Historically, bears were found throughout the State. The statewide population was estimated at 6,000-9,000 in 1979, and season restrictions were implemented to guard against over harvests. Vashon will be discussing Maine’s robust bear population and how to avoid conflicts with bears. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. 7 [1] However, that doesn't mean they won't enter towns and neighborhoods. Washington, Colorado, and Oregon have proven that since prohibiting baiting and hounding 20 years ago, bear populations have actually stabilized. Within counties such as Oxford and Penobscot, their southern most communities are growing while the smaller northern towns decline in population. The likelier reason for the rise in the number of bears is the decline in the ranks of hunters. That’s one donut an acre! Soils were depleted and agriculture declined since the turn of the century, and forests have re-grown and are once again able to support bears. In 2000, Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW) estimated the bear population at 23,000 – it is now estimated at 30,000. If most of the deer come into human habitats and areas, then conflict can occur. The proposals are due on Wednesday. In 1975, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife began a 40-year study to examine Maine’s bear population. mile of habitat in WMU's 2 and 5; at 0.5-0.7 bears/sq. PORTLAND, Maine — The state with the most black bears on the East Coast might change the way it manages its growing population of the animals, and hunters and environmentalists The 1985 population was estimated at 21,000 bears, but renewed interest in hunting and escalating harvests during the late 1980s reduced the population to 18,000 bears by 1989. A harvest of between 3,500 and 4,500 bears is needed in order to “stabilize” bear populations. With the Massachusetts black bear population nearing 5,000 and at full capacity, bears are being forced to expand into eastern suburbia and occasionally even into cities. Most of the State has remained a stronghold for black bears. Vachon also points out that Maine's black bear population is growing 2 to 4 percent annually. This… Join MDIFW’s Black Bear + Canada Lynx Biologist, Jen Vashon, for coffee! My name is Maddie Killian and i am a Wildlife and Fisheries Management major who is fascinated by the bear population in the state of Maine. Following European settlement, bears were extirpated from the south-coastal section of Maine, from Portland north to Penobscot Bay as forests were cleared for farming. "Bears will become more commonplace in places we're not used to seeing them. Maine has a larger population of Black Bears than any other New England state by far with an estimated Statewide we average 9 bears/100 square miles; in our area, WMD 9, the percentage is much higher. It was defeated with 53 percent of the vote. The rest of Maine, where the bear population, and bear hunting, is concentrated, mostly voted against it. The bear harvest for Maine for 2012, including all methods of harvesting bears, i.e. The Pennsylvania State University, 1976 B.S. We estimate that we have over 35,000 black bears in the state right now." Resident and non-resident bear permit sales have declined from 10,964 in 2005 to 9,423 in 2016. Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. However, a bear population boom in the last decade could be leading animals farther south. About 30,000 black bears (Ursus americanus) live in New England. hunting, baiting, trapping, hounding, etc., was 3,207 bears. sound stewardship of wildlife resources throughout Maine. … 2. The whitetail deer population isn’t remotely close to that of the human population in Maine, but that still doesn’t mean that there is a problem. If they know of any easy food source they will use it, but they generally travel at night to avoid detection. The quantity of bait that is provided each year by bear hunters is wildly inflated by Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting. The Maine Department of Inland Fishers and Wildlife says bears are most active in Maine … The bear hunt started Aug. 26 for baiting and general stalk hunting. Bait hunting runs through Sept. 21; hunting with dogs runs Sept. 9-Nov. 1; and general stalk hunting runs until Nov. 30. Wildlife Biologist In Maine, baiting hasn't stabilized the bear population -- it's grown by 30% since 2004. When it comes to whitetail deer, the average population in the state is roughly around 203,000 animals in the state. Ask your questions during the live discussion at 9:30 .am. By 1984, improved information on bear densities yielded a revised statewide estimate of 18,000 bears. Maine Bear Population at Record High January 22, 2017 Brandon & Family with a pile of sleeping bear. Maine's booming black bear