>> BEARS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN
THEIR ECOSYSTEM, SO BEARS ARE

IMPORTANT.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
BEARS?

WE'RE STANDING BY WITH ANSWERS.

STAY TUNED.

"D4K" IS NEXT.

>> HI, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

WELCOME TO "D4K," THE PLACE FOR
SCIENCE.

>>> BEFORE WE GO TO YOUR
QUESTIONS, LET'S LEARN A LITTLE

BIT MORE ABOUT BEARS.

BEARS ARE OMNIVORES.

THAT MEANS THEY EAT BOTH
EXPLANTS ANIMALS.

SINCE THEY DON'T EAT DURING
HIBERNATION, BLACK BEARS ARE

VERY THIN AND HUNGRY WHEN THEY
COME OUT OF THEIR DENS IN THE

SPRING.

THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGIN FEEDING
ON GRASS, WILD ONIONS, AND OTHER

GREEN PLANTS.

BEARS MUST EAT CONSTANTLY DURING
THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL, IN

ORDER TO SURVIVE DURING THE
WINTER HIBERNATION.

THEY HAVE SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
THAT ALLOW THEM TO UNCOVER A

VARIETY OF FOODS.

BEARS USE THEIR STRONG CLAWS TO
RIP AT THE BARK OF TREES.

UNDERNEATH, THEY FIND INSECTS TO
EAT.

OF COURSE BEARS LOVE HONEY, BUT
THEY ALSO LIKE TO FEED ON THE

BEES THAT PRODUCE THE HONEY.

ANOTHER ADAPTATION IS THEIR
ABILITY TO PLUCK BERRIES OR

FLOWERS FROM A BUSH WITH THEIR
PREHENCIBLE OR FLEXIBLE LIPS.

A BEAR'S LIPS CAN BEND AND GRASP
MUCH LIKE OUR FINGERS.

IN IDAHO, BERRIES MAKE UP A RITT
CALL PART OF A BEAR'S DIET IN

LATE SUMMER AND FALL.

BLACK BEARS CAN ALSO EAT MEAT,
ESPECIALLY DECAYING ANIMALS,

WHEN THEY CAN FIND THEM.

HOW DO WE KNOW ALL THIS ABOUT
BEARS?

RESEARCH.

>> THAT STINKS!

>> STINK IS GOOD, THAT'S WHAT
BRINGS THE BEARS IN.

>> BEARS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU'RE GOING TO HELP US SET A
TRAP FOR ONE.

>> WHY WOULD WE WANT TO CATCH A
BEAR?

>> LET ME GUESS --
RESEARCH.

>> YEP.

AND IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK.

GRAB A PAIR OF GLOVES AND LET'S
GET A START ON THE SNARE.

>> THIS RESEARCH PROJECT IS
TRAPPING BEARS TO FIT THEM WITH

RADIO COLLARS.

THEN SCIENTISTS CAN TRACK WHERE
THEY'RE CROSSING A NEW HIGHWAY

BUILT IN IDAHO'S PANHANDLE.

>> AS MORE PEOPLE MOVE INTO THE
AREA, THEY CREATE MORE TRAFFIC.

WHICH MEANS MORE INJURIES TO
BOTH BEARS AND HUMANS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A BETTER
WAY FOR THE BEAR TO CROSS THE

ROAD.

BUT FIRST WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE
AND HOW OFTEN THEY CROSS.

>> WHAT'S THE PLAN?

ARE YOU GOING TO ASK IT WHEN YOU
CATCH ONE?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CATCH IT,
ANYWAY?

>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT
SMELL?

>> UNBEARABLE.

>> THAT'S WHAT BRINGS IN THE
BEARS.

THEY CAN SMELL THIS STUFF FROM A
MILE AWAY.

AND THEY LOVE TO EAT THIS
STINKING STUFF.

>> EWW.

>> AND THEY'LL COME DOWN OUR
PATH TO GET TO THE GOODS,

THEY'LL STEP ON OUR SNARE, AND
BOOM, WE'VE GOT 'EM.

>> AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO ASK
IT WHERE IT CROSSES THE ROAD.

>> NO, WE'RE GOING TO USE A GPS,
OR GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM.

>> WHOA, LOOK AT THAT!

>> THERE'S A BEAR IN OUR TRAP!

>> LOOKS LIKE AN ADULT BLACK
BEAR.

>> WHOA!

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

>> THIS IS A JAB STICK.

THE DRUG IN THE SYRINGE WILL PUT
THE BEAR TO SLEEP BEFORE WE WORK

ON IT.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

>> WHAT'S THAT FOR?

>> THIS IS A TOOTH EXTRACTOR.

>> WHY WOULD YOU WANT A TOOTH
FOR?

>> SO WE CAN GET AN ESTIMATE OF
THE BEAR'S AGE.

INSIDE THE BEAR'S TOOTH ARE
RINGS, JUST LIKE A TREE.

>> I'M GLAD IT'S ASLEEP.

>> ONCE THE BEAR IS OUT, THE
BIOLOGISTS WILL ATTACH THIS GPS

COLLAR.

