Bears Killing Trees and Entire Forests - a Quickly Escalating Problem

There is an unexpected threat to the coast redwood forests of Northern California and Southern Oregon. Black bears have started a relatively new behavior of tearing the bark off of younger redwood trees, which kills the trees. They are also killing Douglas fir and grand fir in our coastal forests. This is a new behavior that has been quickly escalating over the past few decades. This along with a population explosion of black bears in many areas of coastal forests has been devastating to regenerating forests.

[@Livin4Legacy]

Hunting bears helps manage populations and it also makes them more skittish of people...which actually protects the species. The biggest problem almost all rural areas face, is uniformed city folk legislating from emotion and ignorance (on just about every issue).

[@clayoreilly4553]

Meh. The cause of the problem is just what Mr. Wilson mentioned. Uninformed rural folk killing off all of the wolves and grizzlies which used to eat those black bears. See how that works? The problem is HUMANS. Always has been and probably always will be. We humans obviously just don't know what the ___ we're doing. Wanna solve the black bear problem? Bring back the wolves and bring back the Grizzlies. Kinda scary, eh?

[@archstanton_live]

This is very true. It pertains to our black bears and also the brown bears. I learned this when I was packing in Montana. I am not a gun nut, but bears learn a lot from a little force. I live with the black bears, they aren't stupid.

[@user-scooter1965]

Proper land and wildlife management is extremely important. Let's hope the message gets out there.

[@Stang413]

This video does a great job of showing how hunting is important for habitat management.

[@jimcoulter5877]

Society is becoming Ignorant of the ways of Nature in our 21st Century and animal lovers.

[@steveo_lew8335]

Thank you for making these informative videos...I learn something new every time I watch. Stay safe!

[@jefff6167]

This is a fantastic video, very interesting. I had no idea how destructive Bears can be. I’d very much like to hear your hypothesis, please.

[@MJOConnor17]

I am really enjoying your videos, and I found this video informative. I agree that bear and other wildkife need to be managed. It is also obvious that you care about the health of the forest. I'm not one for leaving comments, but my thoughts about forestry and forest management align with what you are presenting. I have worked in the forest industry in BC for over 40 years, you really know what you are talking about, so I hope others are learning from you. I'll keep watching. M

[@southernadirondackoutdoors]

What's your theory? Politicians are great at solving one problem and creating 5 more at the same time.

[@edwardlautsch8539]

Thanks for the bear facts of this problem!

[@bretzel30000]

would it work to just install some soda fountain (that can be operated by bears) in the forest? the bears would then simply drink the soda and leave the trees alone

[@craigmorgan7053]

Great video, let's here your hypothesis when you get time.

[@vanblindguy4600]

And here we are in Washington in all their infinite wisdom trying to eliminate predator hunting altogether and introducing Grizzly bears. You can't make this stuff up

[@gene0barth]

Please do share your hypothesis on the origin of increased bark stripping. Thanks!

[@DanielAtkinsFirewood]

I knew of insects taking out trees but never thought about bears..

[@tommybond8189]

Looks like you need to make some bear rugs!!!!

[@davidedwards3734]

Id like to hear your solutions!! Giving the politicians the task of solving problems has gotten us in this dilemma!! Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day

[@markburrell2778]

Why do you think lumber companies used to have contract hunters ?

[@clayoreilly4553]

Well, just look at the Great Plains and tell me how that worked out - for everybody. But especially for the Bison, the wolves, and every creature in between. They killed EVERYTHING. Killing everything in sight IS NOT the answer.

[@markburrell2778]

@@clayoreilly4553 Well what is the answer ?

[@tmac9972]

I have a solution. Have the rural population move into the cities so they can manage and run the cities with no experience at all . After 10 or 20 years look back and see how they probably destroyed the cities even more than they currently are. Here in lies the problem with many policies that effect forested areas, city folk with zero experience of managing rural and forested areas are making decisions affecting forests on what feels good and not what is really needed, perhaps we need George Cluney Pamela Anderson and others to campaign for the people living and managing the forests and not protesting for the forests directly. It's kind of like asking a bus driver to run your family farm and expecting good results.

