C.T.J. - "Really??? Bears around Cadillac?"
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This cache is place out on the Heritage Nature trail located behind the Carl T Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center. Be sure to visit the museum (free of charge) and sign the logbook. Make a note that you were at the center geocaching. You do need a recreational passport on your liscense to park at the Carl T. however.
The answer to this question is a definate YES. There are approximately 12,000 - 14,000 bears (Ursus Americanus) in Michigan. The area from Weford county over to lake Huron, (see density map) has the highest concentration of Black Bear in the lower peninsula. The range of an adult male (boar) is 8 - 60 miles in diameter, while the range of an adult female (sow) is 2 - 16 miles in diameter.
The Black Bear is usually all black in color, but may also be brown, cinnamon, or even blonde; although this is very rare in Michigan. The average adult bear stands about 3 feet tall at the shoulders when standing on all 4's, or 5 - 6 feet tall when standing on its hind legs. The average weight of a adult black bear is approximately 275 pounds and can live 20 to 25 years. These bears have the ability to run in excess of 30 miles per hour, and can climb a tree as fast as a squirrel.
The Black Bear has an excellent sense of smell, there sense of hearing far exceeds ours in frequency and sensitivity. Their eyesight is decent up close but is actually poor for distance. These bear do have the ability to see color however. Interestingly, the Black Bear has the heaviest brain to body size ratio of any land mammel. They are very intelligent and curious.
The Black Bear are omnivours, which means their diet consists of plants as well as meats. In the spring the bears will frequent wetlands feeding on plants such as skunk cabbage, sedges, grasses, and squawroot. In the summer and fall they add fruits and berries such as; blueberry, elderberry, juneberry, pokeberry, wild grapes choke cherry, black cherry, dogwood, and hawthorne to their diet. Colonial insects and larvae such as ants, bees, and beetles are also included. The Black Bear is an opportunistic feeder and is capable of preying on small to medium animals such as mice, squirrels, woodchuck, amphibians, and reptiles as well. Humans may also contribute to the bears diet by leaving garbage out within reach or having bird feeders in the yard. These bears will also eat carrion and roadkill if the opportunity presents itself. An Arizona study on the Black Bear shows that these bears will consume a varied diet. A adult will eat approximately 80 pounds of food every 10 days. From this nuts contribute 25% of the diet, berries and fruits contribute 25%, insects contribute 15%, meat contributes 10%, and plants contribute 25%. They will feed heavier in the fall and may gain as much as 1 - 2 pounds a day.
Mating of the Black Bear occurs in June and July. The sows will often breed with several boars to insure conception. After mating the sows no longer have any relationship with the boars and each will go its seperate ways. (The boar will often kill the cubs if given a chance) The fetuses will only develop if the sow has put on enough body fat to survive the winter and provide milk for the cubs till spring. Most sows become sexually mature at 3 - 5 years old, yet on an average will breed at 2 1/2 years in the lower peninsula and 3 1/2 years in the upper peninsula. This is do to the lower peninsula having more hardwoods and milder winters providing more readily available food to put on neccessary body fat. The boar reaches sexual maturity at 2 years of age but typically does not breed until he is 4 - 5 years old. This is do to the competition from older and bigger bears. 2 - 4 cubs (average of 2 ) are born in January / February. At Birth the cub will weigh about 8 ounces (about the size of a guinea pig) and will be blind and naked. Do to the high fat content of their mothers milk, the grow rapidly and will weigh about 10 - 12 pounds when they leave the den in the spring. The cubs will stay with the sow for 15 to 18 months, at which time the sow will drive them away so that she may breed again. (The sows have cubs every other year).
After the bears have put on enough fat for the winter and the weather turns cold enough, (usually late December) The black Bear will seek a place to den up for the winter. (These animals are not true hibernators, as animals that hibernate their body temperature will almost be the same as their surrounding temperatures. The Black Bears body temp will only drop a few degrees. They actually just slow down their metabolism significantly). Their body temperature will drop from 100 degrees F, to 90 degrees F. The bears heartrate will go from 60 - 90 BPM to 8 - 40 BPM. Blood flow and body temperatures are concentrated to the brain so that it will stay warm enough and alert enough to respond to danger and feed the newborn cubs. These bears den up not because of the outside temperatures (they have fur and enough fat for that) but because of the short supply of food during the winter.
"Are Black Bears Dangerous?" Like all large wild animals,,,,, they are potentially dangerous and should be treated with respect, however..... The black Bear is a very timid animal that will usually shy away from humans. ( In the past century there has been only 28 recorded deaths from Black Bear attacks. In that same period of time, there has been 375 recorded deaths from lightening strikes.) Bottom line - These bears are NOT like the Grizzlies or Polar Bears you see on tv. If you do actually have a Black Bear encounter however: 1) Stand your ground then slowly back away. Do NOT run or show fear. Remember a Black Bear can run in excess of 30 MPH, which is faster than you. 2) Make yourself look bigger and talk to the bear in a very firm voice. - Raise your arms and yell "GET OUT OF HERE!" or something in that nature. 3) If actually attacked, fight back. Do NOT play dead. - remember Black Bear are opportunistic feeders and will feed on carrion or roadkill when given the chance. 4) Pepper spray can be an effective detourant in some situations. - Just make sure to point it in the proper direction before using. - In haste, people have been known to not pay attention and actually miss their target or spray themselves.
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Congrats to the Top 3 Cacher's
Tim and Trish = First to Find
TR Rockers = 2nd to Find
Equinoxrox = 3rd to Find
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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