Photo courtesy of NYSDEC
Black bears love easy food at this time of year and backyard bird feeders are among favored targets.
The intermediate-age bears, the juveniles that denned up with mom over winter, got booted this spring to make room for the new cubs. They are about 18 months old and full of energy, curious, have little fear, and like to explore — but they are still learning.
Backyard pickings are their target, too, as trained by mom, but while these bears are easily confused, they quickly learn what to avoid. You might find them close to your home; leave them alone.
I did not realize until learning more about bears recently that both male and female bears may mate several times in early summer. It’s not unusual for cubs from a single litter to have a different father. While female bears rarely leave their home range for the good of the gene pool, they let the males come to find them. So, adult male bears may travel long distances through various females’ home ranges. Adult male bears are roaming far and wide in search of a mate. Adult male bears roam far and wide in search of a mate. These are the big bears we see now and then.
That’s the background. A word to the wise is to be extra vigilant right now. Make sure there’s nothing around your property or home that will attract bears. More importantly, the NYSDEC says don’t approach bears, don’t feed bears, and don’t call all your neighbors to come watch. If the bear is headed to a safe space for bears, leave it alone. Call your state wildlife agency if you’re worried it’s at risk because it’s wandering through a densely populated area. And then make sure you and your neighbors have no unsecured food sources, pet food, birdseed or other attractants that would tempt it to hang around. To learn more, visit https://dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/black-bear/bearwiseand https://bearwise.org/.
Photo by Forrest Fisher
Black bass tournaments on our local waters attract an army of anglers from across the nation, with some tournaments offering a $1 million dollar top prize in their championship events.
We have quickly moved from the opening day of bass season in New York state (June 15) and into July. With all the local tournament action on Lake Erie for walleye, the black bass is overshadowed, but they are still there and are world-class fish by size. We are lucky to have two species of bass in WNY: the largemouth bass and the smallmouth bass. Largemouth prefer shallower, weedy water like the Chautauqua Lake south basin, Cassadaga Lakes and Findley Lake. Smallmouths are also found in all those lakes, but Lake Erie is the prized resource for abundant large smallmouth bass.
Chautauqua Lake offers multiple weekend bass fishing tournaments and is the region’s top bass fishing destination. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass can each provide good action for those fishing in the right spots. Look for deep drop-offs, points, rocky shoals, gravel bars near creek mouths, and the sunken islands in the south basin. The largemouth can be found around the dock systems and weedbeds.
Lake Erie offers the finest smallmouth bass fishing in New York state and, arguably, the entire United States. The smallmouth are found along the New York shoreline, where rocky bottom structures and drop-offs are vital hotspots. Blade baits, jigs and drop-shot rigs are among the favored local angler rigs.
Grab your camera and your fishing pole in Chautauqua County. Gotta love the outdoors.
CALENDAR
July 9: Erie County Trappers, Potluck Family Picnic, 12580 Jennings Road, Patti Wattengal. Bring a dish to share.
July 19-20: Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout, $500 entry, $500K prizes, six-fish bag/one day, Info: Captain Don Ruppert, www.walleyeshootout.com.
July 27-28: Bart’s Cove Walleye Dual-2, Integrity Walleye Series (IWT-2), Dunkirk Harbor, three-fish bag/per day, two days, Info: Mark Mohr, 716-998-9871.
Aug. 2-4: 20th annual Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Lake Erie Walleye Tournament, Dunkirk Harbor, three-fish bag/per day, three days. 100-boat field. Contact Zen Olow, 716-640-2776.