THAT WAY SCIENTISTS CAN FOLLOW
THE BEAR'S MOVEMENTS.

>> THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT HAS
BUILT SPECIAL TRAILS UNDER THE

HIGHWAY.

SO THAT BEARS AND OTHER WILDLIFE
CAN MORE EASILY CROSS THE ROAD.

SO BEARS WEARING THE GPS COLLAR
ARE TRACKED LIKE SATELLITES IN

THE SKY, AND WE CAN LEARN HOW
OFTEN THEY'RE USING THESE

SPECIAL TRAILS.

>> WILL THIS HELP KEEP BEARS AND
PEOPLE SAFER?

>> WE HOPE SO.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS
RESEARCH PROJECT.

MORE ASK MORE PEOPLE ARE MOVING
INTO THIS AREA, AND AS MORE

PEOPLE MOVE INTO WILDLIFE
HABITAT, IT BECOMES MORE

DIFFICULT FOR US TO MANAGE BOTH.

I'VE GOT TO GET THIS COLLAR ON
THIS BLACK BEAR.

>> TIME FOR YOU TWO TO GET OUT
OF HERE.

>> IS THE BEAR GOING TO WAKE UP
SOON?

>> HE SURE IS.

>> OH, NO, HERE WE GO AGAIN!

>> JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT BEARS ARE GREGG

LOSINSKI, A REGIONAL
CONSERVATION EDUCATOR WITH THE

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND
GAME, AND EVIN ONEALE, ALSO A

REGIONAL CONSERVATION EDUCATOR
WITH THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF OF

FISH AND GAME.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU BOTH FOR
BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> OK, LET'S GO TO YOUR
QUESTIONS.

>> HI, MY NAME IS ABBY.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO BEARS
[INAUDIBLE]

>> BEARS HIBERNATE BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TO.

THE FOOD SOURCES THAT ARE
NORMALLY AVAILABLE IN THE WINTER

GENERALLY AREN'T THERE, SO
RATHER THAN USE ENERGY THAT THEY

HAVE REMAINING TO FIND
SOMETHING, THEY BASICALLY SHUT

DOWN.

AND BEARS ARE NOT A TRUE
HIBERNATOR.

THEY DROP DOWN THEIR BODY
TEMPERATURE AND METABOLISM BUT

THEY CAN START UP IF THEY NEED
TO.

THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN GROUND
SQUIRRELS WHO GO WAY, WAY DOWN

AS FAR AS METABOLISM.

IT'S A MATTER OF ENERGY
CONSERVATION.

IN PLACES WHERE THERE'S PLENTY
OF FOOD SOURCES THAT ARE

AVAILABLE, THEY WILL STAY OUT
LONGER.

BUT AGAIN, ONCE IT GETS TO THAT
POINT ONLY THEY KNOW, THEY WILL

BASICALLY SHUT DOWN AND GO ON
STAND BY UNTIL SPRING.

>> REED WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW
TALL CAN A GRIZZLY BEAR GET?

>> WELL, A REALLY BIG GRIZZLY
BEAR MIGHT BE ABOUT FIVE FEET

TALL AT THE SHOULDER.

WHEN IT'S ON ALL FOURS.

WHEN IT STANDS UP, IT MIGHT BE
AROUND NINE FEET TALL.

BUT WHEN IT'S JUST WALKING
AROUND ON ALL FOUR LEGS, WHICH

BEARS SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME
DOING, IT MIGHT BE FIVE FEET AT

THE SHOULDER, A REALLY BIG BEAR
MIGHT BE SIX FEET AT THE

SHOULDER.

BUT THAT WOULD BE A REALLY,
REALLY BIG GRIZZLY BEAR.

>> HI, MY NAME IS RAINY AND I GO
TO BASIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

MY QUESTION IS, HOW FAST CAN
BEARS WALK?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT
THEY'RE WALKING TO OR FROM.

THEY CAN HAVE JUST A NORMAL PACE
LIKE A HUMAN OF A FEW MILES AN

HOUR, OR THEY CAN STEP UP THAT
PACE AND MOVE MUCH QUICKER TO

THE POINT THAT IN A SHORT BURST
THEY CAN HIT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY'RE
TRYING TO DO.

IF THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR FOOD
THEY'RE GOING TO BE MOVING

SLOWER, BUT IF THEY'RE TRYING TO
GET SOMEWHERE OR GET AT

SOMETHING, IT CAN BE VERY FAST.

>> YOU HAVE SOME REALLY
INTERESTING TRACKING SOFTWARE

THAT FOLLOWED A BEAR JUST ONE
SINGLE BEAR AROUND.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED
FROM A GPS COLLAR THAT WE --

LIKE THIS THAT WAS PLACED ON THE
BEARS.

AND THESE BEARS WERE NOT PROBLEM
BEARS, THESE WERE STUDY BEARS WE

TRAPPED IN THE ISLAND PARK AREA
OF IDAHO.

