Wapsi Square Forum

Most bears are omnivores (Polar and panda being the two major exceptions - carnivore and herbivore respectively) but their hunting ability varies widely.

Most get most of their diet from plants.

--FreeFlier

FreeFlier wrote:Most get most of their diet from plants.

In Yosemite and Yellowstone, I understand that the bears subsist mostly on the herds of automobiles.

RE the predator/herbivore thing: Bears ARE both, in our world. Ursamorphs in the WS universe may not be.

Also, it might be good to pay attention to what Nadette is saying. Atsali is changing. She's uneasy about that, and about how far it might go. She's seen Atsali can be extremely aggressive in warbird form, but if that becomes a personality constant, that IS something to worry about.

As eee said, Nadette is concerned with 'Sali's change. Some thought it might be something she Saw, but I recall our seer's Sight may be compromised when it comes to those for whom she has strong feelings.

jwhouk wrote:My major problem: I always thought bears were omnivores - and most DEFINITELY "predators."

Opportunistic predators, not obligate predators like canines and felines.

FreeFlier wrote:Most bears are omnivores (Polar and panda being the two major exceptions - carnivore and herbivore respectively) but their hunting ability varies widely.

Most get most of their diet from plants.

--FreeFlier

Polar bears are not obligate carnivores. There just isn't much else to eat where they live.

(Due, i think, to their diet, BTW, their liver contains toxic levels of Vitamin A - and so does a dog's liver.)

And, quoting Wikipedia:

Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the giant panda's diet is over 99% bamboo. Giant pandas in the wild will occasionally eat other grasses, wild tubers, or even meat in the form of birds, rodents or carrion. In captivity, they may receive honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges, or bananas along with specially prepared food

And the red panda isn't a bear.

Dave wrote:

FreeFlier wrote:Most get most of their diet from plants.

In Yosemite and Yellowstone, I understand that the bears subsist mostly on the herds of automobiles.

He looks so embarrassed.

Speaking of bears, we got some trail cam video and photos of a black bear inspecting the hog trap, because apparently they like sour corn, too. Damn bear had not only inspected the trap and the camera, but squished part of the trap to get at the corn.

For those who haven't smelled sour corn, imagine how your garbage smells when it gets to the point that there's water in the bottom, and maggots everywhere.

AnotherFairportfan wrote:He looks so embarrassed.

"Oh, snap... caught!"

Hmmm. Does this image remind you at all of those predatory wasps which sting and paralyze caterpillars, lay their eggs within, the eggs hatch and the larvae mature while eating the caterpillars from the inside out, pupate, and then break out of the shell of the dead caterpillar to make their way in the world as adults?

Nah... me neither.

I guess that answers my question on how omnivores are classified in the Wapsi-verse. Well, sort of. It depends on if there's additional classifications apart from predat and bevy.

AnotherFairportfan wrote:

jwhouk wrote:My major problem: I always thought bears were omnivores - and most DEFINITELY "predators."

Opportunistic predators, not obligate predators like canines and felines.

They are omnivores, though. Just look ar their teeth.

Gyrrakavian wrote:

AnotherFairportfan wrote:

jwhouk wrote:My major problem: I always thought bears were omnivores - and most DEFINITELY "predators."

Opportunistic predators, not obligate predators like canines and felines.

They are omnivores, though. Just look ar their teeth.

Listed in Carnivora, unlike pigs, which are even truer omnivores.

Gyrrakavian wrote:

AnotherFairportfan wrote:

jwhouk wrote:My major problem: I always thought bears were omnivores - and most DEFINITELY "predators."

Opportunistic predators, not obligate predators like canines and felines.

They are omnivores, though. Just look ar their teeth.

They are predators- look at the eyes

Akasha wrote:hmmmmmm ... i am not so sure how predator is exactly defined, but being an ursamorph ( from ursa - bear ) makes me think that they aren't necessarily bevies either. it simply depends on which side of the ursa you get, grizzly or panda, i guess.

Pandas are essentially-pure herbivores (and very fussy eaters), and spectacled bears eat little meat; polars are nearly-pure carnivores. Other bears are omnivores with varying mixes of animal and vegetable matter in their diet; sun bears and sloth bears are insectivorous.

But our ursamorphs, from what we've seen, are of Native American ancestry so are either black or brown bears - the only two species of bear in North America*. All North American subspecies of both species are enthusiastic about at least some sorts of meat, often focusing on fish and rodents but some subspecies and populations will go for big game. Actually both species will eat darn near anything; in Yellowstone you'll find grizzlies hunting deer, picking berries, and during a certain part of the year absolutely gorging on moths.

* Polar bears are often listed as a separate species, but genetic analysis and well-documented crossbreedings show they are a subspecies of brown bear.

Warrl wrote:Pandas are essentially-pure herbivores (and very fussy eaters)

Did you hear the one about the Panda Assassin whose day job was English teacher? He eats shoots and leaves.

Many bears fish. That's pretty pred behavior imo.

It's a sliding scale. A spectrum. There is no "predator or omnivore or herbivore." Just like there is no "boy or girl." There are infinitely many in-betweens. There is no "Black and White."

There may be a black and there may be a white, but there are infinitely many different grays in between.

Bears are somewhere on that spectrum, and their position on that spectrum varies according to several factors, many of which are not constant through the year of over the bear's lifespan.

As a result, bears are rather dangerous because they are unpredictable. They might look at you and think "oh, hey there dude. Whassup?"... Or they might look at you and think "You'd best be on your way, I'm not in the mood for company and you're getting on my nerves."... OR they might look at you and think "Mmm. Lunch."

As a result, my plan for survival in bear country is to not go there.

So you're not planning on visiting me anytime soon?

I've lived in bear country all my life, and spent a good bit of time in the woods . . . I have seen a bear in the wild four times, and two of those were hauling tail away from me. One of the others crossed the road in front of me . . . I think we caught him by surprise. The fourth was down in the valley and didn't know we were up on the ridge.

I've seen cougar twice . . . both times crossing roads in a hurry.

I saw a wolf once . . . there aren't wolves here, but nobody told the wolves.

--FreeFlier

Bears and cougars, huh... So many jokes about large, hairy gay men and older women, but I'll be mature and be serious.

I don't have any problem being in the same area as either, so long as I have my gun.

Oh, for the love of... That ALSO leaves an opening for jokes...