REGIONAL— Despite a good berry year across much of the North Country, the intensifying drought conditions may work to the benefit of bear hunters when they head for their hunting stands starting Tuesday, Sept. 1.
“I’m surprised at how great the [bear] baits are getting hit despite the decent berry year we had,” said Jessica Holmes, DNR Tower area wildlife manager. Holmes was commenting as part of an open house last Thursday, part of a statewide effort by the DNR to answer wildlife questions from the public.
Bears experience what is known as “hyperphagia” starting in late summer, which prompts them to feed voraciously to add as much fat as possible before denning up for the winter. Strong berry crops in a normal year can carry bears into the fall, which can make hunter’s baits less attractive.
The increasing drought, however, may have ended peak berry season earlier than usual this year, leaving bears looking for alternatives— and hunter baits can fit the bill for some. The entire region is now in severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The same conditions have prompted an increase in nuisance bear complaints in the past couple weeks, according to Holmes. “So, I think we’re transitioning into the problem bear season,” said Holmes. She said that typically happens right around the start of the bear season, but it seems to be starting a week to ten days early this year.
Given the uncertainty, Holmes wasn’t making any predictions for hunter success. “You would think that it would be a lower success rate with the great bear foods that we had,” she said. But she’s hedging her bets given the relatively quick phase-out of the berry crops.
“We’ll see what the numbers pump out,” she said.