Black Bears

[Bman]

Why in the world would anyone seriously believe MDC traded turkeys for rattlesnakes? Timber rattlesnakes have never been endangered in MO. They would have had no need to bring some in...there have always been viable populations of timber rattlers in localized areas throughout the Ozarks. One of the places where they have been relatively common for many years is in and around the Forest 44, Lone Elk Park area along I-44 just west of the St. Louis area.

You are right there Al. I have a great view of Forest 44 right out my front door. We have many wonderful snakes here. Mostly Black snakes, Garter snakes, Hog nose snakes, and Copperheads. I've only encountered a few rattlers. All are welcome in my domain. They won't bother us, I've never encountered an aggressive Copperhead, unless they are shedding and can't see. Even then they don't strike to actually inject venom. Only to threaten.

I just wish those Black snakes would leave my Blue Birds alone. I think I've finally figured out how to make my Blue Bird houses Blake Snake, Raccoon, and cat proof!

[SKMO]

MDC has traded turkeys for grouse, pheasants, prairie chickens, bass, striped bass, muskies, otters, seeds, etc.

Who in the MDC would admit to the trade of timber rattlers for turkeys, but it could have happened.

If it is a species that MDC wants to reintroduce back in to the wild, they will trade a turkey for it. That is the real basis for the legend. The general theory is, if MDC thinks it is endangered or wants to reintroduce it into the state, they will trade a turkey for it, as they have historically proved. It always makes for a good excuse this time of year when turkeys are hard to find.

But the MDC constantly denies it.

Not sure where to begin here.

1) Yes all the critters/seed you mentioned HAVE been traded for. Except for rattlers and "bass".

2) Who in MDC would admit to a "rattler for turkey trade"... that would be nobody because it has never happened.

3) It "Could have happened" as you stated but so what ? It did not. MDC "could have" traded turkeys for Russian T72 tanks.

4) As far as your "General Theory" Missouri's wild turkey have been a trading chit since the 60's, mutually beneficial to everyone involved. Yes this has been "historically proved".

5) As others have stated... rattlesnakes are not that uncommon and never have been.

6) "It always makes for a good excuse this time of year when turkeys are hard to find." - Huh? Say what??

Turkeys can be hard to find and even harder to bag. I have never felt the need to justify my lack of success since I readily admit they are smarter than myself. However if I had to make an excuse I am not sure I could incorporate the word "Rattlesnake" in the sentence. "Rattlesnakes ate the turkeys" is one possibility. "MDC traded my turkeys for rattlesnakes" is another. "I'm so afraid of all the rattlesnakes I can't get out of the truck" maybe?

7) "But the MDC constantly denies it". - Of course they do it is total BS.

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Nothing to see here folks, please move along. However the line for tinfoil hats is forming on the left for those that wish one.

SKMO

[jdmidwest]

I just love it when I bring up the Turkey for Rattlesnake thing, it has been a running joke with some of my friends in the Dept. for years. Happy May Fool's Day.

[taxidermist]

There is a lot of miss information being posted on bears. They are omnivorous. seldom do they take a calf. coyotes are 100 times more likely to kill a calf than a black bear. Living in Newton County Arkansas almost on the Searcy County line. seldom does anyone even see a bear.

We had one here for about two years and last year early in the am he tangled with the electric fence and left eh country, last seen heading toward Pindal.

My horses had foals with the bear within a hundred yards, the ranchers around me have not lost any live calves tot he bears.

(Ursus americanus) American Black bear is the lest of Missouri's problems and no they did not trade anything to Arkansas for them. You have had them for many many years around Mincy.

(wicipedia) Up to 85% of the black bear's diet consists of vegetation,[33] though they tend to dig less than brown bears, eating far fewer roots, bulbs, corms and tubers than the latter species.[3] Young shoots from trees and bushes during the spring period are important to black bears emerging from hibernation, as they assist in rebuilding muscle and strengthening the skeleton and are often the only digestible foods available at that time. During this period, they may also raid the nut caches of squirrels.[44] Black bears are fond of honey, and will gnaw through trees if hives are too deeply set into the trunks for them to reach them with their paws. Once the hive is breached, black bears will scrape the honeycombs together with their paws and eat them, regardless of stings.

lack bears often drag their prey to cover, preferring to feed in seclusion and frequently begin feeding on the udder of lactating females, but generally prefer meat from the viscera. The skin of large prey is stripped back and turned inside out with the skeleton usually left largely intact. Unlike wolves and coyotes, black bears rarely scatter the remains of their kills. Vegetation around the carcass is usually matted down by black bears and their droppings are frequently found nearby. Black bears may attempt to cover remains of larger carcasses.

