A Birder’s Guide to Understanding Bears
by Rich Beausoleil
Rich Beausoleil with Karelian Bear Dogs
By Bear Specialist Group
Rich Beausoleil, Statewide Bear and Cougar Specialist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will present information about the research he and others have done over the past 10 years to learn more about black bears in Washington. He will share his understanding of black bear biology and behavior, including how backyard bird feeding influences human-bear conflicts. He will explain how birders can help themselves avoid or minimize bear problems, and spread the word to others, with the way backyard bird feeding is managed.
Rich holds two degrees in wildlife biology, a B.S. from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a M.S. from University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He is co-chair of the North American Bears Expert Team for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bear Specialist Group; served as scientific advisor and wrote the foreword for author Linda Masterson’s book “Living with Bears Handbook”; and is a regional representative for the nationwide “Bear-Wise” bear education program.
Bird feeders can attract black bear problems
© WDFW