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#NationalBlackBearDay National Black Bear Day

It’s  a ‘beary’ good day to celebrate National Black Bear Day on June 3 this  year, which has been observed each year on the first Saturday in June for the sole pur-‘paws’ of teaching people about black bears and  dispelling the myths surrounding them. This was the last pun, we  promise. Just bear with us.

History of National Black Bear Day

Bears  inhabited practically every continent when humans first made their way  to North America. The grizzlies actually thrived in all western states,  from Mexico to the tip of Alaska. The smaller black bear, a relative to  the grizzly, was living in places as far-ranging as the Atlantic and the  Pacific in North America, and Mexico to the northern edge of the  continent. Since the black bear was a valuable source of thick hides for  clothing and shelter, rich meat, and sweet fat for the Native  Americans, we can see why they valued it and passed on the stories of  these bears through their oral folktales.

The European settlers  brought with them their fear of the wild and the animals that lived in  it. These bears posed a threat to life, livestock, and crops and so they  began killing them. Their fear made its way into popular children’s  books at the time, which showed bears attacking hunters alongside other  predators preying on their cattle. As is common with a human presence,  forest land was wiped out to make space for open farmland, and the bears  began losing their homes. The more the population expanded, the more  black bears were killed for safety, food, or other purposes. Because  they reproduced much slower than other mammals, the black bear  population began to dwindle.

However, restoration programs and  recovery of forest land saw their numbers go up again, with some states  like New Jersey and Maryland reporting a five-fold increase. While these  bears have not been able to reclaim their entire territory across North  America, there is still a good number of black bears in the wild. In  fact, they are listed as the least endangered species by the  International Union for Conservation of Nature due to their large  population. While the bear population is expanding, so is the human  population, to the extent that the two are coexisting in many areas.

The  North Carolina Black Bear Festival founded National Black Bear Day to  celebrate America’s black bear while trying to raise awareness about  this animal and dispel all the myths and fear surrounding it.

National Black Bear Day timeline

15,000 Years Ago The Humans Arrive

Humans enter North America for the first time — bears are all over the continent at this time.

1492 European Colonization Begins in America

While Norse colonies had already been established in North America, systematic European colonization begins in this year.

1900s Black Bear Numbers are Dwindling

The  number of black bears in the wild is reduced to the point of extinction  due to an explosion of human populations and habitat loss across  America.

Mid-1900s Hunting is Regulated

People  begin to recognize the importance of black bears — hunting seasons  become heavily controlled or closed altogether and bear restoration  programs begin in some states.

1980s–21st Century Black Bear Numbers Recover Rapidly

The  black bear population increases 2% a year all over the continent due to  reforestation, black bear reintroduction programs, and regulations on  hunting black bears.

2002 Residents Like Black Bears

A mail survey done in New York State reveals a majority of residents enjoy having black bears in their state.

2018 Our Day is Here

National Black Bear Day is officially ordained as a celebration to be observed annually.

How To Celebrate National Black Bear Day

Learn more about the American black bear

Take a trip to see black bears

Learn about black bear attacks

National  Black Bear Day is your chance to learn more about these magnificent  animals and how you can coexist with them respectfully. Humans have a  moral responsibility towards the conservation of nature and the animals  that need it to survive. Learning more about this day, and the black  bear, helps us realize what majestic creatures they are and how we only  need to make a few minor adjustments to exist together.

Live  near a national park or animal preserve that has a black bear  population? Make a field trip out of it and see these animals up close  and personal — just not too close. If you can’t physically visit these  animals, there are plenty of global reserves and many in America that  provide animal cams to view these animals online at any time. Take a  minute to observe these cuddly creatures in their natural habitat.

Read  up on what to do (and what not to do) in case of a black bear attack.  For example, avoid feeding wild bears, don’t run or climb up trees if  they chase you, and know that they usually always avoid humans unless  they have no choice at all. They aren’t interested in eating humans —  their food is 95% plant-based, although they do eat small animals like  frogs and fish.

Fun Facts About National Black Bear Day

Bears, bears, everywhere!

Black bears are not always black

They are ‘super hibernators’

They can climb trees

North Carolina has the largest black bears

The black bear can be found in 41 of the 50 U.S. states, at an estimated number of 800,000.

They  come in a range of colors, sometimes in the same litter, such as shades  of cinnamon, blue/black, blue/grey, and, in rare instances, white.

In  northern states, they can hibernate for up to eight months in the  spring season but, in the southern regions, they hibernate for a shorter  duration or not at all depending on food availability.

These super dexterous animals are sometimes more comfortable on a tree than on the ground.

According  to black bear biologist Colleen Olfenbuttel, North Carolina’s coastal  regions have the largest black bears on the planet, probably because  they have access to high protein crops and enjoy mild winters.

Why We Love National Black Bear Day

We learn about nature’s gifts

It dispels myths about black bears

Avoid accidents

A  day dedicated to the black bear is an amazing way to build awareness  about this animal, its history, and how our actions impact it. The more  we learn, the more we can help to conserve this gift from nature so  future generations can enjoy it too.

If  you see a black bear today, you shouldn’t scream and run for your life  (they can outrun you easily), nor should you be ‘aww-ing’ and walking  towards it. National Black Bear Day helps us understand the animals we  share our nation with, and reduces our chances of causing damage to  ourselves and the bears.

As  you’ve read this article, you have probably learned more than you knew  yesterday. That makes you more informed about bears than you previously  were and, hopefully, wiser in terms of the ways in which to act around  them. While this day works towards dispelling the scary myths about  these animals, it also helps us avoid bear-related accidents by teaching  us common rules to follow in the presence of a black bear.

Jensen:

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