[@joegrochowski669]

great job, thank you

[@edwinlikeshistractor8521]

Follow up info would be great! You run an amazing channel with information not easily found. Thank you.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you, I will add your vote for more on the subject.

[@steveallen2681]

Mr. Wilson follow up on more of your thoughts on bears and your solution please. Love your videos

[@jimgroulx3956]

Very interesting. Thanks for the vid

[@robintaylor-mockingeemill8223]

I did not know that was an issue . Out here the porcupines eat the tops off trees and ruin them . They really like hemlock . The land owner where we hunted had a 25 cent bounty on them . Although I don't ever remember getting paid .

[@blakespower]

25 cent? how old are you ? 200 years old?

[@robintaylor-mockingeemill8223]

It was a hunting joke . Sorry you missed it@@blakespower

[@summerfi]

I've seen this in Idaho in Doug fir. Not to the same extent, but more isolated examples.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Sometimes bears will scratch up isolated trees as a territorial thing (at least a lot of people claim it’s territorial). Hopefully they aren’t getting a taste for them in Idaho too to the extent they have here.

[@ronaldrhatigan7652]

Weyerhaeuser has bear feeding stations along the Washington coast. They seem to work. Other timber companies get a depredation permit and hire professional hunters. Pruning Douglas-fir makes the sap taste bad to the bears according to one study I read.

[@edwinlikeshistractor8521]

What kind of pruning? Like limbing up to cut down on the ladder fuels to try to stop crown fires?

[@HubertofLiege]

Too bad wdfw ended spring bear hunts

[@ronaldrhatigan7652]

I think it was pruning all branches up to about 16'.

[@edwinlikeshistractor8521]

Thanks. Almost beyond pole saw reach.@@ronaldrhatigan7652

[@stevenpepper5581]

I'm interested in this and would like to see and hear more of this..tks.

[@m4rt1st3]

What about grizzlies, would they have the same behaviour? If not they would reduce the black bear population.

[@davidj.leavitt249]

What do you suggest on ways to get rid of this problem?

[@robertpowell2735]

Man has the highest reasoning abilities on the planet. How we doing so far 😂😡? There’s just so many strong options out there and so many folks unwilling to work together, my ways the right your wrong attitude, way of the world I guess. What’s that old 60s song in the year 20 something God tears it down and starts again. Hang in there folks we might figure it out somewhere along the line 😎

[@HubertofLiege]

Spring bear hunts

[@Blackadder75]

@@robertpowell2735 in the year 2525.. the god couplet starts with in the year 8510

[@woodworker3122]

Bad Yogie! Bo Bo would be mad at you. Not “smarter than the average bear” I guess.😢

[@johnmaclellan2589]

Could some kind of electric barrier fence be erected to at least protect some small groves of trees?

[@WilsonForestLands]

It could help small groves like in a yard. I know electric fence is effective on bears, I have seen it applied to fruit trees.

[@archstanton_live]

My neighbors that cultivate bees have all have resorted to electric fences to keep the black bears out. If you have good sun there are solar options for small fences.They are expensive and high maintenance for large acreage. 🙁 Many of my neighbors with fruit trees have just given up.

[@raymonddriggers]

Makes sense to dedicate land beside these areas to grow something that will deter bears from eating trees, plant some thing they will eat more of! Especially because people are taking over their territorial ranges, this will be resolved by dedicating land to feed them on rather than reducing their populations

[@craigmorgan7053]

I've got a solution, how about reintroducing the grizz...

[@OriginalTailhunter]

@@craigmorgan7053 That would scare the poor little liberals too much.

[@nearlynormal2293]

Are there any problems liberals aren't responsible for?@@OriginalTailhunter

[@craigmorgan7053]

I've often fantasized about reintroducing Grizzly's to Humboldt/Mendocino/Trinity area's...@@OriginalTailhunter

[@HubertofLiege]

You know what deters bears from eating trees? Plenty of other food sources. Too many bears. Setting aside areas with bear food is like saying homeless camps are the solution to homelessness. Let our biologists set hunting seasons instead of the appointed politicians.

[@sunny-yl4pr]

The bears are doing this where I live in Crescent City.

[@ericackerman6918]

Sounds like you need some hunters up there to help those trees!

[@AlaskanInsights]

Is it just redwoods they go after? I have never seen this.

