Typical coloration of Black Bears in the west is black to cinnamon with a white blaze on the chest and in the east, black. On Gribble Island and the neighbouring mainland of British Columbia individuals are nearly white. The snout is tan or grizzled with a straight or slightly convex profile. Average weight is 200-600 pounds. Black Bears inhabit heavily forested areas, dense bush and wooded mountains throughout most of British Columbia. They tend to wander a great distance, some male adults having lifetime ranges of 500 to 620 square miles. 1-5 cubs are born in January to early February generally every second year. The Black Bear young weigh only one-half a pound at birth. This uniquely North American bear is generally nocturnal and solitary. It is classed as a carnivore although most of its diet consists of vegetation such as twigs, buds, leaves, nuts, roots, various fruits, corn and berries. They are also good fisherman and feed on spawning salmon. Before winter it puts on a great supply of fat, then holes up for the winter in a sheltered place. Hunting Black Bears is an important predator management tool. The meat is eaten, the hides are made into rugs and the fat is rendered and said to be the best for pastries and for the waterproofing of leather. The black bear has been historically important for First Nations for furs and meat and as a trading commodity after Europeans settled in the area. Currently bears are a popular hunting commodity and see some trapping as well.
Black bears prey heavily on moose and elk calves and deer fawns in the spring, which upsets the predator-prey balance if black-bear populations get too high.
General issues across the Sub Region will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.
Issues:
- Increased population sizes of black bears are leading to drops in ungulate numbers below sustainable levels
Goals:
- Undergo ungulate enhancement by increasing tag limits for black bears