When we first came to Pennsylvania, I read somewhere that the emerging skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) was a favorite food of black bears when they first come out of hibernation in spring. I’d found plenty of mangled plants (see below) but never actually seen a bear feasting.

Finally, here’s a picture of a black bear actually eating skunk cabbage by the little creek alongside our garden. Thank you judy.

Her two cubs (not much bigger than our cats) were scampering around, not really paying much attention, the way kids do, while she munched on the emerging foliage. In the past I’ve seen plants pulled up and the fat roots eaten but this bear concentrated on the emerging unrolling leaves – it’s like she bit the heart out of a cabbage.

Our streamside display of “the American hosta” is going to be a little ragged this summer – but who cares! It was a treat to see – from a distance, with a long lens, of course.

You may have noticed I've posted about skunk cabbage before - here, and here.