From Mother Jones · Sonal Gupta · · 2m
Haida build bear dens after logging
Haida Nation creates artificial bear dens to replace lost old-growth trees.
In brief
Haida Nation creates artificial bear dens to replace lost old-growth trees. Haida Nation built 10 artificial bear dens using logging stumps to protect coastal black bears from habitat loss. Originally reported by Mother Jones.
Haida Nation builds bear dens
Elijah Washington and crew created seven artificial bear dens from logging stumps this summer.
“You just want it to be small enough for a mother bear to move in”
Coastal black bears need old growth
Coastal black bears rely on large old-growth trees for winter dens but logging has removed many shelters.
“The only place where bears can have babies is in a den”
Bears need shelter for cubs
Cubs stay in dens for up to 100 days while mothers nurse them through winter.
“The only place where bears can have babies is in a den”
Logging threatens bear habitats
BC has expanded protections but old-growth harvesting continues, with logging industry arguing against full protection.
“Stopping it altogether would shut down the sector”
Haida create artificial dens
Haida Nation crews convert logging stumps into bear dens using plywood, moss, and chainsaws.
“You just want it to be small enough for a mother bear to move in”
Bears use the new dens
Bears have used and returned to one of Taan Forest’s modified dens each year since 2023.
“Bears used one of the dens through the winter and spring of 2023 and have returned annually since”
Haida worry about food sources
Haida members fear second-growth forests lack food for bears after deer eat low-growing vegetation.
“It’s a moss lawn between trees”
Haida history with bears
Haida people have used trees for homes and tools while leaving forests intact for animals.
“People selected individual trees, used them fully and left the surrounding forest standing”
Bears need both shelter and food
Bears require shelter and feeding areas within their home ranges to survive.
“They don’t just pick up and march off to some far-flung patch of remaining old growth and all den there together”
Monitoring dens for bear health
Cameras and hair tests will track bear use of dens to monitor health and population.
“Hair naturally caught at den entrances can be tested for DNA”
Haida protect bears from hunting
Haida Nation reports bears killed for gallbladders despite BC bans on bear gallbladder trade.
“They used to sleep under the trees and there was never any fear of that”
Haida build dens for bears
Haida Nation created 10 artificial bear dens using logging stumps to protect coastal black bears.
“We don’t want to create a whole community out here”
Bears use dens for winter
Bears use modified dens for winter shelter and return annually to the same sites.
“Bears used one of the dens through the winter and spring of 2023 and have returned annually since”
Haida history with trees
Haida ancestors cut into trees to see if they could be used for houses, leaving them standing for bears.
“Finding rot at the core, they left it standing”
Haida worry about storms
Haida members fear second-growth forests may not withstand winter storms.
“It’s also the forest around them that needs to be strong”
Haida monitor bear health
Haida Nation tracks bear health through den use and food availability.
“We want to have like one bear that’s safe enough to come out here”
In short
Haida Nation built 10 artificial bear dens using logging stumps to protect coastal black bears from habitat loss.
