drought and bears are checking up on those supers (and then being "removed" if a hunter can be called in). They are not going to find many apples as there are few this year. Saskatoons too...they were done long ago anyway. Our chokecherries are starting to get powdery. I have not checked hawthorn. But, these are all bear food.

I think they need to eat rabbits and let us forage. Those are on the rise again after many years.

Torey

Bears should be in the rivers right now for the salmon runs. Not in my apple trees! Carbs won't give them the fat they need to make it through hibernation. They are as lazy as humans, taking the easiest sugar based food instead of the nutrients offered up by the harder to get proteins. And now teaching their babies bad habits.

We have been in a low rabbit cycle for a couple of years. For several years in a row you couldn't go outside without seeing at least one in the yard.

LaurieLovesLearning

@torey Did the heat dome and low tides affect the salmon and could that be part of the issue?

Torey

@LaurieLovesLearning Part of the issue with the Fraser River salmon runs right now is the landslide that caused a blockage further south. Its made it very difficult for the fish to get up river. The Fraser has so many tributaries beyond the slide that we may lose some runs alltogether. They have been working on putting in fish ladders but it is slow going as with most government projects. I haven't heard what effect the heat has had on the salmon. Hopefully, they were still far enough out to sea. I know it killed a lot of shellfish.

I think part of the number of bears we have is that they are being pushed out of the fire areas just to the south and east of us.

LaurieLovesLearning

@torey The news of the salmon runs is very sad. 😔 I hope that a fishery nursery might be able to reestablish some if not all of those runs in the coming years. What a hit they will take until that has been rectified.

Torey

Well, good news about some of the salmon. A huge run has made it through going up one of the tributaries. Possibly because it is later in the year and the water is lower, making it easier to get passed the slide.

Bad news about the hawthorns. The bears beat me to all of the bushes I had staked out as mine. And what a mess they made. Wasted as many as they ate! I am going to have to check out other patches further afield.

There are just so many bears in the area this year.