When a bear demonstrated persistent "bad habits", the state of VA would trap
the bear, and then release it in the George Washington or Jefferson National
Forests, in hope that the bear would migrate to West Virginia, and become
the problem of the State of West Virginia.

When a bear in West Virginia demonstrated persistent "bad habits", the state
of WV would trap the bear, and release it right on the WV / VA line, or
somewhere in the Monongahela National forest, adjacent to the George and the
Jeff, in hopes that the bear would migrate to (East) Virginia, and become a
resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Now bears are territorial creatures, and they live mostly off "the mast",
the acorns from countless trees in these forests, and the edible berries and
such.  So these released bears, mostly young unmated males with a spirit of
adventure and a taste for more flavorful food than acorns and berries, would
be encouraged to "move along" by established bears.  Thus, relocated bears
would tend to migrate long distances before finding a territory where they
would not be challenged.

Guess where I kept my bees?  After apples, I went first to Tulip Poplar
stands, along existing fire roads for ease of trailer parking, and then to
where Sourwood could be found, mostly 3 to 5-year old clearcuts and burned
areas in the George and the Jeff.  The answer was to build "reinforced dog
runs" onto trailers, and use plain old scrap steel to keep the bears at bay.
No technology, two moving parts (gate hinges), and unless bears learn how to
use acetylene torches or lock picks, fail-safe.  Welding skills are
required, and a fondness for junkyards is an advantage.

There was also quite a bit of off-season bear hunting back in those hills,
something the rangers pointedly failed to notice.  Most off-season hunting
is done by people who have been unable to stretch a welfare check to cover
the whole month due to an unexpected expense, and therefore, there are
certain families who are immune from prosecution under any hunting or
fishing regulation.  

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