Are there Black Bears or Moose on Mount Desert Island?

To all - I%26#39;m brand new to the forums, but not new to Acadia or Maine. I%26#39;ve hiked most of the trails in Acadia. I%26#39;ve canoed, camped, gone swimming, and spent many pleasant days on vacation on MDI. I%26#39;ve volunteered to do trail work and learned much.

A friend is spending 4 days in Acadia in September. I shared with him my favorite hikes, but when I went to research flora and fauna, the National Park service lists both black bear and moose for Acadia national park. Now, I admit I saw a bison on the Asticou Trail, but it was behind a fence that read US gov%26#39;t property. I have seen porcupine, eagles, but never a trace of black bear or moose. Can you help? Are these species present in Acadia?

Tx for your help. I%26#39;ll introduce myself on another thread. :)

Are there Black Bears or Moose on Mount Desert Island?

From time to time, moose are seen on the island---how many there are is unknown as far as I can determine. Right now, there is a yearling black bear wandering around the Southwest Harbor area, getting into some mischief as it looks for food. A year or so ago, we had a black bear take up residence in a tree behind the Municipal Building in Bar Harbor.

So, yes, both species are present on MDI, at least occasionally. The chances of seeing them are remote.

Are there Black Bears or Moose on Mount Desert Island?

As already said they are both ';present'; but in a very very small numbers. Black Bear are very hard to see anywhere in Maine even though some areas of the state have fairly large concentrations of them. I spend a lot of time in the woods and I have only once seen a Black Bear in the ';wild';. I remember seeing them when I was a kid at the town dump, and I have seen them at a ';bait stand'; but it is not that common to just see one in the wild. Given their low numbers on MDI the chance is all that much less.

Very true about black bear. That%26#39;s why it was quite a sight the year the bear wandered into the village of Bar Harbor one very early morning. It strolled down Cottage Street and then got spooked by a dog or human. It ran for the nearest wooded area and climbed the highest tree behind the town offices.

Word quickly went around town that there was a bear in a tree. By the time I heard about it, there was a crowd of about fifty people. The local newspaper photographer was on the ground on his back getting a good picture up the tree.

I%26#39;m pretty sure it was November, post tourist season, because I remember saying we could have charged admission if only there was a cruise ship in harbor. An Acadia Park Ranger was consulted. The expert advice was to simply leave the bear alone and it would leave town on its own once the excitement died down. And that%26#39;s what happened late that night.

If you see either, consider yourself lucky. In 46 years in and around Hancock County (includes Acadia), I have seen 2 moose, and 1 bear.