Another Sign of Spring

Pussywillows have been out for a few weeks and now the aspen buds are starting to burst in Hinton - fuzzy catkins are starting to grow. This early sign of spring is welcomed by black bears, who have been out wandering for a week or more already. Black bears climb aspen trees to feast on the catkins early in the spring because they are one of the first palatable and nutritious foods available to hungry bears. So if you see a bear up an aspen tree at this time of year you have a pretty good idea of what it is up to.