[@WilsonForestLands]

They prefer redwoods but a lot of the trees I was showing in the video were Douglas fir. And I was showing some grand fir in the video. The only place I know of it happening is along the coast of Oregon Washington and California. I am guessing maybe BC too. They go after the healthiest fastest growing trees. It’s not something they typically do in places where trees don’t grow as fast as they do here.

[@AlaskanInsights]

@@WilsonForestLands They just use them for back scratchers here... may see some claw marks but that is about it.

[@HubertofLiege]

Bears have been doing this in the cascades for generations. When they first come out of hibernation the sows walk the road systems teaching their cubs to bark the base of trees when the sap is running in the spring. Every time they walk by they get a lick of sap, but it kills the trees.

[@Morbius1963]

Thoughtless laws implemented by people with no knowledge of impact studies and who are usually in love with themselves for their care of minorities and animals and who don't suffer the consequences. In Australia, laws to limit CO2 levels forbad homeowners from clearing brush around their homes. Firefighters testify that this has caused substantial loss of property.

[@hosocat1410]

Who's going to win this? DA Bears.

[@edmondmaher]

What about p

[@WilsonForestLands]

Not sure if that is a deterrent or not. If so, it might protect a few out of the millions and millions of trees.

[@jimcoulter5877]

I did not know that about Bears, thank you for the education Sir! A Friend did tell me about Bear Hamburger! The more I learn, the Dumber I Get. Save a Forest Eat Bear Burgers! They eat Bison Burgers Don't They!

[@blakespower]

he has a cool accent I dont know where he hails from but its cool.

[@lepotdefleur9906]

Wolves pack kill and /or killed by bear so...lets bring them back , they would hunt each other and maintain a relative balance, that of course would mean us and the animals we keep would be on the menu too. Can t have omelet without some fox roaming around huh ?

[@snurb48]

Bear tags! More tags to balance the ecosystem. In Northern Nevada the Bear population has exploded to the point the black bears are coming out of the Sierra's and migrating to the east ranges. These eastern ranges are more desert but the Bears are getting crowded and pushed there. BTW, I just lost My 48" diameter Ponderosa Pine in My front yard to Bark Beetles! Makes Me sick to have to cut it down plus two more smaller ones I just removed. Those little bastards are devastating and all it takes is a wounded tree for them to show up! Bark Beetles are hard to kill and once in the bark they can live for a few years. Upon the female attracting the males from a scent, once the party starts it's like a night time orgy on the tree! Then the pairs will bore into the center and there is no saving it! The chemical change in the females poisons the Ponderosa and turns the inside blue. They will jump from tree to tree and wipe out a complete forest! Years of zero forest management has caused this as far as I'm concerned. Look at the undergrowth, not healthy for Pines let alone the fire danger. And to think people laughed at Trump for wanting to 'rake' the forests? Just a terminology people, it's time to get serious here in the North Western U.S. before we lose something precious!

[@WilsonForestLands]

In Oregon and California the political environment is more going in the opposite direction of hunting. Here on the coast it’s the bears, but around my inland property it’s the flat headed fir borers killing the Douglas firs. Some bark beetles getting the pines too. Too many trees competing for limited water. On my property I am thinning the trees out to prevent it. But in a lot of the area there are massive amounts of trees dying. When Trump said raking the forest I am guessing he was talking about things like brush rakes that go on a dozer and are a common piece of equipment for cleaning up forests.

[@snurb48]

@@WilsonForestLands I totally agree with your take on the situation. Government no longer works for us, every damn one of them has someone stuffing cash in their pockets clouding their tiny brains! Your a master at that chainsaw, wish more people had the same conservation concept you do. A lot of problems would go away.

[@allentyler2184]

I honestly think environmental management is hopeless.

[@terryeason4319]

I dont want to sound stupid but can you put out molasis tubs like ranchers do for Cows. I think putting out the tubs to save the trees would cost less than losing the trees.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Not a bad question. I have heard of timber companies experimenting with putting out sweet things with some success. I’m not sure how practical that’s going to be over the huge amount of land this is happening on when you include a Oregon Washington and California. There is a lot at stake for the timber companies around me and their huge tracts of land, so it will be interesting to see if they come up with a solution.

