GC6TNKP Bears (Traditional Cache) in Kentucky, United States created by Mooseky

GC6TNKP ▼

A cache by Mooseky Message this owner

Hidden : 9/27/2016

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

There are 8 species of bear in the world and of them the Black Bear is the most abundant and widespread. In recent years they have been spotted in more than 50 counties in Kentucky including right here in Bernheim Forest, but in the early 1900’s it was a total different story. Massive logging of mature hardwood forests and unregulated hunting all but eliminated bears in Kentucky. Slowly over the years as reestablishment of mature forest and regulated hunting laws have resulted in migration of these majestic animals from border states like Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.		Black Bear
Black Bears typically reach 4 to 6 feet in length. The adult females normally weigh up to 170 pounds while the male can weight up to 350 pounds. The record for Kentucky is 480 pounds. Black bears normally live up to 25 years in the wild. Of the 8 bear species Black Bears are the best climbers. This ability is valuable to them in order to access food and avoid predators. They are also fast reaching speeds up to 35 miles per hour, so don’t even think about trying to out run one of them. Their strength, endurance, and quickness allows them to cover a wide range of land in search for food, habitat, and mates. Males bears have been tracked to travel over 10 miles per day covering hundreds of miles along their journey. Females home range is more limited because of offspring. Bears are solitary animals with the exception of breeding season in June and July and when the mothers have cubs.
Black Bear Cub		Black Bear Family
Female black bears can give birth to one to five cubs with 2 being the average and they have litters every other year. Cubs are born in late winter and usually weigh 8 to 16 ounces. When the cubs emerge from the den in the spring they weigh 5 to 10 pounds. Cubs will stay with their mother for an entire year then when they emerge after the second denning season the mother will chase them off to be on their own. At this point they can weight from 20 to 100 pounds depending on food availability. Bears typically den in caves, rock cavities, or hollow trees from 3 to 4 months in the winter in which they normally do not eat or drink but they do not truly hibernate rather enter a deep sleep where their metabolism slows down. They have been known to wake up and stir outside their den in the winter and even travel to a different den before resuming their sleep. Black bears are omnivores with their diet consisting of both plant and animal. They are very adaptive taking advantage of what food source is available in their area. Their diet ranges from grass, fruits, nuts (particularly Acorns), grubs, insects, and small animals Normally black bears are cautious and elusive of people but being an opportunistic eater their paths will eventually cross with humans as they find new sources of food including bird feeders, pet food, and human generated garbage. As they have learned to tolerate human presence they appear to be calm and non-threatening but remember these are wild unpredictable animals and should be enjoyed at a distance.
Bernie		Bernie in the Backwoods
Black Bears in Bernheim Until 2016 Black Bears in Bernheim were a thing of the past but a young male was spotted by a volunteer and photographed near Lake Nevin in July of 2016. More recently backwoods trail cams on Sept 29th confirmed there truly are bears in Bernheim. This male black bear named Bernie continues to roam the area but more than likely will return to Eastern Kentucky for the winter. Bernheim staff welcomes black bears to the forest and hope someday in the near future a small population of Bears can call Bernheim home.

You are looking for a camouflaged Preform container hidden less than 15 feet from the bridge where Bernie was first spotted in Bernheim.

This cache placement has been approved by Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. For more information about Bernheim Arboretum And Research Forest including current operating hours. There is no admission fee at Bernheim on Monday through Friday. On Saturday & Sunday there is a $5 fee per passenger car, or motorcycle.