Community Corner
Good Neigh-Bears: State Biologist To Talk Bear Safety, Science
MassWildlife biologist Dave Wattles from the Black Bear Project will talk about where the animals live, and how to coexist with them.
HOLDEN, MA — Don't freak out, but black bears across New England are in a bit of a feeding frenzy right now.
During late summer and fall months, black bears begin "hyperphagia," a period of intense eating in preparation for the sleepy winter months. That doesn't mean you're in danger of being eaten — but the chances of encountering a calorie-crazy bear are possibly higher right now.
If you're curious about the bears that live in central Massachusetts, a MassWildlife biologist will be giving a presentation about them soon. Dave Wattles, leader of the MassWildlife Black Bear Project, will talk about everything from where bears live to how to reduce conflicts with them.
In Massachusetts, black bears live in the forests (and sometimes neighborhoods) approximately west of I-495. Larger and more ferocious grizzly bears (also called brown bears) do not live anywhere near New England — the closest ones are safely hunkered west of us in the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.
The Holden Grange is hosting Wattles and his presentation, which kicks off 7 p.m. on Nov. 22 and will feature a question-and-answer session. You can find the Zoom link here (password: grange).