[@HubertofLiege]

Lots of timber companies feed bears in the spring when they first come out of hibernation. The problem is politicians eliminating spring hunt seasons and pushing to end predator hunting all together. Let the wildlife biologists do their job and set hunting season recommendations instead of politicians.

[@Blackadder75]

@@HubertofLiege ok, but's always rabbit season or duck season, never bear season :(

[@hobbyfarmer62]

Be a lot of work but would wrapping some strands of barbed wire help discourage the bears from tearing at the trees?

[@WilsonForestLands]

If you wanted to protect some individual trees that can work. Even woven wire or chicken wire will get them to move to the next tree. I have done that to a few.. But to do it on a forest scale it isn’t practical to do to millions of trees over many thousands of acres. Then as the tree grows you’d have to go back and loosen up the wire on every tree to keep it from growing into the tree.

[@larrymajorana9269]

A very interesting problem that’s hard to see a solution to. We have redwoods on coastal calif. and don’t see this often perhaps For some unknown reason We rarely have bears in this area. We do see a lot of damage near the tops of trees that I don’t think a bear could get to. The tops will then break off and litter the forest. I think there’s another culprit at work here, but can’t figure out what is doing this. Rats perhaps?

[@WilsonForestLands]

Bears do climb up into the tops of the trees to get the more tender bark. Traveling 101 from Klamath to Orick if you know what you’re looking for you can see a lot of bear damage in the tops of trees. If it’s not bears in yours, porcupines and mountain beavers (different from the dam building beavers we know ) could be a culprit. I just don’t see or hear much about either of those anymore.

[@clayoreilly4553]

I'm for bringing back the wolves and the grizzlies. That might help some. But, of course, humans are scared of wolves and grizzlies. "Little Red Riding Hood" and all that stuff, you know. Grizzly Bears used to populate all of the Continental United States until White settlers came along. A good book on the topic is, "Meet Mister Grizzly". It was written by a man from Southwest New Mexico who hunted the Grizzlies with hounds. He slaughtered every dang Grizz he could find. And he found a lot of them. Until they were gone, that is.

[@bearbait2221]

Never knew bears kill trees? no more hunting just tree hugging bears. I would say you have a bear problem.

[@gboz4245]

Hornets are doing this to our white birch in Manitoba, open the bark to drink the sweet birch juice which destroys the tree. 40k tags to hunt whitetail a year and only 500 tags to hunt black bear per year in Manitoba. Def dealing with over population of hairy black pigs. 🐻🐷

[@wildandliving]

Many bears means they need more food do they're hungry

[@jamesbenedict5062]

Maybe apply a bear repellent to most trees, perhaps some type of ultrasonic noise to scare them away. Can you make bear steaks on that sawmill of yours lol

[@williamemerson1799]

Just put up some signs saying NO BEARS ALLOWED. The left seem to think that works for firearms. 🤪🤣

[@clayoreilly4553]

And the Right seems to think that the ongoing slaughter of school children is, "No big deal."

[@user-yo1pk4ky4k]

You said you now see about three bears a day when you are in the woods. Why not carry a rifle?

[@Blackadder75]

They are not grizzly bears, but the less dangerous (unless you are a tree) black bears. I know you guys are addicted to guns, but you don't need one here. In fact guns are the reason you are 167 times more likely to be killed by another species than by a black bear. Can you guess what species I am hinting at? The 750,000 black bears of North America kill less than one person per year on the average

[@terryk3118]

Since you've never caught the bears in the act, maybe it's Bigfoot...

[@ronsilva516]

You are correct thin them out, now wear I live the wolfs are around but not that much as for grizzlies I had herd talk of trying to re-introduce them but as you know with government they have to pay a few people $$$$$$$ to do a study and they will take there sweet time because there getting a bunch of $$$$$

[@MsdMakingSawDust]

Man the bears can sure do a number to them trees , that’s crazy. I think if I was you, I would get them all together and have a little chat of dinner. Just think you could turn out to be the main coarse I mean coordinator….😂

[@joeyrector1015]

If it's not against the law. There needs to be a bear thinning

[@lpeterman]

I'm with you on restoring the balance: Reintroduce grizzlies and wolves, and/or starting a systematic "spaying/neutering" (dart-injection) program of the young bears. Two generations on birth control ought to put a dent in the over population. (Trail cams could help identify the sows teaching cubs bad habits.) My initial response, (though placed second) is sure to draw heavy fire, so I'll withhold it, (but generally it has to do with human overpopulation and encroachment on natural habitat.) Ooops, I said the quiet part out loud. Or, just do nothing and let natural selection sort it out; trees/bears/humans. Cheers from bear country in Linn County.

