I hear it all the time - I’ve never seen so many deer and bear in this area.
I wonder what those same people thought would happen when you destroy thousands of acres of natural wildlife habitat. When bears come out of the mountains to eat out of garbage cans and dumpsters then there is a problem somewhere. Of course living in the mountains you would expect the occasional animal run in. But when a bears fear is overcome by its hunger and that bear lives in the mountains - don’t you think it odd he would chance garbage can visits?
I actually walked nearly right up on a bear a couple years ago in Peachtree. She had two cubs with her and she couldn’t wait to leave the area. She actually left the immediate vicinity leaving her cubs behind. I’m sure she didn’t go far but the point is - that is a lot of fear to overcome for no reason. If a bear lives in West Virginia’s backwoods and he comes into populated areas because he is hungry then we have a definite problem.
In the past 10 years the wildlife population in the Bolt Mountain area has grown like never before. Lots of deer and bear. It seems common sense to me these animals are migrating away from the destruction just down river where thousands of acres have been left in ruin. I watched a video not long ago that showed a bear crossing an MTR site and he was at a dead run the entire time. It was pretty obvious he didn’t like the new surroundings as he made for the nearest tree line.
Mountaintop removal affects every living thing in the coalfields from those of us that walk upright all the way down to the cartoon talking bug. I put cartoon talking bug in italics because it is not actually a living thing - even though Walker Machinery would love for us to believe it is.
I’ll be posting the video of the bear as soon as I find it again. The only reason I haven’t posted it before now is because it is of very poor quality but still obviously a bear. The video was taken on Kayford Mountain.
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Adding - the video I was talking about is from Schumate Branch and not Kayford Mountain. I’m displaying it here smaller than actual size. In order to see the bear you may need to open the video in Youtube.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Great bottle!
Your message bottle is now afloat in the vast blogosphere ocean. You are Message In a Bottle #83.
Feel free to toss in a bottle whenever you feel the urge to send a message. The blog ocean is always open.
Message In A Bottle #83
February 27th, 2008 at 4:21 am
Thanks Wavy… I was going to come over and comment just hadn’t done it yet.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
You can read the documented and scientific studies that support your theory about wildlife populations near MTR sites in the Environmental chapter of “Bringing Down the Mountains: The Impact of MTR on southern West Virginia Communities”. Dr. Shirley Stewart Burns looked at the Bolt Mountain area in her one example (I believe erosion). Shirley is from Matheny in Wyoming County and she has family all over that part of the state. Her 2nd parents (i.e. she loves them like parents) live in Fairdale, so Denny..that’s in your neck of the woods I believe. You should be able to get the book at your local library, it just came out in October but so far it seems to be getting out and about.
Yes, Shirley is my wife but I’m not trying to sell books here, frankly, it is an academic book so Shirley makes absolutely no money from it, she wrote it for the people of the coalfields for use in future litigation and to get the word out. Larry Gibson appears on the cover of the book with his dog, Dog.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Thanks Matthew - I have heard the book you mention being referred to before. I definitely intend to read it. I’m glad my observations actually have basis in studies. It seems like common sense to me.
I live only a couple of miles from Fairdale.
Thanks for the info.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Denny,
Yes, it just goes to show that common sense is the best sense. It really the whole MTR issue is a no brainer when you think about it but it’s always good to know that our thoughts and opinions are backed up by scientific studies.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I agree wholeheartedly.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I used to live on the Boone County side of the mountain between Cabin Creek and Boone County. A 450-pound male black bear broke into my house one night. Ferreal. I moved to Charleston.