Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Misconceptions About Black Bears: A Response to Geist (2011)
Date of this Version
Fall 2011
Document Type
Article
Citation
Human–Wildlife Interactions (Fall 2011) 5(2): article 3
doi: 10.26077/azvp-2212
Special topic: Bird strikes
Abstract
We read with interest the commentary by Valerius Geist on habituation (Geist 2011). Dr. Geist is a world authority on ungulate behavior, but his statements about bears reflect misconceptions that he supported with anecdotes rather than with systematic observations that characterized his ungulate research. When someone of his stature uncritically extrapolates from ungulates to bears in this way, he sets back bear management, promotes the sensationalized image of bears, and makes people unwilling to coexist with animals that they fear.
. . .
The extent to which bears are the subjects of misconceptions and exaggerations is becoming ever more apparent. Misconceptions about black bears are too often the basis for advice, bear management decisions. With more and more people moving into bear habitat, there is a need to reexamine our beliefs about bears. Warnings about bears should go beyond agency desires to limit liability. Warnings should be quantified to provide the public with information useful in assessing risks and benefits of coexisting with bears.