Bear and Wildlife Viewing Update for: Wed, Aug 25

Michael Allen, Bear Researcher/Guide 698-6709

Whistler-Blackcomb Bear Tour Reservations: 1-800-766-0449

16 bears last night...5-8pm Aug 24

Rosie+2 cubs

Slumber (400lb+)

Elly+2 cubs

Olivia

Alice+1 cub

Katie+2 cubs

Brownie+2 cubs

All tours: 6am, 12pm, and 5pm sighting 6-16 bears

Bear photography best at 6am and 5pm

Bear Activity Synopsis

Ski area black bears are in full-on berry feeding mode with opportunistic insect feeding at

rotten stumps and logs. Bear feeding activity is rising to 17 hours per day (04:00-21:00 hours).

Weather over the next 4 weeks is crucial to saving and maintaining a later high elevation

(> 1400-meters) berry crop. A mix of warm sunny days with periodic rain is ideal - similar to

this week's forecast. It has been confirmed (last night) that Alice has lost 1 of 2 cubs possibly her

daughter. That leaves 7 mothers with a total of 12 cubs which is an above normal survival rate

...so far. Young males that lose out to alpha male competition, are still dangerous to cubs after

the breeding season (Jun-Jul).

Please, advise clients to: dress in layers, wear sturdy footwear, and bring insect

repellent as we are outside the vehicle many times, watching bears

from the road. Where there's bears...there's bugs!

Young adult female "brown" black bear uses her floppy lips and long tongue to softy nibble huckleberries

from a 1-meter high ripening shrub. To increase foraging efficiency, bears swallow berries whole after filling

their mouths (M. Allen 8/2010).