http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/12/16/andean-bears-still-elusive/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:19:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/12/16/andean-bears-still-elusive/comment-page-1/#comment-413895 Russ Van Horn Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:22:03 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/?p=2985#comment-413895 That's a good question, Pepsi Coke. I'd have to speculate that bears usually avoid people for one or two reasons. First, many animals are generally wary of unfamiliar sights, smells, and sounds (and tastes). If a bear hasn't encountered people before and isn't a bear that usually preys on other mammals, as the polar bear does, then the bear might treat us a possible risk, and avoid us. Second, if bears have previously encountered people deep in the forest, they've probably encountered hunters, because not many people venture far into the forest except hunters. If a bear has had a negative experience with a hunter, then it has probably already learned that we are a risk, and would avoid us. These two ideas may seem contradictory, but they both rise from the same principle. Bears, like other animals, have evolved to expend energy and take risks when the payoff is worth the investment and risk, or when the cost of not doing so is too high (as when a female bear defends her cubs). Otherwise, they avoid spending energy and taking risks. Until or unless a bear learns that we're a potential source of food, we're just a potential risk, and there's no reason to let us get too close. That’s a good question, Pepsi Coke. I’d have to speculate that bears usually avoid people for one or two reasons.
First, many animals are generally wary of unfamiliar sights, smells, and sounds (and tastes). If a bear hasn’t encountered people before and isn’t a bear that usually preys on other mammals, as the polar bear does, then the bear might treat us a possible risk, and avoid us.
Second, if bears have previously encountered people deep in the forest, they’ve probably encountered hunters, because not many people venture far into the forest except hunters. If a bear has had a negative experience with a hunter, then it has probably already learned that we are a risk, and would avoid us.
These two ideas may seem contradictory, but they both rise from the same principle. Bears, like other animals, have evolved to expend energy and take risks when the payoff is worth the investment and risk, or when the cost of not doing so is too high (as when a female bear defends her cubs). Otherwise, they avoid spending energy and taking risks. Until or unless a bear learns that we’re a potential source of food, we’re just a potential risk, and there’s no reason to let us get too close.

]]> http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/12/16/andean-bears-still-elusive/comment-page-1/#comment-411335 Pepsi Coke Fri, 26 Dec 2008 22:49:07 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/?p=2985#comment-411335 Sorry you have not seen any bears yet. But keep up the good work Russ and please write more! I love to read your entries.Thanks for takeing the time to write your them. By the why, are bears so shy of humans if they are so strong? Sorry you have not seen any bears yet. But keep up the good work Russ and please write more! I love to read your entries.Thanks for takeing the time to write your them. By the why, are bears so shy of humans if they are so strong?

]]> http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/12/16/andean-bears-still-elusive/comment-page-1/#comment-410039 Russ Van Horn Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:02:08 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/?p=2985#comment-410039 Most bear species are known to avoid humans whenever they can, and Andean bears have a reputation for being more shy than the others! So, although I would like to see a wild Andean bear again, I'm not too surprised that I haven't yet, and we've planned our work so that we can learn about the bears without actually watching them. Most bear species are known to avoid humans whenever they can, and Andean bears have a reputation for being more shy than the others! So, although I would like to see a wild Andean bear again, I’m not too surprised that I haven’t yet, and we’ve planned our work so that we can learn about the bears without actually watching them.

]]> http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/12/16/andean-bears-still-elusive/comment-page-1/#comment-408706 njr_sd Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:25:19 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/?p=2985#comment-408706 Sorry to hear you haven't spotted a bear yet. Must be disappointing after all that effort - maybe the bears don't like the construction noise either. Sorry to hear you haven’t spotted a bear yet. Must be disappointing after all that effort – maybe the bears don’t like the construction noise either.

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