AND THEY WERE TRAPPED AT THE END
OF JUNE, BEGINNING OF JULY, AND

THEY ACTUALLY SENT OUT A SIGNAL
EVERY HOUR AND A HALF THAT HAD A

GPS COORDINATE ATTACHED TO IT.

SO WE COULD TRACK THEM ON THE
INTERNET ON A MAP TO SEE WHERE

THEY WERE GOING EVERY HOUR AND A
HALF.

THE INCREDIBLE THING, YOU CAN
WATCH AS THE SUMMER PROGRESSES

THE BEARS MOVING AROUND
DIFFERENT PARTS OF ISLAND PARK

LOOKING AT DIFFERENT FOOD
SOURCES, WHETHER IT'S

HUCKLEBERRIES, OR YOU NAME IT,
AND AT CERTAIN TIMES THEY WANT

TO GO SOMEWHERE ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT, LIKE WAY BACK INTO

YELLOWSTONE, AND IN A MATTER OF
DAY OR SO THEY CAN GO FROM

ISLAND PARK INTO THE HAYDEN
VALLEY OF YELLOWSTONE, EAT SOME

BUFFALO CARCASS, AND THEN
THEY'LL MOVE BACK TO IDAHO

AGAIN.

AND AGAIN, IT'S INCREDIBLE THE
DISTANCES THESE BEARS WILL COVER

THAT WE COULD SEE USING THESE
COLLARS, AND AT THE SAME TIME,

NO ONE EVER REPORTED SEEING
THESE BEARS.

THESE BEARS WERE NOT TROUBLE
BEARS, THEY WERE OUT THERE

FINDING THE FOODS THEY NEEDED
AND MOVING ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE,

AND ONE THING WE CAN ALSO SEE
WITH OTHER DATA ON OTHER BEARS

IS THAT THESE BEARS ARE
OVERLAPPING ALL THE TIME.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THINK
ANIMALS HAVE A TERRITORY, AND

THEY'RE THE ONLY ANIMAL IN THE
AREA, BUT FOR BEARS IT DOESN'T

WORK THAT WAY.

AS LONG AS THERE'S FOOD THEY
WILL SHARE THE TERRITORY AND

MOVE AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S NEAT TO SEE HOW MUCH GROUND
THEY CAN COVER WHEN THEY KNOW

THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT AT
THE OTHER END.

>> JASMINE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW,
WHAT'S THE MOST COMMON BEAR IN

IDAHO?

>> EASILY THE BLACK BEAR IS OUR
MOST COMMON BEAR.

OF COURSE A NATIVE JUST LIKE THE
BROWN BEAR OR GRIZZLY BEAR, BUT

IT DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME MAYBE
NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS WITH EARLY

SETTLERS.

SO THERE WASN'T A CONCERTED
EFFORT TO GET RID OF IT.

WE ONCE UPON A TIME HAD MANY
GRIZZLY BEARS IN IDAHO, BUT

AGAIN, THERE WAS AN EFFORT MADE
TO REMOVE THEM, WHEREAS BLACK

BEARS WERE FOR THE MOST PART
TOLERATED, HUNTED, BUT TODAY WE

PROBABLY HAVE 20,000 BLACK BEARS
IN IDAHO.

>> HI, MY NAME IS VINNY, I GO TO
BASIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND MY QUESTION IS, HOW LONG DO
BEARS LIVE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

BLACK BEARS IN THE WILD,
GENERALLY LIVE AROUND 25 YEARS.

A LITTLE LONGER IF THEY HAVE --
IF THEY LIVE IN A ZOO

ENVIRONMENT.

GRIZZLY BEARS, A LITTLE LESS.

THEY LIVE AROUND 20 YEARS IN THE
WILD.

IF THEY GET TO THAT RIPE OLD
AGE.

AND AGAIN, IF THEY'RE IN A ZOO
ENVIRONMENT, THEY CAN LIVE

LONGER THAN THAT.

>> HI, MY NAME IS RAQUEL, AND I MY
QUESTION IS, [INAUDIBLE]

>> LIKE ALL ANIMALS, WHEN WINTER
IS COMING BEARS WILL PUT ON

WEIGHT, BUT THEIR FUR ACTUALLY
DOESN'T REALLY BULK UP AS MUCH

AS OTHER ANIMALS THAT SPEND THE
WINTER OUT.

SO WHEN YOU SEE A BEAR IN THE
SPRING, HE'S GOING TO HAVE A

PRETTY SHAGGY COAT, BUT NOT LIKE
A BIG WINTER COAT.

ONE THING BEARS CAN DO IS THEY
WILL SLOUGH THE PADS OFF THEIR

PAWS.

IN THE SAME WAY WE CAN LOSE
SKIN, WELL, WHEN THEY HIBERNATE,

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL SEE,
ESPECIALLY BLACK BEARS, THEY'LL

SEE THEM LICKING THEIR PAWS AND
THINKING THAT'S HOW THEY --

THEY USED TO THINK THAT'S HOW
THEY SURVIVED, BY EATING ITS PAW

PADS.

BUT IT'S JUST THAT OLD, DEAD
SKIN FALLING OFF.

