Bear Den Visit

As the Executive Director of the Maine Professional Guides Association I once in a while have some great opportunities like judging moose calling events or going along on a research visit to a bear den in northern Maine. Last week we were the guests of the Wildlife Research Foundation the folks who put a live video feed in a bear den this winter but this research has been going on for many years.  I first visited a den with a legislative committee in the middle 1990’s.

The research is the basis that allows for the bear hunt each fall; measuring the bear population along with their health and reproductive success each year. Over time a great amount of knowledge about our bear population has been gained. Allowing us to support an economically important hunt along with a stable bear population.  The dens are fascinating but not nearly as much as the bear cubs that always steal the show.

This bear is in an area of northern Maine about 20 miles west of Ashland, actually very close to areas I take grouse hunters to in October. As you can see the temperatures were pleasant and like everywhere else the snow nearly gone.

A big thank you to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Wildlife Research Foundation for making this visit possible.