The Holbrook news., 1912-10-11

study of the breeding of bears
N are set forth in a statement
from the National Geological
Park It was in 1904 that a.
B. Baker, assistant superintendent of
the park, published an account Of the
breeding of the American black bear
at Silver Lake Park. Ohio. This pa
per, which appeared in the Smithson-
ian Miscellaneous Collections, covered
a period Of twelve years study. The
present pamphlet forms Smithsonian
Publication No. 20S6.
The bears under observation are
kept at Silver Lake Park, small re-
sort near Akron, o. When the under
taking was first established a collec-
ton Of hardy animals was started in
bear pit. The first bears put there
were a pair Of cubs, obtained in 1888,
from two different localities near Lake
Superior. The pair bred regularly for
eighteen years, and raised in all about
thirty-four cubs. Including all the
breeding bears, sixty-eight or sixty
nine cubs were raised during the
twenty-one years Of observation.
The original pit is circular in form,
and built of brick, twenty feet across
and twelve feet deep. 1t 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 towards the east. The
floor is Of terra-cotta blocks set in ce-
ment, so that the place can be read
fly washed out with a hose. The pit
is provided with a tank, in order that
the inmates may battle.
Important features of the bears
quarters are the retiring dens, which
provide suitable places for hiberna-
ton. There are two of these connect
ed with each pit, as we'll as one near
the entrance passage. Each den is
five feet by six feet in width, and four
feet in height, and is lined with brick
throughout. They are excavated back
into the earth several feet from the
pit, and extend eight or ten feet be-
low the surface of the ground. Each
is ventilated by a small fue extending
to the surface above the dens.
Become Fat In Fall.
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 their 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
bears have always come out, after hi |
bernating for two or three months, in
practically as good condition as when |
they went in, none of them showing |
thinness, in spite of having eaten moth
ing during that time. Nor do they ap- |
pear to be particularly hungry, for at |
the first meal they take but little food, |
touching with the tongue what is Of
fered to them before eating it. 1t is i
only after three or four days, or per-
haps a week, that they eat with appe-
tite. The young are born usually in
January, while the animals are in hi
bernation. The weight Of the new
born cubs rangs between nine and
twelve ounces. They are plump little
fellows with short velvety hair of
grayish-brown color Fortunately,
none of the cubs have been lost ex-
cept through accident, and the death
Of one bear, twenty months old, was
the only loss by disease.
The food which is supplied to the
bears is similar to that which they get
In their wild state, hotel picnic tables
affording a large amount of miscel-
laneous scraps, to which is added an
abundance of green food from nearby
farms. This begins in the spring, with
dandelion tops, followed by clover,
green corn, watermelons strawber-
ries, and other fruit. In the fall acorns
are gathered for them, and they have
dried sweet corn and apples. Occasion
ally a too venturesome hen or pigeon
Is caught and eaten, but the bears get
40 other meat except little that has
been cooked. The surplus bears have
been disposed of from time to time,
rem eight to ten months old, to ami
nal dealers. at from S25 to sac aanh-