A neighbor harvested a black bear and gave me the fat. Remembering Ned Roberts' book, The Muzzle Loading Cap Lock Rifle, I started rendering it. Initially I tried the double boiler technique, but that only softened the fat. Then I placed two bricks on the grill and placed the pot atop the bricks. Success! It began melting and producing oil. It also smelled like pork fat, but not bacon. The oil was strained through an old t-shirt and poured into a jar (purchased at a church sale).
Will see if Ned Roberts is right about bear oil as a lubricant and preservative.
Will see if Ned Roberts is right about bear oil as a lubricant and preservative.