SO THEY DO ACTUALLY SLOUGH THEIR
PAW PADS SOMEWHAT IN THE SPRING

ISAAC WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY
ARE FEMALE BEARS CALLED SOWS?

>> WELL, BEARS ARE ACTUALLY
RELATED TO PIGS.

AND SO MALE BEARS ARE CALLED
BOARS, JUST LIKE MALE PIGS ARE

CALLED BOARS, AND FEMALE PIGS
ARE CALLED SOWS, JUST LIKE

FEMALE PIGS.

THAT'S THE SHORT AND EASY GLANS
REBECCA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY

DO BEARS LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE WHEN
THEY'RE HIKING IN THE WOODS?

>> REBECCA, BEARS ARE EVEN
THOUGH THEY'RE POWERFUL ANIMALS,

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT HUMANS CAN
BE TROUBLE.

AND SO WHEN THEY KNOW A PERSON
IS AROUND, THEY WILL TRY TO GET

AWAY FROM THAT AREA.

THE PROBLEM WE HAVE WITH BEARS
AND PEOPLE IS WHEN PEOPLE

SURPRISE BEARS, OR BEARS AREN'T
AWARE THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE

AREA, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN
IT'S A CLOSE ENCOUNTER.

GENERALLY BEARS DON'T WANT
TROUBLE, AND THEY KNOW PEOPLE

COULD MEAN TROUBLE SO THEY GIVE
US PLENTY OF ROOM WHEN THEY CAN.

THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN
YOU'RE IN THE WOODS TO MAKE

PLENTY OF NOISE, SO THE BEARS
KNOW YOU'RE THERE, AND THEY WILL

GENERALLY MOVE ON.

IT'S VERY RARE THAT BEARS EITHER
BLACK BEARS OR GRIZZLY BEARS

BECOME PREDATORY.

IT CAN HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY, BUT
FOR THE MOST PART THEY WANT TO

STAY AWAY FROM US.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FISH AND
GAME HAS TO CATCH A BEAR?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.

IF IT'S JUST A YOUNG BEAR THAT'S
WANDERED INTO TOWN BECAUSE IT'S

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO EAT,
DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON,

DOESN'T REALIZE THIS ISN'T THE
BEST PLACE FOR IT TO BE, WE WILL

TRAP THAT ANIMAL AND RELOCATE IT
TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

IF IT'S A BEAR THAT'S BEEN IN
TROUBLE IN THE PAST, AND IT'S ON

MAYBE ITS THIRD STRIKE,
UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE TIMES

WHEN WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT ANIMAL
AND ACTUALLY PUT IT DOWN.

BECAUSE IT BECOMES TOO MUCH OF A
RISK FOR HUMAN SAFETY TO HAVE A

BEAR THAT CONTINUALLY COMES IN
AND IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH

THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S A SITUATION THAT WE AS AN
AGENCY, WE JUST CAN'T TOLERATE

BECAUSE OF THE THREAT TO PEOPLE.

>> HI I GO TO BASIN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, IN IDAHO CITY.

MY QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH DO
BEARS EAT EACH DAY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

REALLY, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S
AVAILABLE.

A BEAR IS FOR THE MOST PART JUST
CONSUMED WITH CONSUMING.

GENERALLY IF THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT IS EDIBLE, HE OR SHE IS

GOING TO EAT IT, AND AS MUCH OF
IT AS HE CAN, AND KEEP EATING IT

UNTIL IT'S GONE.

BEARS AREN'T PICKY.

THEY EAT LOTS OF DIFFERENT
THINGS, SO IF THEY HAVE JUST A

LITTLE BIT THEY'LL EAT THAT, BUT
IF THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO EAT A

WHOLE CARCASS OF AN ANIMAL,
THEY'LL DO SO.

THE ANSWER IS, WHATEVER IS
AVAILABLE.

THEY'LL JUST KEEP EATING AND YOU
MAY FIND A BEAR TAKING A NAP,

LIKE WE DO ON THANKSGIVING WHEN
WE EAT TOO MUCH, BUT THERE'S

MORE LEFT TO EAT, AND SO THAT
CAN ALSO SOMETIMES BE A PROBLEM,

BECAUSE YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH
THE WOODS AND YOU SURPRISE A

BEAR THAT'S TAKING A NAP IN
BETWEEN ITS MEALS.

>> JUNIOR WOULD LIKE TO KNOW,
WHY ARE SOME BEARS MORE

AGGRESSIVE THAN OTHERS?

>> WELL, JUNIOR, THE REASON IS
THAT BLACK BEARS AND GRIZZLY

BEARS KIND OF --
THEY CAME ABOUT IN DIFFERENT

LOCATIONS.

GRIZZLY BEARS ARE MORE OF AN
OPEN PLAINS TYPE ANIMAL.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY A FOREST
DWELLING ANIMAL, THOUGH THEY DO

LIVE IN THE FORESTS.

BUT THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT
ATTITUDE ABOUT LIFE.

THEIR BEST DEFENSE IS GENERALLY
A GOOD OFFENSE.

