For the most part, black bears have no interest in people. But people are very much interested in bears.
There was a strong public reaction to the fate of a bear found wandering the Rochester Institute of Technology campus in Henrietta in 2010. The animal made headlines with its city trek and again, when it was killed by a car in Steuben County. Another bear drew equal attention when it died after falling out of a tree in a Rochester neighborhood.
Despite such unfortunate incidents, experts say, the growth of the bear population in recent decades is strong in the Finger Lakes region — a place scientists say is a hospitable home for the creatures.
“We are seeing triplets,” said John Van Niel, professor of environmental conservation at Finger Lakes Community College.
The birth of triplet cubs by mama bears “means we have great habitat for them,” Van Niel said, adding conditions are right to sustain black bears here into the future.
While experts such as Van Niel and those with the state Department of Environmental Conservation warn not to attract bears by leaving out garbage, bird food and such, seeing the magnificent mammals is not only becoming more common, but a treasured experience by most accounts.
“I am glad to have them. It adds a sense of adventure. They belong here,” said Steve Richards, who regularly sees black bears near his home on County Road 12 in Naples.
The ‘Holy Grail’
Like many people, Alyssa Johnson, a student of environmental studies and natural resources at FLCC, has some romantic notions about bears.
Memories of seeing the impressive creatures during family vacations as a kid in the Adirondack Mountains is something she said she won’t forget.
“Black bears are like the Holy Grail,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s relationship with bears these days is scientific.
She is one of the students benefiting from a National Science Foundation grant awarded the college. It has enabled Van Niel to receive valuable training on field-research methods and pass that expertise along to students. The money also allowed Van Niel to purchase supplies and equipment for research projects.
“Students in the black bear management class participate fully in the research process,” said Van Niel, who led students on a recent field study in the town of Italy, along Basset Road, as part of a series of exploratory and data-gathering missions.
“We assist the (state DEC) in gathering data for two long-term projects,” he said, which involve den characteristics and cub-birth dates.
For the most part, black bears have no interest in people. But people are very much interested in bears.
There was a strong public reaction to the fate of a bear found wandering the Rochester Institute of Technology campus in Henrietta in 2010. The animal made headlines with its city trek and again, when it was killed by a car in Steuben County. Another bear drew equal attention when it died after falling out of a tree in a Rochester neighborhood.
Despite such unfortunate incidents, experts say, the growth of the bear population in recent decades is strong in the Finger Lakes region — a place scientists say is a hospitable home for the creatures.
“We are seeing triplets,” said John Van Niel, professor of environmental conservation at Finger Lakes Community College.
The birth of triplet cubs by mama bears “means we have great habitat for them,” Van Niel said, adding conditions are right to sustain black bears here into the future.
While experts such as Van Niel and those with the state Department of Environmental Conservation warn not to attract bears by leaving out garbage, bird food and such, seeing the magnificent mammals is not only becoming more common, but a treasured experience by most accounts.
“I am glad to have them. It adds a sense of adventure. They belong here,” said Steve Richards, who regularly sees black bears near his home on County Road 12 in Naples.
The ‘Holy Grail’
Like many people, Alyssa Johnson, a student of environmental studies and natural resources at FLCC, has some romantic notions about bears.
Memories of seeing the impressive creatures during family vacations as a kid in the Adirondack Mountains is something she said she won’t forget.
“Black bears are like the Holy Grail,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s relationship with bears these days is scientific.
She is one of the students benefiting from a National Science Foundation grant awarded the college. It has enabled Van Niel to receive valuable training on field-research methods and pass that expertise along to students. The money also allowed Van Niel to purchase supplies and equipment for research projects.
“Students in the black bear management class participate fully in the research process,” said Van Niel, who led students on a recent field study in the town of Italy, along Basset Road, as part of a series of exploratory and data-gathering missions.
“We assist the (state DEC) in gathering data for two long-term projects,” he said, which involve den characteristics and cub-birth dates.
Van Niel said he and the students carry out smaller, non-invasive research as well, such as surveying FLCC students’ knowledge and attitude concerning bears and studying bear trails.
“Bears intrigue me,” said Johnson. “Bears are a success story.”
In the field
The class participated in a field study on April 13 in Italy, where they discovered bear scratches and bites on telephone poles.
Student Andrew Cusson carried a clipboard to record measurements taken by student Matt Newton. Other students did additional record-keeping and observation of the trail for evidence of bears.
Bears bite and scratch telephone poles for a number of reasons, which include marking to protect a food source or attract a mate.
Van Niel brought along a skull of a 350-pound black bear, killed on a roadway in Steuben County, to demonstrate how the bear would bite the pole.
Before going out in the field, Van Niel did presentations on bear bites he found in other areas of New York, Massachusetts and Wyoming.
Students read popular literature and technical publications, compiled what they learned, did independent research and designed a protocol for gathering data in the field. Students will be able to share their findings at a regional conference this fall, Van Niel said.
“I like the idea that the students participate in both long- and short-term projects and that they see research that involves the actual handling of bears as well as research that is completely noninvasive.”
