Pennsyvania Bears in the Pocono Mountain region of the State are making good on alternative foodstuffs during this light mast year......... Ample amounts of hickory nuts, apples and beechnuts are in the woods and the bears are feasting on these nourishing alternatives

Hungry for acorns, Pennsylvania Black Bears seeking out Beech Nuts

Nuts from American beech were plentiful this autumn and will provide a nutritious food supplement for hungry black bears. Last fall, a walk in the Poconos was like walking on marbles; acorns upon acorns pebbled forest paths, lanes and country roads. The mast crop from red, black, chestnut, scarlet and white oak was a welcome bounty for forest wildlife but a challenge for the inattentive hiker.

However, this autumn, hungry seed-eating mammals such as black bears have to search diligently beneath the leaf litter to produce an acorn.

This is part of a natural cycle. Red oak groups produce acorns every other year, while white oaks do so every year. Some years, each group yields abundant crops; if that happens simultaneously, then we have a banner year like in 2010. This year, both species produced less than normal, putting a dent in the Pocono black bears' menu.

All thanks to acorns

This area may support the highest concentration of black bears in the country, and some of the largest. This phenomenon can be attributed to remote and vast open space throughout the region, and abundance of natural communities including dense blueberry swamps, cranberry-laden bogs, northern hardwood forests teeming with black cherry and American beech, and Appalachian oak forests and ridgetops supporting a variety of mast-producing oak trees.

But acorns aren't the only reason that the Pocono area has so many (and such large) black bears. Unfortunately, we cannot ignore that the numerous residential communities hidden within the landscape — and the edible garbage they put out — have contributed some extra pounds to these remarkable and adaptable colossal mammals.

Furthermore, the Pocono area is noted for its abundance of wildlife including whitetail deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, gray squirrel, red squirrel, eastern chipmunk, white-footed and deer mice — all seed-eating mammals.

The effects of fewer acorns

So what happens to this wildlife when important calorie-producing foods such as acorns are nonexistent?

There is an abundance of hungry mammals, all competing with black bears, over a limited amount of mast crops. Animals that are the most adaptable will survive our harsh winters, and the black bear is one of the most adjustable species. That praiseworthy adaptation and its pursuit to satisfy hunger might cause an increase of bear conflicts with Pocono homeowners and businesses.

Since there is a noticeable lack of acorn crop throughout the Poconos, will there be an increase in the amount of black bear complaints, or only speculation? I asked Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife biologist Kevin Wenner for an answer. "There certainly is a lack of acorns in northeastern Pennsylvania; however, we noticed a good crop of beech and hickory nuts as well as apples and crabapples," said Wenner. "These food resources should be enough to supplement the lack of acorn mast. Pennsylvania black bears are remarkably adaptable and opportunist feeders and will consume what is readily available."

Fortunately, this season, Penn's Woods produced ample amounts of hickory nuts, apples and beechnuts. I have witnessed squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, whitetail deer and black bears feasting on these nourishing tidbits.

Bears don't need your help

Black bears will survive this temporary dearth of acorns; they have for thousands of years.

Wenner said, "Education and strict following of residential prevention measures ... will reduce residential conflicts." Keep your garbage cans bear-proof, don't leave pet food outdoors, don't make bird seed bear-accessible and, most of all, don't intentionally feed the bears.

If you admire these incredible bruins, please practice these residential prevention measures to avoid an unfortunate ending. Nuisance bears are not only a trouble to homeowners, but also a financial burden on the Pennsylvania Game Commission, municipalities and residents.

Wenner added, "We haven't noticed an increase in the amount of black bear complaints this fall. If all goes well, the first heavy snow of autumn will restrict foraging and may force black bears into denning earlier."

Contact Rick Koval at pocononaturalist@yahoo.com or write to him at PO Box 454, Dallas, PA 18612.