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December 21, 2011 By Sarah Rich
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game relaunched its official website in August with a new program to help people learn about the differences between grizzly and black bears in the state.
According to the website, the program is intended to help “manage black bears responsibly while protecting grizzly bears where the ranges of the two species overlap.”
The program includes a training section with an overview of the differences between the two bears, training videos and a 15-question bear identification exam. Test takers who pass the exam, can print out a certificate.
“Portions of northern and eastern Idaho are home to both black and grizzly bears. It is important for bear hunters to properly identify their target because of the protection offered grizzlies by the Endangered Species Act and because the two types of bears generally react differently to humans,” according to a statement from the Fish and Game Department. “Even for people not hunting bears, learning how to tell the difference between the two species can be critical to surviving a surprise encounter with a bear.”
Although hunters should be knowledgeable of the distinctions between the two types of bears, the bear identification training program is voluntary for anyone who takes it.
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Ummm...here's a clue: Black bears are black and grizzlies...aren't
Ummm...Maybe you should check your facts before throwing out sarcastic humor...Black bears can come in a myriad of colors, including white, and can look very similar in color to grizzlies. The major difference lies in their body structure which is very different between the 2 species. The differences are fairly easy to discern if people would take the time to identify their target before "pulling the trigger."
Maybe. But sarcastic humor gets your name listed under Reader Feedback! Good point, however, there are no black grizzlies of which I am aware. So if you treated all bears that aren't black as grizzlies, you would: 1. Not accidently shoot a grizzly. (No black = no shoot) 2. Not as likely get killed by a grizzly. (No black = stay away/treat as grizzly) You do not need an article when using the word "myriad". Black bears come in "myriad colors", not "a myriad of colors". Use the word myriad as you would use the word many.
On his first trip out west, an Eastcoast Greenhorn was told that if you carry little silver bells (think Santa Clause type jingle bells) pinned to your clothing, the noise will alert the bears of your presence well before you see them and the bears will avoid you; hence, no "surprise" encounters with either species. Also, if he looked at the bear scat on the trail, he will notice that black bear scat contains bits and pieces of nuts and berries, whereas Grizzly bear scat will contain bits and pieces of little silver bells.
Thanks, Pa!
Funny!