The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-03-01

Sometimes just n
little ridge might have separated us.
where ] could see. possibly the next
morning after. that he had been hav'
ing fine feast in a blueberry patch.
One night we were little more so
ciable. ! had just removed the pelt
from coyote, and had intended car
rying the carcass away from camp the
next day. but left II that night few
feet from my tent During the night
my friend (who. by the way. always
reminds me OF "A good-natured boy
with fur overcoat on, came down
and saved me the trouble by carrying
II away for me. | did not hear him
arrive for believe was asleep. but
convince me In the morning And so
by having lived with him In his own
home. watched. photographed. and
studied his ways. can set down for
those who may be interested. some OF
his characteristics and habits
The range OF the black bear ex-
tends from Mexico 10 Alaska. and
they have been met with In nearly
every state and territory within the
United States; also Labrador. Province
OF Quebec Alberta and Assiniboia,
British Columbia. and the Mackenzie
River basin All black bears hibernate
during the winter months There are,
however. woodsmen in the south who
disagree with me on this point, saying
they have seen their tracks during
mild climate does not force them 10
lay up in a cave or den as Il would In
the more severe weather OF northern
attitudes. have myself seen bear
tracks during the winter months end
even in the deep snow of the northern
state But this is the exception. and
j have no doubt that these bears are
simply shifting TO another sleeping
place, having been driven out for one
reason or another. Their dens may
not have been we'll chosen. and they
possibly became leaky. or exposed 20
the winds, or some hunter might pass
that way with keen nose and an in
quisitive canine that would cause him
to roll out in hurry. II is safe 10
say all black bears den up both north
Der and January l. depending on
the altitude. weather and latitude.
They emerge in the spring usually
from the first part of April TO the mid
die of May. according 10 conditions.
the males often appearing some two
weeks before the females. II is at
this time In the spring. Just after they
have left their winter quarters. that a
bears pelt is In It's prime. During
hibernation as no food Is laid up.
they, of course. do not eat. nor do
hey drink. unless they make use OF
he snow that has fallen about them.
contrary 10 the general superstition.
hey are not in deep coma or hnZy
condition. for they are easily aroused.
L Is true that they sleep. but are
luick to detect danger and fully equal
20 the occasion OF making of and
looking up other quarters II dis
urhed
The cunning little cubs (for what
deserves the name more than a little
yoolly. back cubN are brought forth
Turing Information. usually between
february and March I, and II Is
several weeks before they are able to
cave the den with their mother From
me TO four cubs may be born
a.,
Ige; four is rare. but three Is often
net with. and n she-bear followed by
me cub does not always indicate that
he young hopeful had no brothers
'r sisters. ms they may not have sur
lived all the dangers of cubdom. At
firth they are ridiculously small. com.
Jared with the size OF the mother.
nd weigh but few ounces. have
lever weighed one. but understand
hat DR.. Hornaday, director of the
iew York Geological park. has. and
heir weight runs from TO rs ounces.
depending on the number in the lit |
or. Their eyes are closed-they have |!
10 teeth. nor have they their little |
urry jacket as yet. The reason ad. |
anced for bears being so unusually |
mall at birth, Is that the old bear
aving remained all winter without |
God. and not being able TO forage for !
ONE weeks after the young are born.
would naturally be a great drain |
o nurse cubs that weighed several |
ounds. So Nature has thus provided
n this way.
Unlike the grizzly. the black bears |
nate every year or nearly SO. Griz.
iys may he put down for about every
Their year When the cubs are from |
TX to eight weeks old. they are able
D accompany their Mother and do so
II during that summer. II Is usually
bout berry time before the little fell
'ws develop a grown-up appetite and
Commence To rustic for themselves !
lot very long after this the old benr
rives them of To shift for them.
elves. In some cases they have been
'und denning the following fall with
,eir mother, but this is unusual
Now n little bear knows exactly
hat he wants. and what Is good to
at jost AZ wen as you do. He knows
very root, every bulb. every berry
lat will make him fat and happy.
ow does he know this? cannot