Black Bear and Blueberries - and Thoughts on the Rights of Nonhuman Animals

The first week of October was glorious on Mount Rainier with intense colors of red, orange, and gold covering the lower slopes. 

Just one week later, everything was covered in snow. 

I saw this beautiful Black Bear in the back woods of Reflection Lakes just before early snowfall came to the mountains.  He was bingeing on berries and leaves from blueberry bushes that covered a large meadow, fattening up before winter hibernation.

He is probably in his den now, deep in sleep.

Thank goodness he doesn’t live on a wildlife refuge in Alaska.  If he did, he might be killed as he slept.  Or if this bear was a female and gave birth to cubs, they might all be killed.

In April of this year, the Trump administration rolled back an Obama-era ban on killing hibernating bears on wildlife refuges in Alaska.  Bears can also be tracked and shot from aircraft as well as baited and killed.  The same applies to wolves and coyotes, who can be killed in their dens with their pups.

Most people – including many hunters - would call these actions cruel and unsportsmanlike.

I call these actions a violation of the rights and sanctity of nonhuman animals.  As stewards of the Earth, we should be better than this.

Cinnamon Bear

Frozen Lake is a popular stopping point for many hikers on the Sunrise side of Mount Rainier.  I was talking with some fellow hikers at this spot in mid-July when a bear suddenly appeared over the rise.  She caused quite a stir as she walked calmly near us, unperturbed by the humans gawking and taking cell phone pictures of her.

She was a bear with a purpose, striding along the Wonderland Trail at a fast clip.

I followed her, breaking into a jog at times to keep up.  I kept my distance, and if I would have sensed irritation on her part, I would not have followed.  But she didn’t seem to care.

I noticed two hikers coming up the trail.  They did the correct thing and moved off, shouting “bear!” repeatedly and loudly.  Cinnamon Bear moved off the trail but hardly skipped a beat with her long strides.

She finally went off trail over snow, so I stopped the pursuit.

I found out a few weeks later from a ranger that she’s a regular visitor.  She’s a Black Bear with reddish-brown fur, which is called a cinnamon bear.  I love this term.  Prior to my encounter, I thought this only described a gummy candy in the shape of a bear.  Cinnamon Bear had cubs in past years, but not this year.  It sounds like an every-other-year situation when it comes to young.

I learned another thing – bears like to use our hiking trails.  So if you’re alone and not sure if a bear might be around, sing or make noise or wear a bear bell so they know you’re coming.  Black Bears are usually not hostile, but you don’t want to surprise a mother with cubs. 

I hope to see Cinnamon Bear with new cubs next year.  I’ll keep my distance, however, and I probably won’t be following her.

Cinnamon Bear on the Wonderland Trail at Mount Rainier