Author Topic: Is Yogi up from his nap yet? (Read 11176 times)

MP123 · « **on:** February 17, 2015, 12:48:19 PM »

Anyone seeing any bears?

This crazy warm weather has got me wondering if there's any running around yet. I didn't see any out east this weekend but it was about 60 degrees and sunny, not really hibernating weather.

h20hunter · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2015, 12:52:47 PM »

Just pulled my cam cards in the Monroe area....no bears on cam. Yotes, deer, bobcat, yellow lab....no Yogi.

Jonathan_S · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2015, 12:55:09 PM »

Remember a lot of nature's cycles are based on light patterns. It's warm but there isn't available food. Bears eat grass in the spring and there still isn't enough grass to feed a hungry bear yet

jackelope · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2015, 12:55:28 PM »

Do bears really hibernate on the west side?

CAMPMEAT · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2015, 01:03:41 PM »

The grass is starting to sprout and the trees are already showing signs of turning green too.. The snow is pretty much gone except in the mountains and some logging roads in the canyons.....I applied for my spring bear tag.

Southpole · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2015, 01:05:38 PM »

Quote from: jackelope on February 17, 2015, 12:55:28 PM

Do bears really hibernate on the west side?

Good question...

JackOfAllTrades · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2015, 01:34:16 PM »

Quote from: jackelope on February 17, 2015, 12:55:28 PM

Do bears really hibernate on the west side?

Yup! Mountain black bears do hibernate on the west side. We have snow up north... Not as much as we should have, but we do have snow above 4,000'. Many dens above that elevation are certainly snowed in. Lowland bears take 'extended sleeps'. Shortened terms of hibernation where they'll wake up once in a while. Come out to get rid of waste, feed on what's available, go back to sleep. Seeing a blacky up here before March is pretty rare. And I'm talking just 60 miles north of highway 2. Like that's way north.. No, it's not.

-Steve

jdb · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2015, 01:38:30 PM »

I saw fresh bear sign the last week in January and again last weekend

JackOfAllTrades · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2015, 01:47:12 PM »

Recent trail reports:

"Up at Twin Lakes, I estimate the snow depth is about 2-3 feet - you could see just the top of the signs" (That's 5,000')

" Once you reach the pass, if you would like to reach Excelsior Peak, you will DEFINITELY NEED snowshoes." (The peak is 5,700', but the pass is about 4,900')

I know people are snow shoeing at Artist point.

-Steve

jackelope · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2015, 01:47:54 PM »

Quote from: JackOfAllTrades on February 17, 2015, 01:34:16 PM

Quote from: jackelope on February 17, 2015, 12:55:28 PM
Do bears really hibernate on the west side?

Yup! Mountain black bears do hibernate on the west side. We have snow up north... Not as much as we should have, but we do have snow above 4,000'. Many dens above that elevation are certainly snowed in. Lowland bears take 'extended sleeps'. Shortened terms of hibernation where they'll wake up once in a while. Come out to get rid of waste, feed on what's available, go back to sleep. Seeing a blacky up here before March is pretty rare. And I'm talking just 60 miles north of highway 2. Like that's way north.. No, it's not.

-Steve

I was standing at about 4000' one week ago when I took this picture.

Yelper Guy · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2015, 02:17:08 PM »

I agree Jonathan - the light patterns don't promote coming out of hibernation yet & there is very little to eat. The temperatures however would surely have them stirring, maybe even a short walk-about?

h20hunter · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2015, 02:18:16 PM »

I think they do get up and about from time to time. Maybe Saylean....maybe Billythekidrock....somebody posted a pic of fresh bear tracks in the snow.

Biggerhammer · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2015, 02:48:35 PM »

Had sow tracks with a couple Cubs right down the center of the driveway the other morning on Badger Mtn in Douglas County.

blackveltbowhunter · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2015, 03:09:19 PM »

Dunno how much it varies from region to region, ( I assume quite a bit )I have heard of guys seeing them in January in Lewis county. But have never seen any myself that early. This pic was this weekend but was taken in Southern Oregon. By his behavior I'm assuming he was just out from a den, he was groggy and acted punch drunk. Still cool to see.

jay.sharkbait · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2015, 03:20:17 PM »

I read some of the collars are starting to move.

mountainman · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2015, 04:13:27 PM »

Single bears may be out for short walks. Sows with new cubs will stay in dens for another month or so. Not enough new green up in eastern washington yet. When you see them spending time in or near water, you'll know they are out for good!

