2017 bear harvest by town - maine.gov bear harvest.pdf · a lp t t 36 md bpp t2 6 ed b p m eyb mps...

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Jay

Lee

York

Saco

Bath

Alna

Stow

Hope

Weld

Gray

Peru

Knox

Rome

Troy

Otis

EtnaAvon

Milo

Winn

Wade

Acton

El iot

Wells

Lyman

Hiram

WalesMinot

Union

Paris

Leeds

Wayne

China

Ca sco

Waldo

BealsSurry

T7 SD

Newry

T8 SDUnity

T9 SD

UptonByron

Anson

Orono

Lubec

Solon

Perry

Alton

T3 ND

Abbot T4 ND

Sebec

Waite

Amity

E Twp

Alfred

Day ton

Hollis

Buxton

Porter

Pownal

Durham

Bremen

LisbonPoland

WarrenSwedenAuburn

Oxford

Ca mdenHebron

GreeneLovell

Norway

Turner

Gilead

Sumner

Bethel

Holden

Wilton

Temple

Gorham

Sebag o

Naples

Sidney

Ca nton

VeronaBrooksAlbion

Vienna

MexicoBenton

Orland

Monroe

T10 SD

Mercer

DedhamCutler

T16 MD

Starks

Brewer OsbornCa rmelStrong

T22 MD

Ca naan

VeazieHermon

Bangor

AuroraLevant T28 MD

MadridEmbden

T32 MD

Wesley

AthensExeter

T34 MD

T35 MDHudsonCooper

Ripley

DexterT39 MD

T40 MD T41 MD

Baring

Moscow

Ca lais

Eustis

Lowell

Monson

Medway

Weston

Orient

Patten

Hersey

LudlowSmyrna

Blaine

Ea ston

Perham

Hamlin

Kittery

Berwick

Cornish

BristolTopsham

Cushing

Denmark

Bowdoin

Dresden

Chelsea

Tremont

Windsor

Augusta

BelmontLiberty

Ca stine

Palermo

Morrill Belfast

Fayette

Arundel

Waltha m

Bradley

Windham

Baldwin

Raymond

Lebanon

Sanford

Trenton

LamoineHanover Freedom

Winslow

Hancock

Steuben

Oakland

Rumford

Addison

Jackson

Andover

Cl intonRoxbury

Machia sDixmont

Burnha m

DebloisHampden

DetroitWhiting

Cl ifton

PalmyraMadison

AmherstNewport Stetson

Corinna

Harmony Corinth Milford

Bing ham

Garland

Parkman

HowlandEnfieldMedford

Shirley Lincoln

Chester

Jackman

Sherman

Crystal

Linneus Hodgdon

Houlton

Merrill

Hammond

Chapman

Ashland

Ca ribou

Ca swell

Cy r Plt

Newfield

Ogunquit

Portland

Limerick

Fa lmouth

Yarmouth

Arrowsic

Freeport

Boothbay

Westport

EdgecombWoolwich

Sabattus

Fryeburg

RichmondRockland

Lewiston

RockportPittstonGardiner

Monmouth

Stoneham

WinthropAppleton

Isleboro

Hartford

Glenburn

Ca rtha ge

Standish

Bridgton

Harrison

Brooklin

Sedgwick

Sorrento

Sullivan

Belgrade

Dixfield Prospect

Franklin

Columbia

Newburgh

PlymouthIndustry

Phill ips

Hartland

Ea stport

Old TownPembroke

Ra ngeley

Crawford

Lang Twp Bradford

Atkinson

Edinburg

Lagrange

GuilfordCa ratunk

Maxfield

Talmadge

Dyer Twp

Drew Plt

Danforth

Reed PltBancroft

Ca ry Plt

Oakfield

Moro Plt

Masa rdis

Mapleton

Washburn

Woodland

Allagash

Shapleigh

Waterboro

Limington

SouthportHarpswell

West Bath

Brunswick

Wisca sset

Owls Hea d

Newcastle

ThomastonNobleboro

Waldoboro

Jefferson

Waterford

HallowellBuckfield

Northport

Mason Twp

Greenwood

Readfield

Searsmont

WoodstockLivermore

Blue Hill

Kennebunk

Biddeford

Fort Kent

Madawaska

Otisfield

Montville

PenobscotSearsport

Riley Twp

Swanville

Milbridge

FrankfortThorndikeJonesport

Unity Twp

Ellsworth

Fa irfield

Bucksport

Jonesboro

Ea stbrook

OrringtonC Surplus

Skowhegan

Cornville

Salem Twp

No 14 Twp

Kingfield

Ca mbridge Charlotte

Davis Twp Greenbush

Alexander

Wyman TwpNo 21 Twp

Princeton

T5 ND BPP

T6 ND BPPOxbow Twp

LakevilleBowerbank

Kibby Twp

T2 R8 NWP

T7 R9 NWP

