Scientists Track Alabama Bear Cub Survival Rate

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/03/Photo1.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1079;s:4:"file";s:18:"2019/03/Photo1.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-771x433.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:433;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-768x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Photo1-1536x863.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:863;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Photo1-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Photo1-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:1915459;s:14:"optimized_size";i:569528;s:7:"percent";d:70.269999999999996;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:10412;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9488;s:7:"percent";d:8.8699999999999992;}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:31464;s:14:"optimized_size";i:28678;s:7:"percent";d:8.8499999999999996;}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:141869;s:14:"optimized_size";i:129016;s:7:"percent";d:9.0600000000000005;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:3791;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3420;s:7:"percent";d:9.7899999999999991;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:91490;s:14:"optimized_size";i:83253;s:7:"percent";d:9;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:39959;s:14:"optimized_size";i:36538;s:7:"percent";d:8.5600000000000005;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:78614;s:14:"optimized_size";i:71453;s:7:"percent";d:9.1099999999999994;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:58826;s:14:"optimized_size";i:53633;s:7:"percent";d:8.8300000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:8433;s:14:"optimized_size";i:7665;s:7:"percent";d:9.1099999999999994;}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:2380317;s:14:"optimized_size";i:992672;s:7:"percent";d:58.299999999999997;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Fontaine Radcliffe Howard
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  Auburn University
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1617012689 
1553090535

Alabama is home to two different populations of black bears. There is a small group in the northeast around Little River Canyon, which appears to be growing quickly. And then there is a larger group to the south near Mobile. The population there isn’t growing like it should, according to Todd Steury, a wildlife ecologist at Auburn University. Over the past few years, Steury and fellow researchers have noticed a problem in the area.

“We would go in and we’d visit the dens in spring and we’d count two, three cubs,” Steury says. “But then later in April or May we might only see one cub. And so we were very concerned that maybe cubs weren’t surviving.”

Steury thinks this could be related to the disappearance of traditional bear den habitat. In the past, bears along the coast used old hollowed-out cypress trees to rest or hibernate. But there aren’t many of these trees left. Steury says now, bears are making nests in the ground, like big shallow birds’ nests. These might not provide enough protection for cubs.

Steur recently received a $1.1 million grant from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to study the problem.

This bear den is a shallow nest in the ground. Researchers say this type of den might not provide enough protection for bear cubs.

Chris Seals,Auburn University
This bear den is a shallow nest in the ground. Researchers say this type of den might not provide enough protection for bear cubs.

For the next five years, Steury’s team will study this behavior and track the survival rate of black bears throughout Alabama. The research could help stabilize and improve the population, which Steury says is good for the ecosystem.

“It’s something that in conservation circles we call an umbrella species,” Steury says. “In that, if you protect this animal, it serves as an umbrella and it protects a whole lot of other animals too.”

Steury says most people want to protect bears, but they don’t want the animal close by. For those who happen to encounter a black bear, Steury’s advice is to make a lot of noise and back up slowly.

 

BSC’s Daniel Coleman talks about his years-long effort to save the school and what happens next.

After the news that Birmingham-Southern College is closing, we sat down with the school’s president, Daniel Coleman.

IVF could help her start the family she wants. Will Alabama’s personhood law derail it?

Despite a law meant to protect IVF in Alabama, patients and advocates worry the protections won’t hold — and warn of future attacks on reproductive rights.

Struggling Birmingham-Southern College says it will close at end of May

The College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to close the longtime institution, officials announced in a news release. The announcement came after legislation, aimed at securing a taxpayer-backed loan for the 168-year-old private college, had recently stalled in the Alabama Statehouse.

What happens when a rural hospital shuts its doors? Look to Pickens County

Residents in the west Alabama county warn that the lack of emergency care can have deadly consequences. It's a fate that could befall a growing number of rural communities.

Q&A: A bad deal made Jackson’s water problems worse. It wasn’t the only Mississippi city harmed

Reporter Sarah Fowler talks about her investigation that found at least eight Mississippi cities were harmed by deals over faulty smart water meters.

What issues are driving you to the polls this year?

What issues are top of mind as you head to the polls this year? What do you want the candidates to be talking about?

More Environment Coverage