THE BEAR FACTS

This Is The Way I Rehabilitate Bears:o)

These Cubs Are Age 16 weeks foraging on young oak leaves.

Take Note:The amount of bears that are in need of rehabilitation, and returned to the wild; will not have any substantial effect on the overall population (there is anywhere from: 29,000 to 31,000 bears in Maine as stands to date) The behavioral research that continues to be gathered is significant data,and too by understanding how bears In rehabilitation vary from bears within the wild population is important to me,and I hope that through this process; I will affect others in reference to how they may think about "the bear rehabilitation process" Time gives answers and my #1 focus Is to gain insight on whether or not my rehabilitation method is working;from gathering behavioral patterns while in captivity ,and biologist gathering data once the bears are living in the wild.It is important to take into account other variances that can effect all bears including rehabilitated bears once placed within the population,and how natural food sources may vary within that particular habitat,and how other natural , and non natural effects that take place can effect bears in general;they may have to adjust,and indeed adapt within the variances that nature and other circumstances hands them.Take Note: through the rehabilitation process bears in the wild that are rescued are just being given a second chance ;because there #'s are not of substance,thus should not effect bear conservation = If a bear cub and /or yearling is in need of help,and care; the humane thing to do is to rescue the bear cubs/bears, and give them a 2nd chance,and still gain insight to what is working and what is not long term.

Rehabilitated Bears that are released back into the wild "can do well" and live their lives just as the wild bear population that exist within their toratory's.Rehabilitated bears have shown great capabilities, and have intertwined back to where their beginning had started"In The Wild"

Email:dawnbrown@hciwireless.net phone:207-778-2902

Bears that have been cared for,and observed at: Second Chance Wildlife , Inc. Will eventually be released back to the wild,and In most cases be monitored by the MDIFW bear study while living In the Wild. Individuals working together only enhances knowledge.

Second Chance Wildlife,Inc. Is not open to the general public! There are few whom have permission to be on the premises; and even then it is within guidelines! I keep even my presence to a minimum once the cubs are weaned. We are not a center! Purposes so as to keep the bears as wild,and as undisturbed as possible! PEOPLE WHO TRESPASS WITHOUT PERMISSION AND DO NOT REGARD THE NO TRESPASSING SIGNS SHOULD KNOW BETTER! Please give me a call if you would like to learn more about bears;I will do slide show presentations for those who are interested,but I will have to schedule. Time & effort has been 100% Volunteer since 1997 and continues to be = No wages/or benefits = All donations go strictly to the bears,and other animals that may be In my care.Second Chance Wildlife Inc. Is not a special Interest group. We are not run or operated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife,nor are we guided by them,And I never want to be run by any Government entity nor union! But Take Note: I sure do like to think that I ,and The MDIFW biologist have learned from one another; I look at Individuals involved with working with bears and other species,and doing the very best they can.Randy Cross & crew ,and other bear biologist do a great job with preparing the bears just prior to release/or when needed = ear tag ,weigh,measure collar..,and then they monitor the bears once they are released to the wild;being In most cases within the 3 bear study areas.I have a good volunteer working relationship,and communicate with individual biologist often In reference to gathering any data from the bears that I had rehabilitated;after they have returned to the wild; they keep me informed on how the bears are faring,and I send them some data/information that I have gathered during the rehabilitation process = I rehabilitate bear cubs,and monitor bear development, and document behavior while bears are In my care.I am very consistent,extremely meticulous,and at times I do not know why it is so difficult to get my point across to others..My husband Michael helps me with keeping the facilities maintained, and we sure work hard trying to keep them up to par,and they are second to none! We have a new board member Rick Libbey,whom I will often correspond with, and let him know the latest updates about the bears,and how the focus Is to promote: Second Chance Wildlife Inc. To hopefully gain more funding resources from the people who support our efforts.To learn more please view my website,facebook page & youtube videos and get the latest news & updates..Thanks, Dawn L. Brown President & executive director,Primary caretaker..

THIS IS A LIST OF THE MDIFW BEAR DEN SUMMARY REPORTS:

2011: I have given slide show presentations at: Mount Blue State Park,and for the Girl Scouts in New Sharon.In 2012, I did presentation for CREA/Cathance River Education Alliance, and for the MBA/Maine BowHuntwers Association,Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance,The Farmington Rotary,Black Bear Society,and at some Maine libraries throughout the State,and others;I will try to schedule more with time permitted. For anyone who is interested in learning more about about bear rehabilitation,bear behavior ,and the importance of bear conservation, I hope you will email or give me a call. Thanks, Dawn dawnbrown@hciwireless.net phone 778.2902

The Bear Facts:

To all Individuals,you have the choice to take precautions to prevent a potential dangerous situation or not-You decide!

Campers,and also folks who live near bear territory; please do not feed the bears! Bird-feeders will attract bears too! It will only hurt them in the long run.

No one should leave garbage,bird-seed, or even mulch/compost with food by products outside.Abear will travel long and hard for the smells of food,and could certainly end up in your yard, or a campground.If a bear approaches you,make noise and whatever you have to do to spook them away;in most cases the bear will disappear. Bears are opportunist, and they may come back if they did not get negative feedback the first time around.Odds are they will return unless you take precautions to prevent a potential encounter in the first place.Sometimes some bears just have a tough animality no matter what you do though"even when you try to do everything right" They are an extremely intelligent mammal.

Everyone out there just do the best you can! and try to prevent close encounters with this incredible species. They are typically solitude,except when food sources are abundant. Bears have been know to be very tolerant toward each other when the natural feed sources such as berry,and nut crops are in abundance and doing well;but otherwise bears are known to be solitude,and a bit territorial .As habitat disappears more bears will be seen,and we need to learn to live with them, and at the same time prevent them from becoming a nuisance.Keeping healthy stable bear populations-means keeping bears in tact,and that involves: Wildlife management,and conservation efforts; which consist of hunting.The bear harvest each year is monitored by biologist thus making it visible=carrying capacity within bear territory/habitat =what is in the best interest for the bears,and the people of Maine.Over population of bears is not good,and low populations are not good either;having an understanding gives us all a perspective for what is truly in the best interest for the bears ,and the people of Maine.

As Individuals we will all continuously learn.Time gives so many answers to so many questions.Bears need their space! The bears that are rehabilitated do not add to the overall population.Take Note:The knowledge,and insight into bear cub behavior is gained through the rehabilitation process.Bears leave so much to the imagination,and this will be a journey for the bears and I.None of us ever stop learning from one another. "Don't ever underestimate the bear,and don't ever underestimate the individual -Dawn L. Brown