T5 R9 NWPTopsfield

T4 R9 NWPT3 R9 NWP

T2 R9 NWP

Woodville

VanceboroHoleb Twp

Big W Twp

Littleton

Oxbow Plt

Westfield Mars Hill

Limestone

Stockholm

Van Buren

Phipp sburg

Brownfield

Bowdoinham

Vinalhav en

FrenchboroLitchfield

Whitefield

Washington

West ParisAlbany Twp

Manchester

Vassalboro

Milton Twp

Mariaville

Greenville

T1 R8 WEL S

T2 R9 WELS

T3 R8 WELS

T4 R9 WELS

T5 R8 WELS

T6 R7 WELS

TA R7 WELS

Stonington

Gouldsboro

Harrington

SmithfieldWinterportNew Sharon

Fa rming ton

T18 MD BPP

T19 MD BPP MarshfieldPittsfieldTownship C Township D

Beddington

Township E T24 MD BPP Northfield

T25 MD BPPMarion Twp

T18 ED BPP

T30 MD BPP

T31 MD BPP

Great Pond T19 ED BPP

Dalla s PltT36 MD BPP

T26 ED BPP

MeddybempsWellington Charleston

Robbinston

Coplin Plt T42 MD BPPSummit Twp

T43 MD BPP

Burlington

India n TwpT3 R1 NBPP

T5 R1 NBPP

Fowler Twp

Brownv illeMoxie Gore

T8 R3 NBPP

Long A TwpMisery Twp

Forest Twp

Attean Twp

T8 R4 NBPP

T1 R5 WELST1 R6 WELS

T2 R4 WELS

Blake Gore

T3 R7 WELS

T3 R4 WELST3 R3 WELS

TA R2 WELST4 R5 NBKP T4 R7 WELS

T4 R3 WELS

Dyer Brook

T7 R7 WELS T7 R5 WEL S Dudley Twp

T7 R9 WELS

TC R2 WELS MonticelloT8 R5 WELST8 R7 WELST8 R9 WEL S

TD R2 WEL ST9 R7 WELS

T9 R5 WELST9 R4 WELS

T9 R9 WELS

New Sweden

Connor Twp

Ea gle Lake

Wallagrass

New Ca nada

Grand Isle

Scarboroug h

Perkins Twp

North Haven

Fa rming dale

Brooksville

Skinner Twp

Gorham Gore

T9 R18 WEL S

Frenchv ille

Millinocket

T3 R11 WELS

T4 R11 WELS

T5 R11 WELS

Grafton Twp

Cherryfield

Machia sport

Centerville

Edmunds TwpFreeman Twp

Lincoln Plt

Concord Twp

Sangerville

Bigelow Twp Baileyville

Bowtown TwpWillimantic

Seboeis Plt

Coburn Gore

SpringfieldCa rroll Plt

Kossuth Twp

Webster Plt

TB R10 WELSBeaver CoveBeattie Twp

Sapling Twp Kingman Twp

TA R10 WELS

Forsyth Twp

Moose River

T1 R11 WELST1 R13 WELS

Brassua Twp

T2 R12 WELSHaynesville

Lobster Twp Staceyv illeHammond Twp

T4 R13 WELST4 R15 WELST4 R17 WELS

T5 R14 WELS Mount ChaseT5 R17 WEL ST5 R19 WELS

T6 R14 WELS T6 R12 WELST6 R17 WELST6 R10 WELS

Big Six Twp

T7 R12 WELST7 R18 WELS T7 R14 WELST7 R16 WELS

T8 R19 WEL S T8 R17 WELS T8 R15 WELS T8 R11 WEL S

BridgewaterT9 R11 WELST9 R13 WELS

T9 R15 WELS

T10 R7 WELS

Squapan TwpT10 R9 WELSBig Ten Twp

T11 R7 WELST11 R9 WELST11 R4 WELS

T12 R7 WELS Ca stle HillT12 R9 WELS

T13 R7 WELS T13 R5 WEL ST13 R9 WELS

T14 R7 WELS

T14 R9 WELST14 R5 WELS

T15 R8 WELS T15 R6 WELS

T16 R9 WELS T16 R5 WELS

T17 R4 WELS

Parsonsfield

Saint Georg e

Isle Au Haut

Swans Island

Lincolnville

Mount Desert

Roque Bluffs

Saint Agatha

Lily Bay Twp

Mount Vernon

Norridgewock

Trescott Twp

Ra ngeley PltNew Portland

Saint Albans

Brighton Plt

Highland Plt

May field Twp

Tim Pond Twp

Jim Pond Twp

Appleton Twp Prentiss Twp

Mattawamkeag

Brookton Twp

Molunk us TwpShawtown Twp

Prentiss Twp

Plymouth Twp

Island Falls

New L imerick

T10 R11 WELST10 R13 WELST10 R15 WELS

Garfield PltT11 R11 WELS

T11 R13 WELS

T11 R15 WELST11 R17 WELS

T12 R11 WELST12 R13 WELS

T12 R15 WELST12 R17 WELS

Presque Isle

T13 R11 WELST13 R13 WELST13 R15 WELS

T14 R13 WELS T14 R11 WELST14 R15 WELS

T15 R10 WELST15 R12 WELST15 R14 WELS

T16 R12 WELST16 R14 WELS

T17 R14 WELST17 R12 WELS

T18 R12 WELS

T18 R10 WELS

T19 R12 WELS

South Berwick

North Berwick

