CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
THE BLACK BEAR OF AMERICA.
After some time spent in recovering the horses, we lifted the bear intoJake's waggon, and proceeded on our journey. It was near evening,however, and we soon after halted and formed camp. The bear was skinnedin a trice,--Ike and Redwood performing this operation with thedexterity of a pair of butchers; of course "bear-meat" was the principaldish for supper; and although some may think this rather a savage feast,I envy those who are in the way of a bear-ham now.
Of course for that evening nothing was talked of but Bruin, and a goodmany anecdotes were related about the beast. With the exception of thedoctor, Jake and Lanty, all of us had something to say upon thatsubject, for all the rest had more or less practice in bear-hunting.
The black or "American bear" (_Ursus Americanus_) is one of thebest-known of his tribe. It is he that is oftenest seen in menageriesand zoological gardens, for the reason, perhaps, that he is found ingreat plenty in a country of large commercial intercourse with othernations. Hence he is more frequently captured and exported to allparts.
Any one at a glance may distinguish him from the "brown bear" of Europe,as well as the other bears of the Eastern continent--not so much by hiscolour (for he is sometimes brown too), as by his form and theregularity and smoothness of his coat. He may be as easilydistinguished, too, from his congeners of North America--of which thereare three--the grizzly (_Ursus ferox_), the brown (_Ursus arctus_), andthe "polar" (_Ursus maritimus_). The hair upon other large bears (thepolar excepted) is what may be termed "tufty," and their forms aredifferent, being generally more uncouth and "chunkier." The black bearis, in fact, nearer to the polar in shape, as well as in the arrangementof his fur,--than to any other of the tribe. He is much smaller,however, rarely exceeding two-thirds the weight of large specimens ofthe latter.
His colour is usually a deep black all over the body, with a patch ofrich yellowish red upon the muzzle, where the hair is short and smooth.This ornamental patch is sometimes absent, and varieties of the blackbear are seen of very different colours. Brown ones are common in someparts, and others of a cinnamon colour, and still others with whitemarkings, but these last are rare. They are all of one species,however, the assertion of some naturalists to the contrarynotwithstanding. The proof is, that the black varieties have been seenfollowed by coloured cubs, and _vice versa_.
The black bear is omnivorous--feeds upon flesh as well as fruit, nuts,and edible roots. Habitually his diet is not carnivorous, but he willeat at times either carrion or living flesh. We say living flesh, foron capturing prey he does not wait to kill it, as most carnivorousanimals, but tears and destroys it while still screaming. He may besaid to swallow some of his food alive!
Of honey he is especially fond, and robs the bee-hive whenever it isaccessible to him. It is not safe from him even in the top of a tree,provided the entrance to it is large enough to admit his body; and whenit is not, he often contrives to make it so by means of his sharp claws.He has but little fear of the stings of the angry bees. His shaggycoat and thick hide afford him ample protection against such punyweapons. It is supposed that he spends a good deal of his time rangingthe forest in search of "bee trees."
Of course he is a tree-climber--climbs by the "hug," not by means of hisclaws, as do animals of the cat kind; and in getting to the ground againdescends the trunk, stern-foremost, as a hod-carrier would come down aladder. In this he again differs from the _felidae_.
The range of the black bear is extensive--in fact it may be said to becolimital with the forest, both in North and South America--though inthe latter division of the continent, another species of large blackbear exists, the _Ursus ornatas_. In the northern continent theAmerican bear is found in all the wooded parts from the Atlantic to thePacific, but not in the open and prairie districts. There the grizzlyholds dominion, though both of them range together in the wooded valleysof the Rocky Mountains. The grizzly, on the other hand, is only metwith west of the Mississippi, and affects the dry desert countries ofthe uninhabited West. The brown bear, supposed to be identical with the_Ursus arctus_ of North Europe, is only met with in the wild andtreeless track known as "Barren grounds," which stretch across nearlythe whole northern part of the continent from the last timber to theshores of the Arctic Sea, and in this region the black bear is notfound. The zone of the polar bear joins with that of the brown, and therange of the former extends perhaps to the pole itself.
At the time of the colonisation of America, the area of the presentUnited States was the favourite home of the black bear. It was acountry entirely covered with thick forests, and of course a suitable_habitat_ for him. Even to this day a considerable number of bears isto be found within the limits of the settlements. Scarcely a State inwhich some wild woodlands or mountain fastnesses do not afford shelterto a number of bears, and to kill one of them is a grand object of thehunter's ambition. Along the whole range of the Alleghanies black bearsare yet found, and it will be long ere they are finally extirpated fromsuch haunts. In the Western States they are still more common, wherethey inhabit the gloomy forests along the rivers, and creek bottoms,protected alike by the thick undergrowth and the swampy nature of thesoil.
Their den is usually in a hollow tree--sometimes a prostrate log if thelatter be large enough, and in such a position as is not likely to beobserved by the passing hunter. A cave in the rocks is also theirfavourite lair, when the geological structure of the country offers themso secure a retreat. They are safer thus; for when a bear-tree or loghas been discovered by either hunter or farmer the bear has not muchchance of escape. The squirrel is safe enough, as his capture will notrepay the trouble of felling the tree; but such noble game as a bearwill repay whole hours of hard work with the axe.
The black bear lies torpid during several months of the winter. Thetime of his hibernation depends upon the latitude of the place and thecoldness of the climate. As you approach the south this period becomesshorter and shorter, until in the tropical forests, where frost isunknown, the black bear ranges throughout the year.
The mode of hunting the black bear does not differ from that practisedwith the fox or wild cat. He is usually chased by dogs, and forced intohis cave or a tree. If the former, he is shot down, or the tree, ifhollow, is felled. Sometimes smoking brings him out. If he escapes toa cave, smoking is also tried; but if that will not succeed indislodging him, he must be left alone, as no dogs will venture to attackhim there.
The hunter often tracks and kills him in the woods with a bullet fromhis rifle. He will not turn upon man unless when wounded or brought tobay. Then his assault is to be dreaded. Should he grasp the hunterbetween his great forearms, the latter will stand a fair chance of beinghugged to death. He does not attempt to use his teeth like the grizzlybear, but relies upon the muscular power of his arms. The nose appearsto be his tenderest part, and his antagonist, if an old bear-hunter, andsufficiently cool, will use every effort to strike him there. A blowupon the snout has often caused the black bear to let go his hold, andretreat terrified!
The log trap is sometimes tried with success. This is constructed insuch a way that the removal of the bait operates upon a trigger, and alarge heavy log comes down on the animal removing it--either crushing itto death or holding it fast by pressure. A limb is sometimes onlycaught; but this proves sufficient.
The same kind of trap is used throughout the northern regions of Americaby the fur trappers--particularly the sable hunters and trappers of thewhite weasel (_Mustela erminea_). Of course that for the bear isconstructed of the heaviest logs, and is of large dimensions.
Redwood related an adventure that had befallen him while trapping theblack bear at an earlier period of his life. It had nearly cost him hislife too, and a slight halt in his gait could still be observed,resulting from that very adventure.
We all collected around the blazing logs to listen to the trapper'sstory.