It is estimated there are 24-thousand black bears roaming Wisconsin. The population is expanding, and bears have even been spotted as far south as Grant County on the Illinois border. The primary bear range continues to be the northern third of the state.
Jennifer Price Tack is a Department of Natural Resources Scientist, and she specifically works with bears, elk and wolves. Her job is to provide information for informing decisions about our state’s wildlife. Her current research involves one of the largest black bear reproduction studies in state history. They will be tagging and collaring more than 100 bears.
On this day, Price Tack and her team will investigate a bear den near Spooner. The number one objective today is safety. That’s people safety and bear safety as the researchers step into the woods and into the wild. It is early March, and an unusually warm winter is creating a bit more risk. The bears are more awake this year. Jen takes the lead with dart gun in hand to immobilize the mother bear. She gets within six yards and takes aim. Sometimes the bears will crack their jaws or huff. They are coming out of hibernation and in a state called torpor. The bears are not fully awake but also not asleep. They’re still a little bit more lethargic. Jen said, “We wouldn’t try this when they were out of torpor.”
Once the bear has been tranquilized the team moves in to pull the momma bear and her cubs from the den. Price Tack handles these baby bears with a mother’s touch. She said, “There’s something particularly special about this project right now because it also aligns with my own reproductive adventure. I have a seven-and-a half-month-old. Last year I was doing bear den work when I was pregnant. It’s been really fascinating to connect with bears on a different level. Seeing the instincts of a mother bear. I can kind of relate to that now, having my own cub at home.
Price Tack’s maternal instincts will also protect these cubs as she tucks them into her jacket to keep them warm. It’s really important that they stay warm while the scientists work with mom because the babies can not thermoregulate their body temperature yet. The baby bears will also get a checkup. In this den there are two males and two females.
Hair samples will provide potential genetic information. They can also analyze and better understand what these bears are eating. They fit the sow with a collar to track her over the next several years. They also take some body measurements and weight. This one weighs in around 220 pounds.
Finding the bear dens can be the hardest part. The DNR relies on landowners and the public to notify them when a den is located like this site in Washburn County. Landowner Matt Ostertag was walking in the woods when he heard the faint sound. He looked around, and three feet away was a bear and her cubs. He then alerted the DNR so they could survey the den. Jen said, “It’s been fantastic and very encouraging how many people are supportive of this project and are really helping us out.”
The whole goal is to help people live better with bears. Bear reproductive data will improve our state’s ability to sustain healthy, happy bear populations into the future. When it comes to wildlife management in Wisconsin, Jen will do whatever it takes, even if it means diving headfirst into a bear den. She said, “One of my objectives personally that makes me want to come to work every day is: ‘Do I feel like I’m making a difference?’ And in this position, I’m very fortunate that I get to do that.”