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, a small re-
sort near Akron. Ohio. Whom the un-
dertaking was first established a col
lection of hardy animals was started
in bear pit. The first bears secured
were q pair Of cubs obtained In 1888
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 SO cubs were
raised during the n 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 similar
Dit. 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 hose. The pit is provided
with tank in order that the inmates
may bathe. The brick-lined entrance
passage. through which access to the
pic is gained, can be made into 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
bears are about TO retire for the win
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 Occa-
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.
1t is stated by w. r. Lodge, man
ager of Silver Lake Park, that the
hears 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 1t, and it is only
after three OF four DAYS or perhaps q
week THAI they eat with appetite. The
young are born usually in January
while the animals are in Information
The weight of the newborn cuos
range from Q to ~ ounces. They
are plump little fellows. with short
velvety 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 III
bears Is similar to that which the,
get in their wild state, hotel picnic
tables anording a large amount o
miscellaneous scraps, to Which il
added an abundance Of green fOo'
from nearby farms This begins II
the spring with .dandelion tops, fol
lowed bv clover, green corn, water
melons, Strawberries and other fruit
In the fall acorns are gathered foI
them. and they have dried sweet corr
and apples. Occasionally a too ven
turesome hen or pigeon is caught an'
eaten, but the bears get no othei
meat except little that has beer
cooked The surplus bears have beer
disposed of. from time to time from
S to 10 months old to animal dealers
at from SIS to $50 each, the highes
price received for grown bear he
ing SIS.