01. Photographer pick: Taylor Barlow
Black bears are known for their intelligence and problem-solving skills, which they use to find food and navigate their environment. Photo by Taylor Barlow
Taylor Barlow is a Michigan-based wildlife photographer who has dozens of fantastic photos of various wild animals, including a fair share of black bears. Her work can be found at https://www.instagram.com/taylorbarlowphotography or https://www.taylorbarlowphotography.com.
02. Article pick: Why black bears love dumpster diving
Black bears are generally non-aggressive towards humans, but can become dangerous if they feel threatened or if their cubs are in danger. Photo by Pete Nuij, Unsplash
This article in the BBC covers the recent viral video of a black bear surprising the principal of a school in West Virginia by jumping out of a dumpster before going into the reasons behind the relatively common occurrence of black bears going dumpster diving. In summation, black bears are fairly common with over 700,000 living in North America, with growing populations in certain areas such as West Virginia, and humans are encroaching on their natural habitat more as the years pass. And as it turns out, eating human leftovers out of dumpsters is an easier meal than the bear’s natural omnivorous diet. Bears will return to find food off of humans, until they are forced to relocate.
03. Book pick: Summers with the Bears: Six Seasons in the North Woods
"Summers with the Bears: Six Seasons in the North Woods" by Jack Becklund is a memoir that recounts the author's experiences living in the remote North Woods of Minnesota, and his heartwarming experiences with a group of black bears that inhabited the area. Throughout the book, Becklund reflects on his and his wife’s experiences with nature, the people he met and the wildlife he encountered. Overall, "Summers with the Bears" is a beautifully written and insightful memoir that offers a unique perspective on life in the wilderness, and the profound impact that nature can have on our lives.
04. Video pick: Black Bears - A Family's Epic Fight for Survival
This 45-minute nature documentary follows three years in the life of a family of black bears in the Forillon National Park of Gaspésie, Quebec as the mother bear struggles to survive and raise her cubs. This documentary has breathtaking close-up photography of the bears, and a soothing narration that adds a great deal of information. In less serious notes, other videos of black bears to look up include the aforementioned video of the black bear scaring the school principal. Honestly, that video clip could be played for a 45-minute loop and would be fairly watchable.
05. Quote of the Week
"The black bear is a solitary animal, but it has a great capacity for friendship, for loyalty, and for affection."
— Ben Kilham