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“Every hour they're awake, bears look at everything — trees, grubs, logs, cars, coolers, trash — with one question: ‘Can I eat it?'” Ranger Brian Barton set the stage for understanding bear thinking at the Sierra State Park Foundation's Bear Brunch, held at Sugar Pine Point State Park. On the heels of a successful stargazing party, SSPF's follow-up event drew visitors, campers and local residents to learn more about other local residents — black bears — and how state parks keeps visitors safe as we share the bears' Tahoe basin home.
“We saw a bear on our way in here, will he come this way?” arriving visitors asked excitedly. As if he thought “Bear Brunch” was meant for him, a lone bear was seen meandering nearby as the brunch got underway. Although he didn't make his way down to share the bearclaws, bear cookies and drinks (coffee donated by PDQ market, bear cookies donated by Tahoe House, thermos loaned by Meeks Bay Fire: a big thank you to them all), those who saw him felt the lecture had come to life.
Lake Sector Supervising Ranger Brian Barton, a bear biologist by training, noted bears are omnivores, eating just about anything, and they're always hungry. Everyone agreed people make problems for bears when they don't stow food properly because, as Barton pointed out, bears are efficient: “a bear can spend eight hours foraging for grubs and berries, or break into one cooler and get the same number of calories from the food there.”
Many people thought nighttime was when bears were most likely to be in campgrounds. Not the case, according to Barton. He said around 11 a.m. the bears are saying, “Dude! Let's hit the campgrounds, everyone's gone!” because campers are often out hiking and swimming at that time.
Barton described State Parks' “bear education program,” designed to make bears in campgrounds think people are unpleasant and it's best to avoid them. Barton noted the only bears they try to educate are those who come into campgrounds after people's food.
The bear hide Ranger Barton brought (from a bear killed by an automobile) fascinated young and old alike. It's not every day you can munch a bearclaw while staring into the face of a black bear!
This Sierra State Parks Foundation event was also tied to the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) statewide efforts to Save Our State Parks. Attendees received “Save Our State Parks” buttons, and they autographed green hearts that will go on a banner that CSPF will display with others from around the state.
“We saw a bear on our way in here, will he come this way?” arriving visitors asked excitedly. As if he thought “Bear Brunch” was meant for him, a lone bear was seen meandering nearby as the brunch got underway. Although he didn't make his way down to share the bearclaws, bear cookies and drinks (coffee donated by PDQ market, bear cookies donated by Tahoe House, thermos loaned by Meeks Bay Fire: a big thank you to them all), those who saw him felt the lecture had come to life.
Lake Sector Supervising Ranger Brian Barton, a bear biologist by training, noted bears are omnivores, eating just about anything, and they're always hungry. Everyone agreed people make problems for bears when they don't stow food properly because, as Barton pointed out, bears are efficient: “a bear can spend eight hours foraging for grubs and berries, or break into one cooler and get the same number of calories from the food there.”
Many people thought nighttime was when bears were most likely to be in campgrounds. Not the case, according to Barton. He said around 11 a.m. the bears are saying, “Dude! Let's hit the campgrounds, everyone's gone!” because campers are often out hiking and swimming at that time.
Barton described State Parks' “bear education program,” designed to make bears in campgrounds think people are unpleasant and it's best to avoid them. Barton noted the only bears they try to educate are those who come into campgrounds after people's food.
The bear hide Ranger Barton brought (from a bear killed by an automobile) fascinated young and old alike. It's not every day you can munch a bearclaw while staring into the face of a black bear!
This Sierra State Parks Foundation event was also tied to the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) statewide efforts to Save Our State Parks. Attendees received “Save Our State Parks” buttons, and they autographed green hearts that will go on a banner that CSPF will display with others from around the state.