West Gardiner

Hibberts Gore

Winter Harbor

Big Squaw Twp

Devereaux Twp

Redington Twp

Lynchtown Twp

Kingsbury Plt

Orneville Twp

Flagstaff TwpBlanchard Twp

T3 R5 BKP WKR

Lake View Plt

T5 R6 BK P WKR

Codyville Plt

Long Pond Twp

Sandy Bay Twp

Benedicta Twp

Seboomook Twp

Saint Francis

South Portland

North Ya rmouth

New G loucester

Mechanic Falls

Columbia Falls

Magalloway Plt

Greenfield Twp

Parkertown Twp

Dover-Foxcroft

Bowmantown Twp

Ea st Moxie Twp

Squaretown Twp

Bradstreet Twp

Dennistown Plt

Ea gle Lake Twp

Fort Fairfield

Saint John Plt

Big Twenty Twp

Boothbay Ha rbor

South Thomaston

Sandy River Plt

Grand Fa lls Twp

Seven Ponds Twp

Pierce Pond Twp

Forest City Twp

Soldiertown TwpAlder Brook Twp

Little Squaw Twp

Chase Stream Twp

Lambert Lake Twp

Elliottsville Twp

Bar Ha rbor

Richardsontown Twp

Ca rra basset Va lley

Mattamiscontis Twp

Massachussets Gore

Upper Molunkus Twp

Lower Encha nted Twp

Upper Enchanted Twp

Andover North Surplus

Grand Lake Strm

Ca rrying Place Town

Katahdin Iron Works

Township 6 North of Weld

Rockwood Strip

Hopkins Academy G rant Twp

Ea st Middlesex Ca nal Grant Twp

Bowdoin Coll Grant East

Westbrook

Eddington

Cumberland

Georgetown

Friendship

Somerville

T1 R9 WELS

T2 R8 WELS

T5 R7 WEL ST5 R9 WELS

T6 R8 WEL S

Waterville

Kendusk ea g

T37 MD BPP

Argyle Twp

T27 ED BPP

T6 R1 NBPP

T4 R8 WEL S

T6 R6 WELS

T7 R6 WELST7 R8 WELS

T8 R3 WELST8 R6 WEL S

T8 R8 WELS

T9 R3 WELS

T9 R8 WEL S

Perkins Twp

T2 R10 WELS

T3 R10 WELS

T4 R10 WELS

Dennysville

Barnard Twp

TB R11 WELS

T11 R3 NBPP

TA R11 WELS

T1 R10 WELST1 R12 WELS

T2 R13 WELSRa inbow Twp

T3 R12 WELST3 R13 WELS

T4 R12 WELST4 R14 WELS

T5 R12 WEL ST5 R15 WELS

T5 R18 WELS

T5 R20 WELS

T6 R13 WELST6 R15 WELS

T6 R11 WELST6 R18 WEL S

T7 R10 WELS

T7 R11 WELST7 R17 WELS T7 R13 WELST7 R19 WELS

T7 R15 WEL S

T8 R16 WEL S T8 R10 WELST8 R14 WEL ST8 R18 WELS

T9 R10 WELST9 R12 WELST9 R14 WELST9 R16 WELS

T9 R17 WELS

T10 R6 WELST10 R8 WELST10 R3 WELS

T11 R8 WEL S

T12 R8 WELS

T13 R8 WELS

T14 R6 WELST14 R8 WEL S

T15 R9 WELS

T15 R5 WELS

Westma nla nd

T16 R8 WEL S

T16 R6 WELS

T16 R4 WELS

T17 R5 WEL ST17 R3 WELS

Dama riscotta

Chesterville

Whitneyville

Ea st Machia s

New V ineyard

Passadumkeag

Macwahoc Plt

Glenwood Plt

Comstock Twp

T10 R10 WEL ST10 R12 WELST10 R14 WELST10 R16 WELS

T11 R10 WELST11 R12 WELST11 R14 WELST11 R16 WELS

T12 R12 WELS T12 R10 WELST12 R14 WELST12 R16 WELS

Portage Lak e

T13 R10 WELST13 R12 WELST13 R14 WELS

T13 R16 WELS

T14 R10 WELS

T14 R12 WELS

T14 R14 WELST14 R16 WELS

T15 R11 WELST15 R13 WELST15 R15 WELS

T16 R13 WELS

T17 R13 WELS

T18 R13 WELS

T18 R11 WEL S

T19 R11 WELS

Kennebunkport

South Bristol

Adamstown Twp

Deer Isle

Lexington Twp

T3 R4 BKP WKR

The Forks Plt

Hobbstown Twp

T5 R7 BKP WKR

Thorndike Twp

Forkstown Twp

Nashville Plt

Ca pe El izabeth

Grindstone Twp

Dead River

West Forks Plt

Lowelltown Twp

Frenchtown Twp

Herseytown Twp

Dole Brook Twp

Elm Stream Twp

Chesuncook Twp

Saint John Twp

Webbertown Twp

Livermore Falls

Spencer Bay Twp

Trout Brook Twp

Mount Abram Twp

Stetsontown Twp

Parmachenee Twp

Parlin Pond Twp

Saint Croix

Winterville Plt

Southwest Harbor

Stockton Springs

Alder Stream Twp

Willia msburg Twp

Silver Ridge TwpSoldiertown Twp.

Russell Pond Twp