If you will study the bears a bit and never get between a sow and her cubs, you will be fine.

Be sure and were bells on your shoes!!! This way the scat from your carnage can be identified! Maybe change you name to Timothy Treadwell before befriending the cuddly cute adorable winnie the poo who lives near you.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm really baffled at this opposition to bears in Missouri. They are native part of the natural environment. Humans eliminated them, and it is our job to restore them if they can't restore themselves (although it does seem they are re-establishing themselves just fine, so we should probably leave well enough alone). I understand the livestock concerns (although I don't really believe bears actually do cause a lot of livestock damage), but I'm tired of folks always putting economics before the environment. Call me crazy, but I think that's the mindset that gets dams built, streams de-watered and polluted to the point they can't hold fish, and deer habitat turned into subdivisions.

[zander]

I am stoked about the recovery in Missouri. I asked the MDC about when we could have a hunting season on them since Arkansas has had one for several years now. They told me that their bear management plan right now calls for a limited hunt to occur when the resident bear population stays around 500 individuals. We aren't too far from that at the moment.

[jdmidwest]

So why, for the last few years, does the MDC post warnings about being bear aware if they are just cute fuzzy little black teddy bears?????

Somewhere, someone has had a bad experience with a black bear and they are just passing it along.

[eric1978]

I asked the MDC about when we could have a hunting season on them

Why? Are they really that delicious, or do you just like killing things? To me it would be like shooting a labrador just to watch it die.

So why, for the last few years, does the MDC post warnings about being bear aware if they are just cute fuzzy little black teddy bears?????

Somewhere, someone has had a bad experience with a black bear and they are just passing it along.

So what? If you're afraid of being attacked, stay out of the woods.

[troutfiend1985]

So why, for the last few years, does the MDC post warnings about being bear aware if they are just cute fuzzy little black teddy bears?????

Somewhere, someone has had a bad experience with a black bear and they are just passing it along.

Well, I think the conservation department has a compelling interest in informing citizens of Missouri about the come back of black bears. There are two good reasons that I can think of this. First is the misconception of black bears. People either have two general views of them, they are a bear and thus dangerous, or two, they are cute and I want to feed them,/not give the bear the space a wild animal needs. These are both generally wrong. Bears are dangerous, as are most wild animals. But they seem to be rather timid from all of the research that I have done(15 minutes browsing Washburn Library). But bears, as with all wild animals need space and human encroachment might equal into conflict. So there is one reason I can think of.

The other reason is efficiency. It is much easier for the MDC to release information through a mass media outlet than to answer questions one by one. This saves money by cutting down on time that an employee will spend on trying to answer multiple peoples question relating to the same general answer/subject.

As for this fascination of hunting bears, do people really eat bear? Or is one of those sport hunts? I respect hunters, but I find myself lacking sympathy for those who hunt wild animals solely for the purpose of enjoyment/trophy hunting experience. It seems when I say that then people ask me how can I justify fishing, and the response is that fishing does not by itself eqaute to the animals death. And I always carry a stringer in case I mortally hook a fish. But my question is, for those who are wanting to hunt black bears, will you eat black bears?

[jdmidwest]

As for this fascination of hunting bears, do people really eat bear? Or is one of those sport hunts? I respect hunters, but I find myself lacking sympathy for those who hunt wild animals solely for the purpose of enjoyment/trophy hunting experience. It seems when I say that then people ask me how can I justify fishing, and the response is that fishing does not by itself eqaute to the animals death. And I always carry a stringer in case I mortally hook a fish. But my question is, for those who are wanting to hunt black bears, will you eat black bears?

Yes, people do eat bears. They have for a long time. The fat is rendered into lard and the meat is made into steaks. The hides in the old days make a great coat and ceremonial Indian things, now they make rugs and mounts. I have eaten Black Bear and it is pretty good, kinda greasy. I for one have never hunted or killed one but have many friends that have. It is a game animal that has been hunted for food for a long time. Longer than we have inhabited the USA.