SO THEY TEND TO BE MORE
AGGRESSIVE TOWARD HUMANS, ANDER AND

OTHER ANIMALS, FOR THAT MATTER,
THAN BLACK BEARS.

BLACK BEARS SPEND MOST OF THEIR
TIME IN THE FOREST AND THE

FOREST IS A GREAT PLACE TO
RETREAT TO.

SO BLACK BEARS TEND TO BE LESS
AGGRESSIVE THAN GRIZZLY BEARS,

AND THEIR BEST OFFENSE, OR THEIR
BEST DEFENSE IS GOOD DEFENSE.

IF THEY FEEL THREATENED, THEY'LL
RUN IN THE WOODS, CLIMB A TREE.

GRIZZLY BEARS DON'T HAVE THAT
OPTION PER SE.

THEY AREN'T REAL GREAT CLIMBERS,
AND SO THEY WOULD --

THEY TEND TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE
THAN THEIR BLACK BEAR

COUNTERPARTS, BECAUSE OF THE
AREAS WHERE THEY KIND OF GREW

UP.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT GRIZZLY
BEARS, THEY'RE FOUND IN

YELLOWSTONE, BUT THAT'S NOT
GREAT GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT.

THEY'D RATHER BE IN AREAS THAT
WE SPEND OUR TIME IN, BUT WE'RE

NOT VERY TOLERANT OF HAVING
GRIZZLY BEARS THERE.

BUT IN THE OLD DAYS, THAT'S
WHERE THEY LIVED, OUT IN THE

OPEN COUNTRY, AND IF THEY GOT
THREATENED, THEY WOULD OFTEN

TIMES CHARGE.

AND THEY STILL HAVE THOSE
INHERENT BEHAVIORS STILL IN

THEIR BRAINS.

SO THEY WILL STILL DO THAT FROM
TIME TO TIME.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT BEARS HAVE
A SUPER SENSE OF SMELL?

THEY CAN PICK UP SCENTS MUCH
BETTER THAN HUMANS CAN.

BEARS CAN ALSO SEE AND HEAR
REALLY WELL, AND OUTRUN MOST

PEOPLE.

>> HI, MY NAME IS LIBBY.

MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO BEARS
CLIMB TREES?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

IT DEPENDS ON THE SPECIES.

HERE IN IDAHO WE HAVE THE BLACK
BEAR AND WE ALSO HAVE THE

GRIZZLY BEAR, AND WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THEIR CLAWS, THEY'RE VERY,

VERY DIFFERENT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT A BLACK BEAR,
THEY DEVELOPED IN AN AREA WHERE

THE TREES WERE IMPORTANT FOR
GETTING AWAY FROM MAYBE OTHER

PREDATORS OR SEEK FOOD.

SO THEIR CLAWS ARE SHORT AND
SHARP AND WELL ADAPTED TO

CLIMBING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT A GRIZZLY
BEAR'S CLAWS, THEY'RE VERY LONG,

THEY ALMOST LOOK LOOK TINNES ON A
RAKE.

THEY CAN CLIMB, BUT IT TURNS
MORE INTO A FUNCTION OF THE SIZE

OF THE BEAR AND THE SIZE OF THE
TREE, SO WHEREAS BLACK BEARS ARE

PRETTY UNIVERSALLY GOOD
CLIMBERS, GRIZZLY BEARS HAVE

THEIR LIMIT, BUT THEY DO CLIMB
MORE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE.

>> MY NAME IS RACELYN, I GO TO
RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

MY QUESTION IS, HOW IS A BEAR'S
NUTRITION DIFFERENT FROM A

HUMAN'S NUTRITION?

>> WELL, TO BE HONEST, IT'S
REALLY NOT.

BEARS NEED A LOT OF THE SAME
THINGS THAT YOU AND I EAT.

AND YOU AND I EAT A LOT OF
DIFFERENT THINGS.

BEARS EAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS.

THEY LIKE BERRIES, THEY LIKE
MEAT, THEY EAT THEIR VEGETABLES

JUST LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

SO REALLY, WE HAVE A LOT IN
COMMON WITH THEM WHEN IT COMES

TO THE TYPES OF FOODS WE
CONSUME.

>> MY NAME IS LEVI, I GO TO
BASIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN IDAHO

CITY.

MY QUESTION IS, HOW BIG IS A
POLAR BEAR?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE POLAR BEAR, BECAUSE OF WHERE
IT LIVES, NEEDS TO BE LARGE,

NEEDS THE BODY MASS TO KEEP IT
GOING.

SO IT CAN WEIGH UPWARDS OF 1500
POUNDS, WHICH MANY PEOPLE

CONSIDER THE POLAR BEAR TO BE
THE LARGEST LAND CARNIVORE

MAMMAL OUT THERE.

>> ABBY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY
DO BEARS COME IN DIFFERENT

COLORS?

>> WELL, ABBY, BEARS COME IN
DIFFERENT COLORS FOR THE SAME

REASONS THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT
HAIR COLOR.

OR DIFFERENT EYE COLOR.

IT'S ALL RELATED TO AGAIN
ETICKS.

AND OUT HERE IN THE --
GENETICS.

