Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-02-08
Some Queer Thing, About the Bear.

A majority of the people who have
found time to give some thought 10
the great American black bear nave
got the idea into their heads somehow
and naturally, perhap>-that when
he comes out Of his hole in the spring.
after his long winter sleep, he is lean
and scraggy and Of generally used
up appearance. Such people will
doubtless be surprised to learn. on
the best Of backwoods authority, that
just the contrary is the fact.
The bear, when he seeks his winter
quarters, is about the fattest thing on
four legs He doesn't swell up with
fat like pig, but seems to 90 fat all
over. When he starts in TO accumu-
late this fat the bear can eat bushel
Of chestnuts q, meal without giving
any sign that he could not eat another
bushel if any one assisted. AS he gets
fat his stomach gets smaller and
smaller, until, when he is in proper
| condition for wintering over, its ca
pacity is insufficient for a handful OF
food. Every part OF the bear has
made room for fat, and this fat sticks
right to Bruin all winter and keeps
him warm.
If you are after bear for his grease
YOU want to kill him either just before
he goes into lis hole in the fall or I'M
mediately after he comes out OF 1t In
the spring. In ten days after the bear
wakes UP and crawls out after his win
ter's nap he will be almost as lean as a
razor back hog, although he has been
eating everything eatabe he could get
his paws on since he woke up-and
that is good deal
He keeps lean until he begins to get
ready for winter again, and then rolls
up his fat rs before. 1t seems odd that
bear should keep fat for months
without eating anything and lose his
flesh as soon as he begins to take in
victuals, but that is the way the bear
is made, aud don't see how we are
going to help it.
For this habit of the bear biting
particular trees while he is travelling
even backwoods authority has no sat
isfactory theory. The trees may be
two rods, or they may be half mile
or more away from his line OF travel,
but no bear passing that way ever falls
to sheer off to them AID bite piece
out OF them. unless he may be too
closely pressed by dogs and the dogs
have got to be very close II the bear
cannot take time TO indulge in his
bite from these trees.
Any experienced North Pennsyl
vania woodsman Cal take you to trees
of this kind that are almost bitten in
two by bears that have stopped and
chewcd them in accordance with this
peculiar ursine Gus ON. The bear has
some reason or purpose in picking out
trees TO be visited and bitten when
ever he passes that way, but what II
may be no one has as yet had the
coura ge TO say that he knows.
When the black bear Is serious he is
very serious. Nc living thing has
stronger affection for its young than
mother bear has, and no animal VIII
defend them so desperately against
harm. But she is a strict diciplln-
arian, and does not hesitate q second
in resorting to the most extreme oil
heroic measures in dealing with her
Young when it seems to her that the
circumstances require il.
The most striking illustration oil
this trait of bear character that l ever
knew was given once on the Sinnema'
honing Creek, in Potter county, Pa
Larry Ll man, the famous woodsman
aud two other men were standing on
tho bank OF the creek when . big she
bear, accompanied by two small cubs
came down of the hills on the same
side of the stream, a short distance
below where the men were standing.
The old bear stopped for moment
aud gazed at the men. Then she
plunged into the creek. The cubs fol
lowed her and SWAN boldly toward
the opposite side with her. One o.
the cubs was evidently stronger thar
the other, aud swan we'll up with Its
mother, keeping almost head to heac
with her. The other cub fell little
behind, but swan bravely on.
The old bear climbed out OF the
water when she reached the shore aDo
clambered up the bank, which wa
quite high, and obstructed somewhat
by the projecting roots of trees. The
stronger of the cubs followed hel
without difficulty, aud trotted alons
in pace with its mothers sweepins
strides. But the other little beal
could not clear the Instructions on the
bank, and, finding that its mother anC
brother or sister, whichever il nigh
have been, were going right on with
out noticing its absence, it began Il
cry piteously.
The old bear and the strong cub ha(
gone a couple of rods from the creek
When the mother heard the cries o
the faltering cub she stopped ant