|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2009 18:22:29 GMT
Yesterday, I went for a walk in the woods in the back. There have been an unusually high amount of bear sighting in and around the village, and a few days ago I found some bear droppings right in my back yard. Not so unusual really, a neighbor saw a bear behind the house last year, but I missed seeing it at the time. We have had an access of rain this summer, which has ruined the wild berries that the bears like to eat, so this year they have been eating more apples then usual. There are many apple trees in this area, and some on our acreage too. The bears have now nearly eaten all the apples out there, only a very few remain. The trees aren't maintained anymore, probably once, long ago, they were, but now they are left to grow wild. So, it's getting towards hibernation time, and the bears have to eat like crazy to gain the weight they need in order to hibernate for the winter. Here are some photos I took yesterday, as I tried to track down the bears. Firstly this is the kind of bear I am looking for, a black bear.(this on not from my collection): The photos I took yesterday: Bear droppings in my garden. The previous day, I had cleaned up three times the amount of this one, but the next day, there it was again: Further down the trail, more droppings, just a fraction of the amount out there right now, (hard not to step on them): As you can see the bear didn't step on this particular ants nest, but went around it, not sure why, as he/she had squished down many others along the way: The path the bear had taken, complete with droppings along the way: A large flattened down grass section, here he must have had a rest. This was about 8 feet in length: I put some bait out. ( of fruit and veg), for the bears in my garden last night, but it rained a lot and they didn't make an appearance. Will keep you posted if I do see one and will ofcourse post the pics on here.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2009 18:30:35 GMT
I just knew this was going to be about bear turds for some reason! Deyana, you go get your net and catch us some bears, dammit!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2009 18:40:26 GMT
I'm doing my best, Kerouac! It's only a matter of time before I catch a bear, I just know it... or before it catches me.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Oct 4, 2009 22:28:38 GMT
Deyaaaaana, Deyana of Canada ~~ Queen of the wild frontier! Born on a hilltop in olde Surrey, she moved north of the land of the free Started stalking b'ar at the age of thirty-three She could end up as dinner, we'll just wait and see Deyanaaaaaaaa, Deyana of Canada Queen of the wild frontier!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2009 23:27:52 GMT
;D
You funny lady! Just wait and see...
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Oct 7, 2009 10:15:27 GMT
Any more sightings, Deyana?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2009 19:13:16 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2009 20:13:57 GMT
hwinpp, no sightings as yet, but walking down to the local shop earlier on today, I saw two beautiful deer, they ran off when they saw us, AND for once I didn't have my camera. My kids always tell me they see their share of deer and moose while riding home on the school bus each day. That interesting, Kerouac. Bears can make themselves at home very fast and they are quite smart too. Just check out this bear in the video clip, he walked right into Subway last year for a bite to eat!: www.mopo.ca/2008/10/black-bear-walks-into-subway-sandwich.html
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Oct 9, 2009 10:09:58 GMT
This is a story I heard from somebody from a non- bear country about running away if confronted by a bear. Never run uphill, the bear is faster than you, always run downhill, the steeper the better, because the bear will not be able to keep his footing... Deyana? True or false?
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Oct 9, 2009 14:16:40 GMT
She can't answer you, HW, because she ............. well, see for yourself:
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2009 14:28:17 GMT
That'll be the bear, not me, Bixa! Never run uphill, the bear is faster than you, always run downhill, the steeper the better, because the bear will not be able to keep his footing...
Deyana? True or false? hwinpp, the damn bears around here can outrun and out climb and outsmart anyone, if they want to. I think I'd probably be the one loosing my footing, it'll match my head then.
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Oct 12, 2009 3:48:35 GMT
Yeah, I thought it was an urban myth...
So just lie down and play dead.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2009 15:35:04 GMT
hwinpp, truth is I'm not sure what the 'right' thing is to do. And even if I was well educated on the right thing to do, would I really do it when it came to the crunch? Or would just run like the wind?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2009 17:14:18 GMT
I think the bears must have gone into hibernation already, haven't seen anything of them or their presence at all lately.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2009 18:34:19 GMT
Oh damn, after I had posted the link to the Bjork video!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2009 13:55:52 GMT
;D I'll have to check that one out, K.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Oct 18, 2009 15:45:57 GMT
I think the bears must have gone into hibernation already, haven't seen anything of them or their presence at all lately. The recent cold snap may have sent bears to their dens prematurely, but now that it's warming again, they'll probably resume their gorging (hyperphagia) which was interrupted briefly. Around here the bears don't really go into their dens until around Thanksgiving (4th Thurs in November). Interestingly, they make their dens ready weeks ahead, then go away until the first big winter storm. We have found a bear den in a cave-like crack in a rock outcrop that was lined with freshly wilted vegetation for a bed. It was only a mile or so up the canyon from our house. By entering the den in a snowstorm, the bear's tracks and scent are obliterated by the falling snow and it can rest undisturbed until it wakes up in spring.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2009 15:53:42 GMT
I bet that if Deyana prepared a den right next to her house, she could attract some bears to spend the winter.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Oct 18, 2009 16:05:17 GMT
Maybe she could put out bowls of huckleberries and raw hamburger to make her den more appealing.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2009 16:29:37 GMT
Do you think she really needs her garage?
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 22, 2010 21:50:14 GMT
Well, spring has sprung and the bears are out and about again. Still waiting for deyana to see one (me, too). Meanwhile, here's another poop photo for deyana's collection: (I'm thinking this is last year's, because there aren't any berries out yet and those look like seeds or pits)
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2010 22:17:49 GMT
Has he been eating muesli?
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 22, 2010 22:19:35 GMT
Notice the sprouts that have germinated right in the middle of the pile?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2010 23:44:32 GMT
I bet that if Deyana prepared a den right next to her house, she could attract some bears to spend the winter. During a recent walk, I saw what could be a perfect den for a bear. I didn't stay around long enough to check it out though!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2010 23:46:54 GMT
Kimby, that a nice load of poop there! I haven't seen any yet. But I have been more vigilant lately, because I know they are out of hibernation and may have baby bears with them too. I've started taking my camera with me from now on. The other day I saw 5 beautiful deer but I didn't have my camera that day.
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Apr 23, 2010 17:03:10 GMT
Deyana - I really get nervous imagining you out walking and meeting a bear/or, even worse, bears.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2010 18:06:33 GMT
I'm really used to it now, Spinny. I would really like to bump into a beer, well not 'bump' exactly, but see one near by. I tried putting out bait last year, they ate the bait when I wasn't looking and left! Would you like to go bear hunting with me one of these days?
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Apr 23, 2010 18:17:33 GMT
Oh yes....I'd love that....I'm not afraid. There's an old Red Indian trick I know if we meet a bear face to face....we'd be ok.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 23, 2010 18:18:59 GMT
deyana, please don't bait the bears!
It is recommended that you never let a bear receive a "food reward" because they have memories like steel traps, and will return again and again looking for another meal. And they will come to associate humans with food rewards, and might get testy with a human who doesn't come bearing gifts!
Here it's actually against the law to feed wildlife, except for bird feeders, and those have to be secured so that bears can't get at them. Bears LUV sunflower seeds! And sugar water in hummingbird feeders.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2010 12:55:57 GMT
Kimby, you are right of course. I shouldn't be baiting the bears. Not a good idea. Funny how that never crossed my mind before.
I'm not sure what the laws are regarding feeding wildlife around here, I should find out. It's true though, bears will get their food from whatever source they can, even bird feeders.
I'm hoping to catch one on film this year.
|
|