Skar on Stockton Island
One of the greatest concentrations of black bears in North America is found on Stockton Island in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Bears also regularly inhabit Sand and Oak islands, and, due to their mobility, may be found on just about any of the Apostle Islands.
About Bears...
Black bears (Ursus americanus) are the most numerous and widespread North American bear. Though the black color phase is most common, "black" bears can also be various shades of brown or even white. Adult males usually weigh from 250 to 400 pounds, while females range from 150 to 225 pounds. They are omnivorous and depend greatly on their sense of smell to locate food. Bears can run as fast as 30 miles per hour. Their curved claws enable them to climb trees. They are also powerful swimmers, enabling them to utilize habitat available on the islands.
Stockton Island's attractiveness to local bears seems to be a recent development. Occasional sightings were reported prior to 1984. In 1984 the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point began an ongoing study of Stockton Island's black bears by capturing a 7- year-old female and a 6-year-old male (perhaps the only bears on the island) and fitting them with radio transmitting collars. From 1984 to 1994, 133 bears were captured and marked. These bears have been monitored over the years to determine their survival rate, productivity, movements and habitat use.