Old Orchard Beach

Merrill Strip Twp

Nesourdnahunk Twp

India n Stream Twp

Mount Katahdin Twp

Pleasant Ridge Plt

Ca rrying Place

Chain of Ponds Twp

Soper Mountain Twp

Lower Cupsuptic Twp

Upper Cupsuptic Twp

King & Bartlett Twp

Northeast Carry Twp

Johnson Mountain Twp

Batchelders G rant Twp

Day s Academy Grant Twp

T4 Indian Purcha se

T3 Indian Purchase Twp

Pittston Acad. Grant

Bald Mountain Twp T2 R3

Bald Mountain

Andover W.

Sandwich Acad. Grant

W. Middlesex Canal Grant

Bowdoin CollGrant West

N. Yarmouth Acad. Grant

T+R

29

8

4

5

7

1

6

2

9

27

3

11

17

18 19

28

15

12

10

262316

25

14

21

20

22

13

24

8

1

7

8

7

2

7

7

2

4

20

2

8

6

65

4

6

9

2

2

4

7

3

8

6

3

4

3

2

4

7

3

2

6

4

2

9

5

5

7

1

3

1

2

1

2

3

5

1

1

2

3

4

5

5

8

9

3

5

2

3

3

1

3

8

2

9

1

5

3

2

4

33

4

4

1

32

2

1

1

6

6

1

2

2

3

4 2

1

3

2

5

5

2

3

1

5

2

86

7

1

5

3

5

3

2

4

1

2

6

7 4

1

2

5

4

5

3

8

6

4

2

3

2

35

3

6

2

1 6

2

6

2

3

5

1

9

4

42

5

1

8

10

4

2

6

4 4

7

8

9 9

5

9

8

3

3

6

7 9

6

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3

7

8

5

1

1

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6

6

2

6

7

3

4

3

6

9

4

3

1

1

3

1

5

7

1

28

6

23

1

6

4

3

4

4

2

1

2

81

5

3

1

3

1

3

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8

6

4

8

9

2

6

1

1

3

6

3

8

3

9

7

1

3

6

1

9 6

5

2

1

3

7

4

5

76

1

9

3

6

4

2

84

3

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24

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3

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13

1

1

1

2

1

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4

3

9

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4

1

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54

2

4

8

5

1

2

2

9

2

2

4

5

6

4

2

6

7

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7

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4

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2

4 2

3

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71

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85

4

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4

38

2

2

1

8

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9

4

9

1

7

1

3

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1

1

1

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1

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31

1

2

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42

3

3

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8

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74

2

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11

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91

13

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104

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135

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641

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3

2017 Bear Harvest by Town

Wildlife Management DistrictsTownships

WMD # of Bears1 1432 1343 1884 1825 1736 2267 1198 2399 118

10 10511 22312 10513 5414 8315 6716 1017 6218 17619 16320 1021 322 123 024 025 126 5927 6828 17429 0

