Edinboro University of Pennsylvania graduate Andy Obringer is looking for help from northwestern Pennsylvania residents and hunters for a research project that could open the door to graduate school.
Obringer, who now lives in Minnesota, and Edinboro’s Dr. Michelle Shuey created an online survey that will help them analyze habitat composition patterns and understand the recent growth of black bear populations in our corner of the state.
Here’s where you come in: Take the survey and document your encounters with black bears, especially in Erie County and Crawford County.
“We consider a sighting/encounter as any instance where a bear and human come into contact. That could include but is not limited to, seeing bear scat in the woods, bear tracks in your yard, damage to a bird feeder, a bear passing in front of your car, having a bear act aggressively towards you on a trail, etc.”
I study different animals whenever I get a chance and have come to believe that sow black bears make some of the best “mothers” on our planet. They definitely outdo the human race! They are also easy understand (if they trust you)and you learn their body language. I am presently studying “whitetail” deer in the wild and I am amazed at how inteligent they are but, do not compare to the bears when it comes to motherhood.
I regret not having the opportunity to get into animal studies when I was younger but, this (for me) is the perfect way to pass time as one gets older. The shame is that I don’t have the knowledge to be able to write my studies for others to learn from.
From 1994 thru 1999, I lived at my camp in McKean County where I befriended several bears for my own personal study. I had three separate sows that frequented my residence at regular intervals so I was able to study them almost every day. One sow’s 1st litter was (4) male cubs, her second litter was (3) cubs.—Another sow had (3) cubs,–2 female & 1 male. Her next litter was twins! The third sow had twins, both times she was bred. This took place within 550,000 acres of forest (close to a landfill) with perfect habitat. If a person would witness the day of separation between sow and cubs, they would understand why new bears must find a different range to wander in! I will remember my experience’s with the bears forever!!
I live in Chautauqua County, and there is a black bear that’s seen regularly on my parents’ property. There are several sightings in the area and I would like to see data included from our area.