Houndhunter · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2015, 07:24:03 PM »

A grizz was spotted outside of Ennis MT last week, I'm new to MT but supposedly that is unheard of for February. If this warm trend continues, it should be an awesome spring bear season.

-Trap_addicT- · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2015, 08:43:48 PM »

I lived in Ennis for two years. I remember seeing Grizzly tracks in the snow in February. I never saw a black bear the whole time I lived there. I think those grizzlies get up and move around at various times through winter. Winters a different story in Madison Valley though.

Limhangerslayer · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2015, 09:15:25 PM »

A lot of bears hibernate in north slopes so they don't come out of hibernation early. In a lot of areas like the blues their migration is opposite of deer and elk. They go higher and then come down in the spring when they wake up. Then follow food accordingly.

JackOfAllTrades · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2015, 12:38:50 PM »

Jackelope, I have a love/hate with your recent photos. It's about time we had an early blueberry season! But we need that snow pack.

Scroll down about mid page. http://www.mtbaker.us/snow-report

We've had years that there were late winter/early spring snows that made up for lack of normal amounts through the early part of the year.

Hopefully winter isn't over yet.

-Steve

huntnnw · « **Reply #20 on:** February 18, 2015, 10:36:36 PM »

light or no light if there is a sustainable food source a bear will not hibernate. There was a bear out near plummer,ID 3 weeks ago!

RadSav · « **Reply #21 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:45:04 PM »

I sure hope the cold weather comes back soon. These early warm spells can really hurt the cub populations. Boars wake up hungry, no good source of food yet except tiny little cubs with no development to escape. Also, in the NE the wolves will make short work of these cubs who are unable to climb well too. The wolves will hammer the small sows rather easily if they try to protect the young cubs. I'd much rather they were covered up by a few feet of snow for another couple months! Of course I expect the timber companies are loving this...until the fires come early and stick around late.

Gutpile · « **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2015, 06:34:39 AM »

My girlfriend is a ski instructor on Mt. Spokane for special needs kids and she said one of the other instructors or a park employee saw one a short while ago. Doesn't surprise me with the total lack of snow this year. They'll probably go back in though because there's still no green grass

Southpole · « **Reply #23 on:** February 19, 2015, 07:07:53 AM »

Quote from: RadSav on February 18, 2015, 11:45:04 PM

I sure hope the cold weather comes back soon. These early warm spells can really hurt the cub populations. Boars wake up hungry, no good source of food yet except tiny little cubs with no development to escape. Also, in the NE the wolves will make short work of these cubs who are unable to climb well too. The wolves will hammer the small sows rather easily if they try to protect the young cubs. I'd much rather they were covered up by a few feet of snow for another couple months! Of course I expect the timber companies are loving this...until the fires come early and stick around late.

The timber companies loved it too much. Off topic but, a friend of mine that runs processor is going to be laid off for awhile. The mills aren't taking anymore logs because they're getting flooded with wood and the lumber prices are going in the toilet.

Jonathan_S · « **Reply #24 on:** February 19, 2015, 07:33:04 AM »

Quote from: RadSav on February 18, 2015, 11:45:04 PM

I sure hope the cold weather comes back soon. These early warm spells can really hurt the cub populations. Boars wake up hungry, no good source of food yet except tiny little cubs with no development to escape. Also, in the NE the wolves will make short work of these cubs who are unable to climb well too. The wolves will hammer the small sows rather easily if they try to protect the young cubs. I'd much rather they were covered up by a few feet of snow for another couple months! Of course I expect the timber companies are loving this...until the fires come early and stick around late.

Wish we could have sensible bear management. However, in some places, that is not necessarily a bad thing. As long as a Saber Tooth could then come in and kill the wolves

Sumpnneedskillin · « **Reply #25 on:** February 19, 2015, 08:49:23 AM »

Yellowstone National Park reported on 9 Feb they saw their first grizzly up and moving around. Been a couple more seen since.

buckcanyonlodge · « **Reply #26 on:** February 25, 2015, 07:16:13 PM »

Lady that owns the property next to one of my leases had a bear in her drive way last week-end . Just off the Addy/Gifford Road. It was checking out her chickens...

HoofsandWings · « **Reply #27 on:** February 26, 2015, 11:49:35 AM »

Quote from: CAMPMEAT on February 17, 2015, 01:03:41 PM

The grass is starting to sprout and the trees are already showing signs of turning green too.. The snow is pretty much gone except in the mountains and some logging roads in the canyons.....I applied for my spring bear tag.

If you draw one, all you have to do is sit on your porch and wait for one to go by. Curlew is in the center of the unit.

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Author Topic: Is Yogi up from his nap yet? (Read 11176 times)

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