Unreported 11State 2,897

Male 1,688Female 1,186Unreported 23

By Hunter ResidenceResidents 1,085Nonresidents 1,802Unreported 0

Page 2

2017 Maine Black Bear Season

Starting in 2015, youth hunters are permitted to hunt the Saturday prior to the opening of the season. The general

hunting season for black bears opens the last Monday in August and closes the last Saturday in November. Hunters

are allowed to hunt bears near natural food sources or by still-hunting throughout the entire three-month season.

Hunting over bait was permitted from August 26 through September 23. The hound season overlapped the bait

season, opening September 11 and closing October 27. The bear trapping season opened September 1 and closed

October 31. Bear hunters can take two bears if one is taken by trapping and the other by hunting. This year, 22

hunters/trappers harvested two bears and 35 youth hunters shot a bear on youth day.

Since 2005, harvest has declined below objectives with between 2,400 to 3,486 bears harvested annually. This fall,

2,897 bears were taken during the 13-week fall season providing approximately 23,000 pounds of bear meat to

hunters and their families. Most bears (92%) were taken with the use of bait, dogs, or traps: 1,927 bears were

harvested over bait (67%), 614 bears were taken by hunters using trained bear dogs (21%), and 126 bears were

taken in traps (4%). Only four percent were taken by other methods: 87 bears were harvested by deer hunters and

38 by spot/stalk or still-hunting. One hundred and five bears (3%) were taken by unreported methods. Most bears

(84%) were harvested earlier in the season with 2,428 bears harvested before the end of September. Natural food

abundance varies from year to year. Often, a year of high abundance is followed by a year of lower abundance or

vice versa. However, this year harvest was similar to last year. The abundance of beech nuts and acorns in northern

and eastern Maine likely influenced the low bait harvest (67%).

Geographic Distribution of the Harvest

Bears were harvested in 26 of 29 Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) with no bears taken in WMDs 23, 24, or 29.

The density of harvest expressed as the number of bears killed per 100 square miles of forested land was greatest in

WMDs 28, 3, and 6 at 21-24 bears/100 mi2 and lowest in WMD 22 with <1 bear/100mi2. In all other WMDs, hunters

harvested between two and 15 bears/100 mi2 (statewide average of 10 bears/100 mi2). Bears were harvested in 13

of the state’s 16 counties. No bears were taken in Knox, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc counties and between one and

eight bears were harvested in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, and Waldo counties.

Residence of Successful Hunters

Maine’s reputation for producing high-quality bear hunting was again reflected in the distribution of the harvest by

hunter residency. Visitors to Maine killed 1,809 bears of the 2,897 bears (62%) tagged during 2017. Non-resident

hunters shot most of the bears (67%) taken over bait and with the use of hounds (66%), although bait hunting

remained popular among resident hunters with 58% of successful resident hunters taking their bear over bait.

Although fewer bears were taken during the deer season, in traps, or by spot and stalk methods, Maine residents

accounted for the majority (82%, 80%, and 71%, respectively) of the bears taken during those seasons.

Assistance by Registered Maine Guides

In 2017, guides assisted 303 residents (28%) and 1,586 non-residents (88%) with their successful hunts. Assistance

by guides accounting for 82% of bears harvested with trained bear dogs, 69% of the bears taken over bait, 25% of

trapped bears, 12% of bears taken by unreported method, and 18% of bears taken by spot/stalk/still-hunt methods.

Sex and Age Distribution of the Harvest

Males made up 58% (1,688 bears) of the 2017 harvest. Adult bears accounted for 94% (2,710 bears) of the harvest

and sex and age were not reported for an additional 23 bears (<1%).

Prospects for the 2018 season

Since 1997, the Department has adopted a generic bear season framework to maintain consistent hunting periods.

However, bear hunting regulations can be modified in response to changes in Maine’s bear population or other

management concerns. The 2018 season will remain similar to recent years, opening with a youth day the last

Saturday in August (25th). The general season will open the following Monday (August 27th) and will close the last

Saturday in November (24th). Successful hunts are influenced by a variety of factors, but natural food availability is

often the most influential. In years with an abundance of soft or hard mast crops, hunters hunting over bait

experience lower success, while deer hunters and hunters that pursue bears with hounds have additional opportunity

as bears remain out foraging on abundant food crops longer than in years with poor food abundance.