BLACK BEARS COME IN A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT COLORS, THEY JUST HAVE

A DIFFERENT GENE SYSTEM THAT
ALLOWS THEM TO COME IN DIFFERENT

COLORS.

BUT IF YOU GO BACK EAST, ALMOST
ALL THE BLACK BEARS BACK EAST ON

THE EAST COAST, THEY'RE ALMOST
ALL BLACK.

EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE A
VARIETY, A DIFFERENT COLOR

VARIETY ON A BEAR BACK EAST, BUT
FOR THE MOST PART THEY'RE ALMOST

ALWAYS BLACK.

OUT HERE WE'VE GOT A WIDE RANGE
OF COLORS AND IT'S ALL RELATED

TO GENETICS.

BLONDE HAIR, BLUE EYES, BROWN
EYES, IT DEPENDS ON THE

COMBINATION OF CHROMASOMES THAT
COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THE BEAR.

>> MY NAME IS DANIEL, AND MY
QUESTION IS, WHAT DO BEARS EAT?

>> IN AREAS LIKE AROUND IDAHO,
BEARS WILL EAT JUST ABOUT

ANYTHING.

THEY EAT CARRION, THAT IS DEAD
ANIMALS, IN THE SPRINGTIME WHEN

THEY FIRST COME OUT OF THE DEN,
AND THEN THEY'LL START EATING

GRASSES.

WHEN THE GREEN-UP STARTS, THE
SNOW STARTS MELTING AND THE SUN

COMES OUT AND THE GRASS STARTS
GROWING, BEARS WILL KEY IN ON

THOSE AREAS AND START FEEDING ON
THAT NEW GREEN GRASS.

I'VE SEEN BEARS WALKING THROUGH
A MEADOW CLIPPING OFF THE

DANDELION HEADS AS THEY WALK.

IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN YOU THINK
ABOUT A GRIZZLY BEAR EATING

DANDELION FLOWERS, BUT THEY DO
THAT.

THEN IN THE LATE SPRING AND
SUMMER, THEY'LL EAT ANYTHING

THAT THEY CAN FIND THAT'S
EDIBLE.

AND THEN GOING INTO THE FALL
THEY START --

THEY RETOOL AGAIN, THEY START
EATING BUFFALO BERRIES, AND

HUCKLEBERRIES, AND DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT WILL GIVE THEM LOTS

OF ENERGY THAT THEY CAN PUT ON
AS FAT TO GET THEM THROUGH THE

WINTER TIME.

SO WE CLASSIFY BEARS AS
GENERALISTS.

THAT IS, THAT THEY EAT A LOT
MUCH DIFFERENT THINGS.

THEY'VE GOT ONE OF THE MOST
VARIED DIET OF ANY ANIMAL OUT

THERE.

AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY --
BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH HIGH

ENERGY NEEDS, THEY HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING,

BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN
YOUR NEXT MEAL IS GOING TO COME

ALONG IF YOU'RE A BEAR.

>> I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE DOING
WORK IN SLOVAKIA ABOUT WHAT

BEARS EAT WHEN IT COMES TO
EATING IN TRASH CANS.

>> RIGHT.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE
OVER IN EUROPE THEY HAVE THE

SAME BEAR WE HAVE, WE CALL IT
THE GRIZZLY BEAR, IT'S CALLED

THE BROWN BEAR THERE.

THEIR BEARS ARE FAIRLY CLOSE TO
PEOPLE AND GETTING INTO LOTS OF

TROUBLE WITH DUMPSTERS.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
FOLKS THERE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT

A WAY TO TAKE THE DUMPSTERS THAT
THEY HAVE AND MAKE THEM SO BEARS

CAN'T GET INTO THEM.

AND AS PART OF THAT PROJECT
WE'VE ACTUALLYAD THEM SHIP A

DUMPSTER OVER FROM SLOVAKIA TO
AMERICA AND WE'VE TAKEN IT UP TO

THE GRIZZLY WOLF DISCOVERY
CENTER IN WEST YELLOWSTONE, AND

THOSE FOLKS HAVE TESTED IT ON
THE BEARS THERE.

AND IT FAILED, WHICH WE KNEW IT
WOULD.

SO NOW WE HAVE THAT CONTAINER UP
IN CANADA, A COMPANY UP THERE IS

WORKING TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS,
AND WE'RE GOING TO TEST IT AGAIN

AND HOPEFULLY HAVE IT PASS SO
THAT WE CAN TAKE THOSE PARTS

THAT MADE IT WORK AND ACTUALLY
MASS PRODUCE THOSE FOR ANY

COUNTRY THAT'S IN THE MOUNTAINS
WHERE THERE ARE BROWN BEARS.

IT'S KIND OF AN INTERNATIONAL
PROJECT TO HELP BEARS AND PEOPLE

GET ALONG.

>> WHY DON'T YOU WANT BEARS
GETTING INTO TRASH?

