Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: johns8168 on September 04, 2014, 09:06:59 AM

Title: Bears and Blackberries
Post by: johns8168 on September 04, 2014, 09:06:59 AM: Hey guys, while I was out this past weekend (it was a great hunt, missed a bear, but I am not going to dwell on that!) I noticed that about 2/3 of the blackberries are ripe on most bushes but I don't see any sign of bears eating them (nipped ends, tracks, disturbed brush etc). I would have thought the bears would be all over these berries but nothing.

I was hoping that some of you experienced fellas could shed some light on this, is it still too early for blackberries or is there other food sources they prefer to blackberries this time of year?
Title: Re: Bears and Blackberries
Post by: Katmai Guy on September 04, 2014, 09:27:56 AM: I've found that they wait until the majority of the clump of berries is really sweet before they will really key in on them. I've got a spot that only has really ripe blackberries in it and the bears are just showing up now. JMHO.
Title: Re: Bears and Blackberries
Post by: jackelope on September 04, 2014, 09:58:44 AM: Are you sure you're talking blackberries? Because they've been ripe for a long time.
Title: Re: Bears and Blackberries
Post by: johns8168 on September 04, 2014, 10:35:57 AM: Most of what I see is the cut leaf black berries but do have some areas of the himalayan as well, they are actually just a bit more ripe than shown on the link below.

http://bangerlm.blogspot.com/2010/09/wild-berries-in-western-washington.html (http://bangerlm.blogspot.com/2010/09/wild-berries-in-western-washington.html)
Title: Re: Bears and Blackberries
Post by: billythekidrock on September 04, 2014, 11:15:46 AM: I still see a lot of the Himalayan Black Berries with green berries and even saw a couple with flowers the other day. In this patch I found where a bear has sat at least twice to eat them, but there are still a ton left. I have not seen many native bb for a few weeks.

In my area every other berry is ripe. The Salal Berries and Evergreen huck are going nuts and I am pretty sure this is what the bears are feeding on in my area.