Bear season creates community events in rural Pa.

Patriot-News photo by Christine Baker

Black bears have made a comeback in the Eastern U.S., to the point that that more states have established hunting seasons to keep their population in check. "Pennsylvania is considered a model for how to conserve and manage the species," reports Nick Malawskey of The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, after witnessing bear check during the commonwealth's four-day season. It's become a show in some parts.

"Up until 10 years ago, the bear check station in Antes Fort was at the Game Commission office on state Route 44. It was shifted to the fire hall to handle the crowds that began attending," Malawskey writes. "Each year the game commission considers ending the check station program. It isn't really a necessity, they'll admit, to keep tabs on the now-healthy bear population. But the program's effect on the community, the people who gather to watch the bear come in, the sheer popularity of the check stations, are some of the reasons the program continues, year after year." (Read more)