Caitlin Drasher will lead a presentation on "Maine Black Bears" on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 12 p.m., at Merryspring Nature Center.

"Join us for an engaging talk about one of Maine’s most fascinating wild residents, the black bear," said Merryspring, in a news release.

Caitlin Drasher, the state’s black bear biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, will share stories and science from the field. 

Learn about black bear ecology and behavior, how Maine’s long-running bear research program has helped us better understand this species, and what it takes to responsibly manage the state’s bear population. Drasher will also discuss practical ways to avoid conflicts with bears and live safely alongside them.

Drasher is responsible for statewide management of the bear population, and also conducts field research to inform bear management decisions. Prior to working in Maine, she worked for bear programs in Vermont, New York, and Connecticut, participating in research studies and managing human-bear conflicts. She also recently completed her PhD at the University of Vermont, studying wildlife movement and landscape connectivity across the northeastern U.S. 

This in-person talk is part of the Summer Talk Series generously sponsored by Camden Riverhouse Hotel.

Attendance is free for members; $10 for non-members. 

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.