By Bryce Casavant

One of humankind’s most asked but never answered rhetorical questions goes something like “does a bear $h%T in the woods?” No! I don’t think so. My evidence for this is quite simple. I have spent a lot of time in the woods and rarely see bear poo. However, a short walk around any North Island neighbourhood, or any Vancouver Island village for that matter, will show you that bear poo is regularly found in our backyards, on the street, on the sidewalk, in the park, most baseball and soccer fields, the odd parking lot, almost every community walking trail, logging roads (although that is predictable), and sometimes directly on our driveways. I am increasingly convinced that every bear in the woods is pinching it off and squeezing the penny until they can make it into the city limits – dumping a hot steamy load of berry crumble dessert for us townies when they can’t hold it any longer. But all joking aside, bears obviously do not “drop the kids off at the pool” – although I have seen bear poo outside the Port Hardy recreation centre – rather, the truth is bears do put dumps around wilderness stumps. Yes, dear reader, the bears are dropping warm doo doo all over the forest floor. And the result might surprise you. 

Bear poo can tell you a lot about the health of local bears and is a direct sign that bears are in the area. An old dry crap can tell you a bear was around, while a fresh pile of warm butt jam is a warning to create space for our furry friends and keep both them and us humans safe. 

North Island black bears consume a wide variety of things. They eat fruit and berries, fish, and are known to scavenge on carcasses. While many things are fully digested, other leftovers are not and show up in the poop. This can include full berries, fruit peels, and bones – especially in the fall. Plastic bags and other household garbage items can also show up in bear poop and be a sign that a bear is unwell and accessing non-natural food sources. 

So, with all the crapping and scatting going on (yes, that was a jazz reference and double entendre – it is not a typo) why do we see more poop starting around September? During the fall, as bears prepare to hibernate, they enter a state of hyperphagia (the need to constantly eat) and can consume up to 20,000 calories a day. Fall is when bears are on the move, snacking and pooping! And this serves an important ecological function. 

The undigested seeds that litter the forest contribute to seed dispersal and are natural compost for trees, small plants, and shrubberies. And for scientists, bear poop is a non-invasive way to track individual bears and take DNA for broader population mapping and estimations.  

And there you have it. Expect bears this fall. Don’t be a weirdo garbage leaver outer. Being “poo aware” can help keep you and your family safe. Poo awareness also helps keep the bears safe by avoiding negative encounters with humans. While this might be the $h%tiest article I have ever written, you too can now read the poo. Poo on dear reader, poo on. 

Bryce Casavant is a former BC Conservation Officer. He currently lectures at Royal Roads University and writes for the Eagle from his home on Vancouver Island.  – with files from Lesley Fox –