I just got this email from our NY Senator Cathy Young. Apparently the growth in bears is not just our particular area. The Governor put it quietly into law that our county can hunt bears. I say quietly because no one around here knew about that new law until the local paper mentioned it. Here's her email: "Dear Ann, Black bears are an important and natural part of our environment, and their population in New York is growing. As the number of bears increases, sightings in our area are becoming increasingly common and the likelihood of interaction with people inevitably rises. With an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 bears in New York's woods and forests, it is important to know how to avoid bears and how to react if you come in contact with a bear. Black bear attacks on humans are extremely rare. However, damage to property is much more common. Follow these tips to steer clear of bears and protect your family, pets, and home: Never feed bears intentionally; feeding creates human-bear conflicts and is illegal. If a bear learns it can be fed by humans, it will become more bold and aggressive towards people. Avoid leaving out food and garbage that will attract bears. This includes bird feeders, which should be removed after April 1 if there is a risk of attracting bears. Remove the grease from gas and charcoal grills after use. Do not leave out pet food or even empty dishes, which can still attract a bear. Do not operate a refrigerator or freezer outside or on an outside porch. Bears will be able to smell what is inside. If you are camping in the woods, there is an even greater need to exercise caution: Keep your campsite as clean as possible. Do not leave out food, coolers, or anything else that may carry the scent of food, including the clothing worn while preparing or eating a meal. Cook and eat before dark. Bears become more active after sunset. If you do encounter a bear, keep these tips in mind: Never approach or surround a bear. Any action that makes a bear feel threatened can provoke an aggressive response. Be especially cautious around cubs. Mother bears are very protective. Use noise to scare bears away. Yelling, clapping, or banging pots will help frighten the bear off. Never run. If in close quarters, back away slowly. Do not throw food at an approaching bear. It will further encourage them to approach humans. By following these tips and precautions, we can ensure that black bears keep to themselves and conflicts are avoided. Working together, we can maintain and protect our bear population, while also protecting people and their property. For more information on New York's black bears, visit the Department of Environmental Conservation's website at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6960.html. As always, never hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can help with. Warmest regards, Senator Cathy Young 57th District Albany Office: 307 Legislative Office Bldg Albany, NY 12247 518-455-3563 District Office: 700 West State Street, West Gate Plaza Olean, NY 14760 716-372-4901

Lynnie, is that you? I haven't checked in on this forum in ages. I changed my GW name at some point (and I may very well go back to Ms. Ann Thorpe). I think when I said the black tomatoes did better for me in cool conditions, I think I meant that when I was just growing tomatoes in my backyard, which is very near Lake Michigan (days and nights about the same chilly temperature seemingly until high summer), the black tomatoes seemed for some reason more willing to give me more fruit than the other colors I tried. Now that I grow my tomatoes in a community plot a couple miles west, I get more daytime heat and richer soil--and everything is more productive and better-tasting. I haven't grown Black Bear, but it sounds good. I'm not nuts about the taste of Black Zebra, but one of the years I grew it, it was insanely productive. And it is pretty. So pretty, it's a shame it usually goes into sauce.

Yes, It's a gamble for sure. I've had some success and many failures. Zone 9, maybe 9b and we've grown and bloomed Anthuriums red and white, mountain azaleas, grew arabica coffee plants to mature red beans before a frost and still have a nice Miracle Fruit bush and have a full pint of red fruit from it when recipes using them are developed.. Failures include but not limited to South American breadfruit grown to 7 feet before a lone 26*F one Winter, also lost a Cacao tree (chocolate) to a single cold morning another Winter. I love to try different plants that don't usually grow here, some don't make it, some do well and some, like the black pepper are in limbo, lacking some factor that's needed for production.

Early one morning last week, DSIL had to chase a bear out of the garage. The garage door was closed, but he came in through the man door that is almost always closed, it may have been left ajar that night. The bear got the dog food and had opened the refrigerator and pulled out a few bud lights (probably trying to get to more dog food on top of the fridge. DSIL chased him out with a broom and then managed to lock himself out of the house. Fortunately, the bear had run off by then. The dog, who had just walked past the door to the garage didn't bark or do anything to alert. Not a good guard dog to say the least. It is not unusual to have to chase a bear off -- usually yelling is all that is needed. Bear are frequent this time of year around town, but are frightened by humans and property damage is really the only problem. Garbage cannot be left outside, by city ordinance, unless in an approved bear proof containers. Making it easier for Bear to forage in town is dangerous for the bears, not so much humans. Humans tend to contribute to the problem by leaving food out -- even hummingbird feeders are a problem. Moose and mountain lions are much more worrisome -- those are much more of a threat to humans and dogs. Luckily, mountain lions are relatively scarce, but there seems to be a moose injury to a human in the area every year or so. Usually cows protecting their young and they will charge a dog, who they view as a wolf, one of their primary predators.