[@supermo26]

Grizzlies and wolves? Really? Where is this information coming from? If you hunted for food, would you want to compete with them? If you were a hiker or mountain bike rider, would you want to be around them? The timber is scary enough as it is.

[@lpeterman]

Yes. Really. Apex predators have been wiped out in favour of greedy cattle/sheep ranchers and so hikers and mountain bikers can pedal through once wild habitat... Also, condition (the far too many humans) to cease with the knee-jerk reaction of killing everything on sight, simply because it exists. I work, every day, in the forest. I know there are predators about, and it doesn't bother me in the least. No, I don't feel the need to carry a firearm -- I did enough of that in the 7th ID (L) for too many years. I don't hunt for food -- 99.9% of modern humans do not have that need, those "hunters" (really just cowardly snipers) who attempt to justify slaughtering a bear/deer/goose or anything else are just giving in to the infantile need to inflict harm on other creatures. If "hunters" were actually going to mimic nature, by culling the over populations, as is their oft repeated trope, they should take only the sick, injured or weakest specimens -- instead of the largest and healthiest. In summation: Grizzlies and wolves, really? Yes. Really.@@supermo26

[@robertpowell2735]

And who’s going to pay for all that spaying and neutering, vets won’t do it for free, and who’s going to track them. Ya you can trap them but wild animals are dangerous when trapped, it’s going to take a team of specialized scientists to go in and tranquilize the bears preform the operation and not all the bears caught will be males. And as far as cubs are concerned mother bears are very protective of there cubs. In other words it could be an extremely expensive venture. Reintroducing grizzly bears and wolves now there’s a political Pandora’s box WOW. We have elk season, deer season, antelope season and bear season in parts of Oregon why not in that region? Ya I know another ugly political issue. There’s a whole lot more I’d like to say but I think I’ve made my point. Would like to see more and hear more on this subject.

[@WilsonForestLands]

I am not against hunting but I agree the taking of the biggest healthiest animals with the best genetics is probably not the best for the long term health of the herd. It’s also similar to what the bears are doing. They take out the most healthy, most vigorous trees and leave the less healthy ones that often times aren’t going to amount to much. If they would do the opposite and thin out the less healthy trees, then it wouldn’t be such a problem.

[@user-lz1pn8ih8k]

Bears are not the only one tearing down your precious redwood trees. How about all the insects?

[@hosocat1410]

If you keep hosting logical and rational discussion I'm afraid your channel will be barred from viewing on government devices.

[@bearbait2221]

Best tacos i every had>>>> black bear tacos>>>> now i drool when i see a fat bear. Still have men In Alaska we eat bears. Oh god don't shoot the bears says the puzzy city-idiot as some guy runs a steal shank through the head of a cow so the same idiot can have his fat mcjunk burger. so humane

[@grizz2702]

Bear meat ground fifty fifty makes excellent hamburgers and sausage....just saying...cheers

[@rmf9567]

Start hunting more black bears

[@frankblangeard8865]

Sounds like reintroduction of grizzley bears is badly needed.

[@dgoodman1484]

I could show you a picture of my neighbor in Alaska after he was mauled by a Grizzly. After seeing it you may rethink that plan

[@OriginalTailhunter]

Sounds like a new money making proposition for you. Wilson’s Guided Bear Hunts Think of all the new video opportunities also. Keep these types of videos coming in the future.

[@supermo26]

The bears are planting bug colonies and mushrooms grows for next season. (Joke.) I'm not pro bear, but I am pro bear hunting.

[@raymonddriggers]

Beat the bears to the destruction elimination of a ll wildlife and humans reelection of jobuma

[@lclements9263]

Ask yourself this question how did mother nature give us these beautiful Forests for millions of years, without folks, killing, bears with rifles? mother nature will take care of the problem too many or too few