Staying in tune with spring’s green wave
By Kris Inman EBS CONTRIBUTOR
In high elevation regions, spring rolls out in what wildlife
researchers have coined the “Green Wave.” Bright green shoots and trees bud out
at lower elevations and make a slow climb up the mountains. Herbivores like
elk, deer and pronghorn follow this green wave, feeding on fresh vegetation
after a long winter of living on old, decadent vegetation.
Bears, as omnivores and opportunistic feeders, have been
waiting since they emerged from their dens to take advantage of spring’s green
up, eating young grasses, cow parsnip and other vegetation as it blossoms and
unfurls its leaves.
Not surprisingly, as people often report in Big Sky, bears
are seen in the first areas to green up.
As spring progresses and moves into summer, meat becomes an
important part of a bear’s diet as elk begin calving and deer have their fawns.
Later in the summer, if it is a good year for the fluctuating seed crops of
whitebark pine trees, red squirrels will take to their job of clipping the whitebark
pine cones and storing them in middens at the base of the trees. Bears root
these pine cones out as a high-protein food source to get them through the
upcoming winter. In the meantime, insects and berries will satisfy a bear’s
diet.
This is how we would like to see bears behave: following the
natural flow of the food nature provides. But, because bears are well-adapted
to take advantage of a variety of natural food sources, this same behavior
makes it easy for a bear to turn to anthropogenic attractants, like trash,
coolers and pet foods, that are also readily available.
At this time of the year, when the green wave makes its way
to the golf courses, ski runs, open spaces and stream beds, bears will be drawn
closer to people. As residents and visitors, you can do your part to keep bears
and Big Sky wild by storing pet foods inside, burning off your grill for 10
minutes after use, keeping grease in a bear-resistant container, and bringing
in the bird feeders until next winter.
To learn more about bears and the actions you can take to
reduce human conflicts with bears, follow Bernadette Bear on social media @bearsmartbigsky.
Help support Bernadette in her campaign to create a more bear-safe and
bear-aware community in Big Sky, and look for the launch of our “What’s Your
Wild Wednesday’s” on social media.
Kris Inman is the
community partnerships coordinator for the Wildlife Conservation Society and
oversees the Bear Smart Big Sky campaign.