Berrying

Who’s That Behind the Bush?

By Kate Schwab, 8-22-11

	Black bear. Photo by Lynn Chamberlain, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Last week, I accompanied my guy on a business trip to Lincoln, Mont. Although it’s probably most famous as the location of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski’s hideout (the cabin has since been moved), this rural community remains noteworthy for its beef jerky, which is produced locally and sold under the Hi-Country brand.

It’s also an easy distance from prime berry country, so naturally we were prepared to grab a few wild huckleberries during the journey home.

As luck would have it, the huckleberries came in early this year. We saw a few plants here and there, but none with fruit in the locations we checked, although I’m sure there are plenty more in the hills.

Oregon grapes, however, were abundant. They will be delicious in a few weeks. And the thimbleberries, which resemble a wild raspberry in taste and texture, are ripening now.

We humans, of course, aren’t the only ones who notice these things. Homeward bound, on a gravel road not far from bustling Forest Service campgrounds, we narrowly missed hitting a black bear. More like a black blur, really, since the critter dashed across the road right in front of us, startlingly fast for its size.

Hours later, I heard from friends who live outside Seeley Lake, a locally famous huckleberry spot close to Lincoln. They had seen another black bear in their yard that same morning.

Berries bring in everybody, not just bears. Try taking your dogs along sometime and see how much even they adore wild fruit! Among the wildlife you’re likely to encounter during berry season, though, bears are probably the most dangerous.

They’re hungry, and they’re hanging out close to people and camping areas now. Be alert, stay safe and happy berry hunting.

Editor’s Note: Among several human encounters with bears this summer, the most recent report was yesterday, when wildlife officials told the Post Independent they believe an emaciated black bear they killed was the one that attacked two campers in Colorado’s Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area in separate incidents. In the first incident, a man in a tent was bitten but not seriously harmed. In the second attack, the bear stomped a tent and bit through a man’s sleeping bag, causing serious but not life-threatening injury.

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