>> THE PROBLEM IS, BEARS, AGAIN,
ARE GENERALISTS, THEY'LL EAT

JUST ABOUT ANYTHING AND IF IT'S
TOO HARD TO FIND NATURAL FOODS,

YET THERE'S WHAT WE CALL HUMAN
RELATED FOODS THAT ARE

AVAILABLE, PARTICULARLY GARBAGE,
BEARS WILL KEY IN ON THAT.

AND THE PROBLEM IS THE GARBAGE
IS CLOSE TO PEOPLE, SO NOW

YOU'VE GOT THESE BEARS COMING IN
BY PEOPLE, AND IF THEY CAN'T GET

THE TRASH, THEY'LL GO AFTER
OTHER THINGS, AND GENERALLY NOT

SO MUCH PEOPLE, BUT IT'S JUST
VERY DISCONCERTING TO HAVE

GRIZZLY BEARS IN THE BACK YARD,
AND SO AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO

WORK TO HELP EDUCATE THE BEARS
TO NOT COME TO PEOPLE FOR FOOD.

AND ONE WAY TO DO IT IS TO MAKE
IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR

PEOPLE TO KEEP BEARS AND IN THIS
CASE GARBAGE SEPARATE.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS COMING UP
WITH A WAY TO HAVE A DUMPSTER

THAT NOT ONLY KEEPS BEARS OUT,
BUT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO USE IT

EASILY TO THROW GARBAGE AWAY,
AND ALSO HAS A MECHANISM THAT'S

EASY FOR THE TRASH HAULERS TO
USE.

BECAUSE IF IT'S TOO HARD FOR
THEM TO DUMP IT, THEY WON'T DO

THAT.

SO THEY'LL LEAVE GARBAGE PILING
UP.

SO IT DEFEATS THE WHOLE PROCESS.

LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS ARE
INVOLVED IN MAKING IT SO THAT

BEARS AND PEOPLE CAN LIVE
TOGETHER, BUT IF WE AS HUMANS

FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO,
BEARS ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO

GO 8 LONG WITH US.

>> MY QUESTION IS HOW DO 'BAR
BEARS SWIM IN THE ARCTIC.

>> THEY HAVE GIGANTIC PAWS.

AND THEY'RE VERY STRONG, GOOD
SWIMMERS.

THEY'VE BEEN FOUND OUT TO SEA,
MILES AND MILES FROM ANY LAND OR

ICE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE
OTHERWISE BEEN ABLE TO CLIMB OUT

ON.

SO THEY'RE VERY COMFORTABLE IN
THE WATER, THEY SPEND A FAIR

AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE WATER
MOVING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN

LAND AND ICE FLOE AND BETWEEN
ICE FLOES AND OTHER ICE FLOES.

SO THEY'VE GOT GIGANTIC PAWS
THAT HELP THEM JUST LIKE PADDLES

ON A CANOE, FOR INSTANCE, TO
HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE WATER.

AND THEY'RE VERY COMFORTABLE
SWIMMING, SO THEY'RE GREAT,

GREAT SWIMMERS.

>> KAYLIE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO
CUBS HIBERNATE WITH THEIR

MOTHERS?

>> YES, THE CUBS DO.

THEY'RE BORN IN THE DEN WITH
MOM.

AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR MOM
DIGS A NEW DEN, AND THE CUBS GO

IN AND SPEND THE WINTER WITH HER
AGAIN.

AND IF IT HAPPENS TO BE A
GRIZZLY BEAR, THE NEXT YEAR MOM

WILL DIG ANOTHER DEN AND THOSE
BIGGER CUBS WILL GO INTO THE DEN

AND SLEEP WITH HER AGAIN.

SO MOM HAS TO KEEP DIGGING A
LARGER AND LARGER DEN EVERY YEAR

BECAUSE THE CUBS CONTINUE TO GET
LARGER AND LARGER.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU BOTH SUGGEST
SOMEONE DO IF THEY'RE INTERESTED

IN STUDYING ABOUT BEARS?

WHAT KIND OF CLASSES SHOULD THEY
TAKE IN SCHOOL?

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING IS, YOU
GOT TO GET REALLY GOOD GRADES IN

HIGH SCHOOL.

STUDY HARD, AND DO YOUR BEST
WORK.

AND THEN ONCE THAT --
ONCE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER

ENDS, YOU NEED TO BE ENROLLING
IN A SCHOOL THAT HAS A REALLY

STRONG ZOOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY,
BIOLOGY BACKGROUND, MAYBE A

WILDLIFE PROGRAM.

AND THEN FROM THERE, YOU
PROBABLY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO

TO GRADUATE SCHOOL AND GET A
GRADUATE DEGREE.

THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN REALLY
FOCUS ON MAYBE GETTING INVOLVED

IN A BEAR PROJECT SOMEWHERE, AND
USING THAT STUDY, THAT PROJECT

AS YOUR MASTERS THESIS FOR YOUR
DEGREE THERE.

AND THEN AFTER THAT'S DONE, WITH
ANY LUCK YOU HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY THEN TO MAYBE LAND A
JOB WITH AN AGENCY THAT STUDIES

BEARS.

AND BECOMES MAYBE A BEAR
BIOLOGIST.