population is estimated at 36,000, and the state hopes hunters take about 4,000 of the animals. MAINE BLACK BEAR POPULATION INFORMATION April 16, 2004 Current Bear Status in Maine Black bears exist throughout the state with the exception of the extreme south-coastal region of the state. Join MDIFW’s Black Bear + Canada Lynx Biologist, Jen Vashon, for coffee! Population: State: US Bear Population* Trend: Alabama : Stable : Alaska : 150,000 : Stable : … Maine has lots of bears, about 35,000 by most estimates, up from 30,000 just five years ago but fewer hunters in recent years considering the long hunting season and number of bears. Interest in bear hunting increased in the 1970’s, and the Department’s Bear Study was established in 1975 to monitor population trends. Hello! Additional restrictions on hunting season length have increased bear survival during the 1990s, and the population increased to 22,000-23,000 bears in 1998. by Craig McLaughlin, Ph.D. Part of the reason may be simple demographics, hunters getting older and no longer interested or able to hunt bears. They will try to avoid humans as much as humans try to avoid them. mile of habitat in WMU's 7 and 8. Bear populations in neighboring states are estimated to have been increasing by 7 to 8 percent annually in recent years, which may account for their range expansion into Rhode Island. 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Our current yearly harvests of about 3,000 bears, annually removes about 10% of … Maine is blessed with a healthy, stable population of black bear, conservatively estimated at 35,000. Vashon will be discussing Maine’s robust bear population and how to avoid conflicts with bears. Trends over two decades affirm the north-south divide in terms of population. It amounts to less than 3 ounces per acre of bear habitat. Bears store body fat during the fall months to supply energy during their long winter denning period, and are heaviest in late fall. Travel nurses open up about leaving their families behind to fight pandemic. Maine continues to see a migration of its population away from the most northern areas and toward the south and mid-coast. on Friday, March 26 on the MDIFW YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBx7Pj_D79w. https://www.foggymountain.com/black-bear/maine-bear-population Vashon will be discussing Maine’s robust bear population and how to avoid conflicts with bears. Meanwhile, other states have taken the lead and enacted less cruel, more effective methods of stabilization. Our region in north central Maine, is a consistent producer of adult bears each season and the new state record bear weighing 699 lbs. Ask your questions during the live discussion at 9:30 .am. AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Proposals are due to the state of Maine for a project designed to get a better handle on the growing black bear population. MODELING EFFECTS OF FOOD AND HARVESTS ON FEMALE BLACK BEAR POPULATIONS By Craig R. McLaughlin Assoc. Historical accounts suggest that population density fluctuated over the last century, but the State has always supported an abundant bear population. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Brewer resident has a close encounter with a Maine black bear Bob Evans 6/23/2020. Maintain pre-hunt bear population densities at 0.8-1.3 bears/sq. Females are smaller, weighing 100-400 pounds, and measuring 4-5 feet in length. Maine has the largest population of black bears in the lower 48 states. Harvest Objective Increase annual harvest levels to 1,500-2,500 bears, or to levels needed to stabilize the bear population. Maine’s 2012 black bear harvest information was just posted today at the MDIFW website. Although most black bears are not much larger than humans, their weight can vary tremendously with the season of the year. Maine has an estimated 36,000 bears, one of the largest populations in the United States, and also one of the longest bear hunting seasons. However, bears are slow to re-colonize vacant habitat, and are still rare visitors to south-coastal Maine. Ask your questions during the live discussion at 9:30 .am. Another View: Columnist too quick to link baiting, growth in Maine’s bear population. University of Wyoming, 1979 According to license sales figures, there … The state issued a request for proposals to develop a bear population model that state documents say would "inform the management of black bears" in the Pine Tree State. 10 Things to Know About Maine Black Bears 1. Foggy Mountain has a long history of helping in bear field research programs. mile of habitat in WMU's 1, 3, 4, and 6; and at 0.2-0.5 bears/sq. Adult males average 250-600 pounds, and measure 5-6 feet from tip of nose to the tip of their tail. 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