Source. Bears provide recreation for hunters, wildlife photographers, and those who enjoy viewing animals. After weighing each bear, a tooth is pulled, which is used to determine the age of the bear. All rights reserved (About Us). New York-based American Geode is a supplier of geodes, minerals, gems and fossils to collectors, academics, museums and interior design professionals. The retrieval took longer than the hunt. Take a look at an effort to understand the mange epidemic in Pennsylvania bears:http://www.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2018/05/mange_epidemic_in_pennsylvania.html. This page features files containing county population totals and components of change for years 2020 to 2022. The bruin is believed to be 14 years old as the Game Commission had captured the bear in 2016 and placed an ear tag on it. Read more of the explanation of hibernation in bears in Pennsylvania:http://www.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2010/01/what_triggers_hibernation_in_p.html, Epidemic of mange is killing Pennsylvania bear. If you see a black bear in the woods, the best advice is to simply allow them to retreat. After taking measurements, Carrollo gives the bear another shot, this time to wake him up. Although numbers are continuing to come in, and bear hunting remains open through Saturday in some of the states Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), as of this morning, the 2019 preliminary bear harvest sat at 4,577. lack bears are extremely docile, she says. Its news the Game Commission preferred to share as soon as possible. For example: in 2003 a regulation was passed that makes it illegal to feed bears; a statewide database for documenting human-bear conflicts is now in place; and emphasis has been put on educational efforts to show people how to coexist with bears. "Notably, the harvest was spread out more evenly than ever before over four seasons. Although they have become common in many new areas of the state where they previously were largely unknown, they continue to be spotted in new locations. The information we use to assess the bear population and bear habitat is documented in a written bear management system (PDF) developed in1986, which contains criteria for decision-making and management options. Pennsylvania hunters take three 700-pound-plus bears in 2022, Well, it probably can't be labeled cheap entertainment, but watching the ever changing cast of feathered characters at your feeders is a great stress reliever until your little feathered friends turn into large furry ones. Have some feedback for us? Conversely, many counties in Pennsylvania have populations of fewer than fifty thousand residents. Seven bears from Potter, Bedford, Clearfield, Clinton, Luzerne, Centre and Monroe counties were heavier than 600 pounds. Here is an example of what Im talking about from 2016 in Berks County. Bears are unique, though, in that they aren't "deep" hibernators. Black bears are typically found across about 75 percent of Pennsylvania, however, there have been confirmed sightings in every county, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The heaviest bear ever taken in Pennsylvania was an 875-pounder harvested in 2010 in Middle Smithfield Township, Pike County. Data from 2000 onward will also include the Two or more race category. Keystone State. In the 1970s, there were fewer than 5,000. The total number of bears taken was 3,170, which was down from the 2021 total of 3,621. Hes a really good-looking bear, she says, before offering something like a scouting report: fantastic body weight, no bony protrusions indicating malnourishment, no signs of mange, a great looking coat of black fur. The heaviest bear ever taken in Pennsylvania was an 875-pound bear in 2010 in Pike County. A 747-pound bear was shot in Lycoming County. The answer, of course, is 15,666. Pennsylvania is currently the 9th most densely populated state in the country with a density of 283.9 people per square mile. Black bears, of which there are an estimated 20,000 in Pennsylvania, are roaming across nearly all the state. Heres a look at the rambling bears of Pennsylvania: http://www.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2017/06/bears_on_move_across_pennsylva.html, If you do run into a bear, here's how to survive. The following tips will make your property less attractive to wandering bears. Black bears gain weight in the late summer and fall in preparation for their winter hibernation. Seven bears from Potter, Bedford, Clearfield, Clinton, Luzerne, Centre and Monroe counties were heavier than 600 pounds. In the wild, they can live up to 25 years. Photo: Reid R. Frazier / The Allegheny Front, This males paw measures 6 inches across. The heaviest kill so far was a 755-pound bear in Monroe County. Those are from fighting with other males because its breeding season, Carrollo says. Agency personnel capture and eartag 800 or more bears annually, of which 20 percent aer usually harvested in the general season. But in a state with 12 million residents, concern about additional bear population gains compelled the Game Commission earlier this year to double the number of statewide bear-hunting days, creating the states lengthiest bear-hunting opportunity since the 1930s. Hunters killed more bears during early archery, muzzleloader and special firearms seasons than in the four-day rifle period that ended Nov. 22. Northcentral (1,588): Lycoming, 283; Clinton, 267; Tioga, 261; Potter 173; Centre, 144; McKean, 125; Clearfield, 103; Elk, 100; Cameron, 78; and Union, 54. Bear hunters harvested 3,438 black bears in Pennsylvania during the 2017 bear hunting seasons, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. In the most recent report by Pennsylvania Game Commission, more than 16,000 black bears live in Pennsylvania. Video below: May 2022 - bear spotted wandering around York County neighborhood. Black bears seem to be heavy, yet they are surprisingly agile, capable of running up to 35 mph, climbing trees, and swimming well. Human population at last census: 101,407 Berks County 2017 bear kill: 7 2016 bear kill: 2 Square miles: 866 Human population at last census: 411,442 Lebanon County 2017 bear kill: 8. What triggers hibernation in Pennsylvania black bears? Two counties in the state of Pennsylvania have populations of more than one million. These are Philadelphia County, which is coterminous with the city of Philadelphia and has a population of 1,574,765 (even though it is the second smallest county in the state by land area), and Allegheny County, with its . In 2004, hunters took 2,972 bears from 53 counties. As of 2018, both of these counties have grown their populations since the last census, with Philadelphia County increasing by 3.04% and Allegheny County by a more modest 0.30%. Bears can be encountered at any time of day or night, but they are most active at dusk and dawn. County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2022. A successful black bear hunter and a Pennsylvania Game Commission biologist talk Nov. 20, 2021, about the hunting season. Consequently, sometimes humans find themselves living in close proximity to bear country. In 2019, Pennsylvania bear hunters had an all-time record harvest of 4,653 animals. Thats why the census is important. Ken Nichols of Lemont Furnace, Fayette County, killed his first bear about 50 yards away with two other bears while hunting Saturday in Forbes State Forest. No bears were harvested in 2017 in Beaver, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Fulton, Lancaster, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Washington or York counties. They have an acute sense of smell, relatively poor vision and hearing thought to be close to that of humans. Bountiful Black Bears. Bear numbers in Pennsylvania were once dangerously low. Pritts is looking forward to the meat: I like it better than beef. Keep all food or empty containers that have had food in them out of your vehicles. Slowing down for animals crossing the road and seeing plenty of wildlife in the community are ordinary interactions for residents of Pennsylvania. So she has learned to deal with it. And remember that penn's woods is the black bear's woods too. Thats really why we have so many bears and its why we have really big bears, she says. Here's a look at last year's harvest, from the lowest bear kill to the highest. Black bears are thriving in Penns Woods today. It was followed by Clinton and Tioga counties, both with 267. Bears were taken in 59 of 67 counties and 22 of Pennsylvania's 23 Wildlife Management Units in the 2021 seasons. A number of other counties in Pennsylvania, while not quite as large, still have substantial populations. It weighed 875 pounds. He was only out about two hours when he saw a 300-pounder standing over the side of a hill. Bears that were eating around 8,000 calories per day start taking in up 20,000 calories per day when they enter hyperphagia. Because black bears eat so little meat, their teeth do not need to be as sharp and scissor-like as those of meat-eating animals like wolves and cats. The Game Commission on Dec. 2 issued a news release reporting preliminary totals for the four-day statewide general bear season, but the numbers were inaccurate because they included bears harvested on the first day of the extended season. The Census Bureaus Population Estimates Program data by county includes details like counts by age, race, or ethnicity and goes back for decades. This time from Pike County in Northeast Pennsylvania. The latest preliminary bear harvests by Wildlife Management Unit are: WMU 1A, 20; WMU 1B, 156; WMU 2A, 11; WMU 2B, 2; WMU 2C, 285; WMU 2D, 184; WMU 2E, 82; WMU 2F, 338; WMU 2G, 710; WMU 2H, 110; WMU 3A, 260; WMU 3B, 424; WMU 3C, 223; WMU 3D, 488; WMU 4A, 303; WMU 4B, 191; WMU 4C, 248; WMU 4D, 367; WMU 4E, 135; WMU 5A, 25; WMU 5B, 1; and WMU 5C, 13. Pennsylvania hunters harvested more than 3,000 bears in the 2022 hunting seasons, including three that topped 700 pounds, according to numbers released last week by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Montgomery County (820,656), Bucks County (626,751), and Delaware County (563,995) are all in the top five most populous counties in the state, and census statistics show that each of these have also had population increases of between 0.21% and 2.46% in recent years. Tom Keller, the game commissions game animal section supervisor (and Carrollos boss). In 2002, 443 bears were taken from the Pike-Monroe-Carbon county area. Bear attacks fall into 2 categories. In WMUs, 1B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A,4B,4C,4D,4E and 5A, bear season runs Nov. 26-Dec. 3. ROME (AP) Authorities in northern Italy have captured a bear that fatally mauled a runner and became the focus of a battle over what to do with Italy's growing brown bear population. The state has some large forested areas. Check out all of the other stories in the serieshere. Also, do bears in Florida, and other warm states hibernate, or do they just become less active? Bears were taken in 59 counties. Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Montgomery County (820,656), Bucks County (626,751), and Delaware County (563,995) are all in the top five most populous counties in the state, and census statistics show that each of these have also had population increases of between 0.21% and 2.46% in recent years. Some people take for granted that they dont need to be cautious around them. Backyard barbecue grills are bear attractors. The state has breeding populations in the western counties of Garrett, Allegany, Frederick, and Washington. The estimate years differ from the base 2010 decennial census; underestimates will be resolved in 2023 when the Census Bureau releases its 2010-2020 intercensal estimates. The Census Bureau releases annual provisional population estimates based on the previous decennial census and other data on births, deaths, and migration/immigration. Black bears have diverse life cycles, denning times, tolerance of human activities, habitat preferences, movement patterns, reproduction behavior, pelt colors, and even height and weight, depending on where they live. Doug Pritts, 57, of Champion, Somerset County, shot the third bear of his life during the rifle season. As you can see, black bears are not non-aggressive all the time. The additional days and increased number of bear hunters appear to have made a significant difference. Our library of stories about bears should answer any question you might have. Thus, allowing deer hunters (who purchase a bear license) to take a bear may help remove some problem animals. The largest bear through all 2020 seasons was the 719-pound male taken with a crossbow on Nov. 7 in Ayr Township, Fulton County. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Pennsylvania has a relatively small surface area. According to Dustin Stoner, who is an Information and Education supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, many times when you have a nuisance bearroaming your property, it will be during mating season, which runs from the end of May through early July. Every decade, the Bureau reconciles these estimates and releases final data. For the most recent data available, please refer to the Vintage 2022 data. The largest bear through all 2019 seasons is the 813-pound male taken with a rifle on the opening day of the general season in Smithfield Township, Monroe County, by Victor M. Vassalluzzo, of Kintnersville. Massachusetts has had a large population of black bears since the 1970s. HARRISBURG, PA - Hunters have set a new Pennsylvania bear-harvest record. According to Emily Carrollo, who is the Pennsylvania Game Commissions black bear biologist, the state trapped, tagged, tattooed, and released around 700 black bears last year in 2021 in its yearly program. TNS HARRISBURG (TNS) The black bear population across Pennsylvania is. 90% of black bear attacks on humans are predatory. The state 's largest decline was between 2020 and 2021 when the population dropped 0.2%. Hes clearly getting plenty to eat and hes in really excellent shape, she concludes. Population trend and harvest levels are closely monitored annually," a statement on the Game Commission's website says. Bears can also serve as an indicator of ecological health, a symbol of the wilderness, and a source of revenue. In areas that both species inhabit, the hump, or the lack thereof, is a distinguishing feature. In the 1970s, there were fewer than 5,000.Video below: Bear runs across Route 30. Hes clearly getting plenty to eat and hes in really excellent shape, she concludes. The bears, if left alone, arent dangerous. The tags will help the Pa. Game Commission identify this bear if it is recaptured and help estimate the states bear population. a small flashlight through the metal grating. A dramatic growth has provided more opportunities for people to see bears, which is an experience many treasure, and bear hunting has greatly improved. Here is how they accomplish this. This means that in the case of black bears, a female bear with cubs is less dangerous than a predatory male bear. If you store your pet food outside, keep it in a bear-proof container. This underestimate is, effectively, zero for 2010 and grows each year to reach 1% by 2020. Photo: Reid R. Frazier / The Allegheny Front, Emily Carrollo takes the temperature of a smaller bear. Here's a deeper dive into all things bear in Pennsylvania:http://www.pennlive.com/pa-sportsman/2017/11/black_bear_in_pennsylvania_how.html. The black bear recovers from the tranquilizer and ambles into the woods. Black bears that have been habituated to human food or garbage, as well as black bears that are in a hyperphagic state as they prepare to go into their winter den, can be especially dangerous. We are biologists, but in reality, were mostly managing people, making management plans that help kind of construct rules and regulations and how to get people to behave, to be able to interact with wildlife so we can maintain these populations and preserve them for future generations, Carrollo says. In recent years the Pennsylvania Game Commission has estimated the statewide bruin population at about 20,000 animals, and this year the agency is predicting another solid season for hunters. That ranks as the state's fifth-best harvest ever, and the second-largest recorded since 2011. This is a rather big drop. Never purposefully approach a bear or attempt to lure one closer. In the first 11 days of this hunting season, 212 bears have been harvested in Lycoming County. Adults typically average around 200 pounds, with males often weighing more than twice as much as females. Q: I was wondering what triggers a bear to go into hibernation. The overall bear population in the state is healthy, with almost 16,000 animals. In Pennsylvania, there are breeding populations of black bear in over 75% of the state, and bear sightings have been reported in all 67 of its counties. 88% of the fatal attacks carried out by black bears on humans between 1960 and 2009 were predatory and not defensive in nature and were carried out by lone male bears. Tioga County had the most bears at 153, and Lycoming County. Potter leads the way with 179 points, Pike comes in second with 167 points, Tioga comes in third with 165 . His award-winning work has also aired on NPR, Marketplace and other outlets. They could really only be found in the north-central and the northeast part of the state.". He plans to have a shoulder mount made from the animal.