>> AND WHY DO YOU LIKE STUDYING
BEARS?

>> I THINK THE REASON I LIKE
STUDYING BEARS IS BECAUSE WE

CALL THEM AN UMBRELLA SPECIES.

IF YOU CAN HAVE BEARS IN AN
AREA, GENERALLY THAT MEANS YOU

CAN HAVE OTHER SPECIES THERE AS
WELL.

SO WHERE IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO
CHECK ON THE LITTLER SPECIES,

BEARS ARE FAIRLY OBVIOUS, SO WE
CAN WORK TO TAKE CARE OF THE

BEARS, THAT MEANS EVERYTHING
ELSE SHOULD BE DOING WELL, AND

SO WE AS HUMANS DEFINITELY HAVE
AN IMPACT ON THINGS LIKE BEARS,

SO THAT'S THE NEAT THING TO ME,
IS THE CHALLENGE TO WORKING WITH

NOT JUST THE BEARS BUT THE
HUMANS AND BEARS TOGETHER.

IF WE CAN MAKE IT ALL WORK, IT
CAN WORK OUT FOR THE ANALYSIS

ITEM AS WELL AS PEOPLE.

>> YOU SHOULDN'T BE INTIMIDATING
BY THE SCHOOLING.

IF YOU WANT TO STUDY BEARS --
>> NO.

I MEAN, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT YOU WANT TO STUDY, WHETHER

IT'S BEARS OR SOME KIND OF
SONGBIRD, OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT

BE.

YOU'VE GOT TO PUT YOUR TIME IN
IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A CAREER

OF IT.

LOTS OF FOLKS DO IT AS A HOBBY,
GO OUT AND BIRD WATCH OR STUDY

ANIMALS OR WHATEVER, BUT IF YOU
ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ACTUALLY

WORKING FOR AN AGENCY, THEN,
YEAH, YOU SHOULD PLAN ON GOING

TO A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL, AND AFTER
THAT PROBABLY GRADUATE SCHOOL

TO --
AND IN SOME CASES MAYBE HAVE TO

GO BACK AND GET A PH.D. TO DO
CERTAIN --

TO HAVE CERTAIN POSITIONS WITH
DIFFERENT AGENCY.

>> THE OTHER THING THAT'S
IMPORTANT IS, WE NEED TO KNOW

OUR NATURAL SCIENCES, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO LEARN ABOUT

COMPUTERS.

NOT JUST COMPUTER GAMES, BUT
ALSO JUST HOW YOU USE COMPUTERS

TO DO ALL KINDS OF RESEARCH AND
DATA COLLECTION, AND AGAIN, SO

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A STRONG
DESIRE TO WORK IN THE NATURAL

WORLD, BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO
UTILIZE THE TECHNICAL WORLD AND

THEN ALSO FEEL COMFORTABLE
AROUND PEOPLE.

A LOT OF FOLKS GET TO BE
BIOLOGISTS BECAUSE THEY THINK

THEY WANT TO BE IN THE WOODS
WITH ANIMALS AND NATURE.

THAT'S PART OF THE JOB, BUT
ANOTHER BIG PART IS WORKING WITH

PEOPLE.

WHETHER THEY'RE FOREST USERS, OR
TIMBER COMPANIES, OR WHATEVER.

THERE'S ALWAYS A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF HUMAN INTERFACE THAT HAS TO

OCCUR.

SO AGAIN, YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE
PEOPLE ASPECT OF THE JOB TOO,

AND A LOT OF FOLKS SOMETIMES
FORGET THAT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT

THE ANIMAL, IT'S ABOUT THE
PEOPLE AS WELL.

>> I'M SORRY, BUT WE'VE RUN OUT
OF TIME.

MY THANKS TO YOU BOTH,
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TODAY.

>> IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> YOU CAN LEARN LOTS MORE ABOUT
BEARS AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC

TOPICS ON THE "D4K" WEBSITE.

WE'LL ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS
ABOUT BEARS ON THE "D4K"

WEB-ONLY SHOW.

IF YOU WANT TO SUMMIT A QUESTION
FOR "D4K," IT'S EASY.

YOU AND YOUR CLASS CAN WIN
PRIZES.

SEND IT AS AN EMAIL OR VIDEO
QERKS RECORD IT ON YOUR WEBCAM

OR CELL PHONE.

IF YOU'RE AN EDUCATOR WE'LL LEND
ACAMERA.

LAST MONTH'S PRIZE WINNER WAS
WILL FROM MR. KUNZ'S CLASS AT

RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY IN BOISE.

TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT BEARS, HOW
TO ?END QUESTION AND HOW TO WIN,

GO TO THE "D4K" WEBSITE, AND
EACH WEEK CHECK OUT MY SCIENCE

BLOG FOR THE LATEST SCIENCE NEWS
FOR KIDS.

YOU'LL FIND IT ALL AT
IDAHOPTV.ORG/D4K.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON
"D4K" --

THE PLACE FOR SCIENCE.

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>> IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THIS TOPIC OR WATCH OUR

VIDEOS, CHECK OUT THE "D4K"