Newsletter-Fall '11FINALFINAL-REALLY - Tinicum Conservancy

THE CRITTER CORNER
Black bears are common in Pennsylvania – and are the most common
bear in North America – but they are usually found in mountainous,
wooded areas in the north-central and northeastern areas of
the state. Yet this year, people have reported seeing black bears much
closer to home. Wildlife experts acknowledge that the bears have expanded
into this region, where they feed not only on nuts, berries
and insects of the forest but also on residential garbage, birdfeeders
and pet food left outdoors. Although black bears have poor eyesight,
their sense of smell is excellent – 40 times keener than a human
nose.
Black bears rarely attack without provocation, but they should be
treated with respect. A male black bear can weigh 350 to 500 pounds; the female is smaller, from 150 to 250
pounds. They are most active at night, but it’s not unusual to see black bears during the day – just ask residents in
Richland and Lower Saucon Township who saw a black bear this summer.
At this time of year, black bears are getting ready to bed down for the winter. They are packing on the pounds to
beat the first snowfall, when their natural food sources are buried. They aren’t true hibernators, though; instead,
they conserve energy by going into a period of dormancy. They can still awaken during winter to forage for food.
Their mating season is June, but black bears don’t give birth until late January or early February. The bear embryos,
fertilized in early summer, may exist in limbo – without being implanted – for up to half a year, long enough to ensure
that the mother bear has laid down enough stores of fat to not only carry her through the winter, but to also
provide milk for her cubs. This delayed implantation is unique to about 100 mammals,
including bears. Females typically have two cubs a year.
If a black bear shows up in your neighborhood, how can you discourage it from hanging
around? Although an Alaska woman recently made the news because she punched a black
bear in the snout, to force it to let go of her dog, that’s not the approach wildlife experts
recommend. Instead, they urge you to remove birdfeeders and not keep your pet’s food
bowl outside. Make sure garbage cans are securely closed. And never put food out for a
bear. Bears will associate food with humans and may lose their natural fear of people. Although
the state Game Commission can trap and relocate a bear that has become a nuisance,
the animal may simply find its way back to the area – even when released more than
100 miles away. - Article by Dianna Sinovic/Photos from PA Game Commission
Five Things You Should Know About the Tinicum Conservancy
• We are a non-profit, community-based organization made up of Tinicum residents from all walks of life. We work with conservation-minded
landowners to protect Tinicum’s rural character, farms and natural resources.
• Although Tinicum is a small township (19,700 acres), we rank near the top of Pennsylvania’s land trusts in number of easements (97) and amount of
protected land (almost 4,000 acres).
• In 2009, we became one of only 5% of all land trusts in the United States to receive accreditation from The Land Trust Accreditation
Commission. This means that our professional standards including fiscal, fundraising, stewardship, easement acquisition and overall non-profit
management meet or exceed rigorous national requirements.
• Our efforts to safeguard Tinicum only begin with securing conservation easements. Much of our future work will focus on oversight of existing
easements and working closely with landowners and the community to provide natural resource stewardship. We consider this work an excellent, longterm
insurance policy on the investment in conservation we have all made through conservation easements.
• Our operations are supported solely by our more than 500 members, who contribute to our mission through donations of their time, talent and dollars.
If you haven’t already joined, please get involved today.
Fall 2011 WWW.TI�ICUMCO�SERVA�CY.ORG Page 5