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Live from Ely, Minnesota

Black Bear Field Study Course

Lynn Rogers, PhD taking Donna's heartrate

Safely learn vocalizations, body language, behavior, and ecology directly from wild bears.

Offered by the

Wildlife Research Institute

Ely, Minnesota

Click here for more information.

2010 Schedule
May 2—5
FULL
May 9—12 FULL
July 4—7 FULL
July 11—14 FULL
July 18—21 FULL
July 25—28 FULL
Aug 1—4 FULL
Aug 8—11 FULL
Aug 15—18 FULL
Aug 22—15 FULL

Events Calendar

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Ely, Minnesota
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Bear Center Bear Update

Honey in SnowThough not actually hibernating yet, our bears are spending most of their time resting in dens. Ted and Honey usually leave their dens once a day to eat and drink. Little Lucky does not venture far from the den he shares with Ted.

There are 4 man-made dens for the 3 bears and plenty of places within the 2-acre enclosure for a bear to make a den. However, Lucky has chosen to sleep behind Ted in a man-made den.

Honey is sleeping in a wooden den built up against the viewing windows. Winter visitors to the Bear Center can see her through the glass.

Last year Lucky was lively at this time, but this year he is the sleepy one and big Ted is our wide-awake bear.

 
Why Do We Fear Bears?

scary_magazine_image.jpgExcessive Warnings About Attacks

Attacks are rare and excessive warnings about them create unnecessary fear.  

Balanced and factual information about bears is hard to find.  Providing that information is the main goal of the North American Bear Center where the bears themselves provide much of the information through video footage and research data.

Read more...
 
Vocalizations & Body Language

Black bears use sounds, body language, and scent-marking to express their emotions of the moment.

The main thing that helped me get over my fear of bears was learning their language—learning to interpret bear bluster in terms of their fear rather than my fear—learning that behaviors I thought were threatening were really expressions of their own apprehension.     - Lynn L. Rogers, Ph.D., 2007 

Amiable sounds are grunts and tongue clicks used by mothers concerned for their cubs and by bears approaching other bears to mate or play.  Cubs make a motor-like pulsing hum when they nurse or are especially comfortable. 

(hear sounds below) 

Read more...
 
What if I see a black bear?

bear_marsh_marigolds.jpg This is probably the most common question we hear. 

The standard answer nationwide is, "Speak calmly and back away slowly."  This is good advice.  It identifies you as a person, shows that you are non-threatening, and gives the bear space.

Is following this advice necessary to avoid an attack?  No.  

Read more...
 

NABC Gift Shop

Brown Ears Brown Ears $98.00

 
Your donation in any amount will help support our ongoing educational efforts.

Winter 2009 Newsletter

NABC_Newsletter_2009

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