Midwest Mary

Midnight Bear

Deep in the woods in the middle of the night  
pounding on the camper gave us quite a fright.
Looked out the window to see who’s there,
and found it was a giant black bear
searching for some goodies for a midnight bite.

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The little limerick above didn’t happen but I recently was up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where black bears (Ursus americanus) roam. Wild blackberries and raspberries grow abundantly in the summer, and the bears love the berries as much as we humans, which draws them closer to campsites.

Black bears vary slightly in color. In addition to being black, they also can be brown or cinnamon-colored. Females weigh from 100-250 pounds. Males can weigh as much as 400 pounds. The bears tend to grow heaviest in late fall in preparation for hibernation.

Since bears can smell food a mile away, campers must remember not to leave food out and to keep trash in bear-resistant cans. Even dishwater containing food can attract bears.

Black bears are not naturally aggressive. The 750,000 black bears in North America kill one person or less a year. Attacks are often defensive when someone is too close or the bear feels threatened. Typically, bears leave a site when people are present.

Regardless, it’s important to remember that bears are wild animals and we should not approach them. Here are some precautions to remember if we encounter one of these animals.

• Stand your ground.
• Don’t run.
• Don’t play dead.
• Don’t make loud noises.
• Back away slowly while facing the bear.
• Treat the bear with respect from a distance.
• Don’t feed the bear.
• Do not approach the bear.
• If you have bear spray, remove the safety, and be ready to use it if the bear approaches you.
• Talk to the bear in a firm voice.
• If a bear follows you, act boldly: yell, raise your arms and throw things directly at it.
• The more persistent a bear is, the more aggressive you need to be.
• If a bear attacks or tries to make contact, fight for your life. Kick, punch, or hit the bear with whatever weapon is available. Concentrate on the face, eyes, and nose.

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Black Bear Photo courtesy of National Geographic Kids

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©2024, Mary K. Doyle