Evening journal., 1912-10-15
BREEDING
OF BEARS In
TERESTINC WORK

WASHINGTON, oct. 15.-The Ma
tional Geological Park issues the fol-
ing paper ON the breeding of bears;
The bears under observation are
kept at Silver Lake Park, small re-
sort near Akron. Ohio. When the un-
dertaking was first established a col
lection of hardy animals was started
in a bear pit. The first bears secured
were a pair Of cubs obtained in 1883
from two different localities near
Lake Superior This pair bred regu-
larly for is years and raised in all
about "a cubs. Including all the
breeding bears, 6S or 90 cubs we're
raised during the 21 years of obser-
vation.
The original pit is circular in form
and built of brick. 20 feet across and
II feet deep. Il is connected by an
underground passage with a similar
pit, to which the bears can be
transferred when desirable. These pits
are located in the dry hillside, which
slopes toward the east The floor is
OF terra-cotta blocks set in cement, so
that the place can be readily washed
out with a hose. The pit is provided
Will a tdih III oIQtl ludl iit lnuldttc
may bathe. The briok-lined entrance
passage. through which access to the
pit ia gained, can be made into a COM
partment for separating the bears
when necessary. Important features
of the bears quarters are the retiring
dens, which provide suitable places
for Information.
In the fall of the year when the
h.
ter they become very fat. AS cold
weather approaches large quantities
of leaves are thrown into the pit and
are carried by the bears into their
dens. Much of the time is spent
there. but they. come out for an 0cca-
sional meal until the advent Of settled
cold weather, about the middle of De
cember, when they finally retreat to
their dens for the winter Generally
they come out from Information early
in March, having remained in seclu-
sion for about three months
It is stated by W. r. Lodge, man
ager of Silver Lake Park, that the
bears have always come out. after
alternating for two or three months,
in practically as good condition as
when they went in, none of them
showing thinness, despite the fact
that they have eaten nothing during
that time. Nor do they appear to be
particularly hungry, for at the first
meal they take but little food, touch
ing with the tongue what is offered
TO them before eating It, and it is only
after three or four days or perhaps a
week thai they eat with appetite. The
young are born usually in January
while the animals are in hibernation.
The weight OF the newborn cuos
range from Q to 12 ounces. They
are plump little fellows. with short
velpety hair of grayish-brown color.
Fortunately, not one of the cubs has
been lost except through accident, and
the death of one bear 20 months old,
was the only loss by diease
The food which is supplied to the
bears is similar to that which they
get in their wild state. hotel picnic
tables. affording large amount OF
miscellaneous scraps, to which is
added an abundance Of green food
from nearby farms. This begins in
the spring with dandelion tops, fol-
lowed by clover. green corn, water
melons. Strawberries and other fruit
In the fall acorns are gathered FOR
them, aud they have dried sweet corn
and apples. Occasionally a too ven
turesome hen or pigeon is caught and
eaten, but the bears get no other
meat except a little that has been
cooked. The surplus bears have been
disposed Of. from time to time. from
TO 10 months old. to animal dealers
at from SOS to $50 each, the highest
price received for a grown bear he
ing SIS.