Dear Sir:
Wonderful article about the Kermodei bear (note spelling) late of Rosswood.
Tony Hamilton is a friend of mine and I consider him an excellent biologist, knowledgeable and yet flexible in argument.
Since your paper has not learned how to spell Kermodei, I will assume you have misquoted Tony in your article.
I am sure that Tony knows black bears, including Americanus Kermodei in B.C. mate in June, not in November as suggested in the article.
Mating in June with an eight-month gestation period will give a due date sometime in February as indicated in your article.
Breeding in November as suggested with a due date in February indicates a gestation period of a couple of months, similar to that of a rabbit.
Bears here, and in most of B.C., seek a den for hibernation in late October-early November, depending upon the severity of the weather, and they certainly would not be out in the cold, cruising for chicks.
If there are any other secrets of wildlife behaviour, call me, or better yet, talk to Grant Hazelwood, accredited biologist, living in town.
Les Watmough, Thornhill, BC