posted by: USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region Forest Health Protection |
Bear Damage Black bears in western Washington will often feed on the inner bark of pole sized trees in the spring time before other food sources become available. A a single bear can damage and kill hundreds of young trees each season.
Another increase in bear damage was seen in western Washington. Areas that exhibit particularly heavy mortality include the Capitol State Forest south of Olympia, the Quinault Indian Reservation, and the forested areas around Morton and Lake Ozette. Over 260,000 acres of bear damage were recorded in 2003, up from 112,000 acres in 2002. We map these pole sized plantation trees as having been killed by black bear spring feeding activity, but since there have been several years of dry conditions, much of this damage could be caused by drought and/or root disease. |
||||||
WADNR Forest Health Home Washington Department of Natural Resources PNW Region Forest Health Protection |