First Black Bear of the year appears in my yard today!

[Guest]

[savage727]

Hello Everyone:

Well it's official - we saw our first Black Bear of the year this morning.      They are out of hibernation and hungry looking for just about anything to eat.  This big boy luckily did not get our bird feeders as he was content to eat seed that was on the ground.  He was scared off a few minutes after I took this shot by a truck driving down my road.  I live in the mountains of New Hampshire.      We have since taken down the bird feeders!     Thanks to Cindy for help in posting the photo!   

[Nienna]

WOW!! Ed!!

Not content to have anything 'common' strolling through like a cat or few wild birds eh .... a BEAR roaming through your garden!!

Blimey! Better keep Arwen safely tucked up inside the house from now on Ed - don't want her to be this bear's next tasty morsel!

[Roz]

Blimey Ed... it's still frosty on the ground... if I was a bear I wouldn't be waking up yet or perhaps hunger is the key here He looks a little thin

[Morningangel-Iola]

Deary me I thought it was a bit dodgey with next doors dogs in our garden but a BEAR! It is very nice to look at from a distance.

[Martyn]

  I want one 

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Awwww.... he's beautiful!

We don't get any bears in Australia

[EmmasOneandOnly]

Its that time of year here too They posted up the signs on the highways this weekend to watch out for bears because they will cross the roads We also have to worry about Aligators in are backyards too

Looks like you were pretty close to the thing, was it right outside the window?

[savage727]

Yes Mike he was right outside the window of our enclosed porch.  He was back again this morning feeding in the same spot.  In fact he just decided to lay down for about a half hour and look around!  It was 20 degrees F this morning when he was out there and we had another frost on the ground.  When he got up the ground was steaming so his body heat warmed the area!  He looks to be making his rounds here at 6:00 A.M. each day so far.  He must be eating ok because before he left he took a huge crap in my yard!!    

[Sharon]

Ed do you try and scare the bears away (not sure what would scare a bear) or is it just a case of letting them go where they like?

[Nienna]

He must be eating ok because before he left he took a huge crap in my yard!! 

Oh boy!!   there ya go - a fresh supply of fertiliser for your plants!!

I think it might be more a case of leaving the bears alone Sharon - provided the house and porch areas are secure then that's probably the best thing to do.

[EmmasOneandOnly]

I'm not sure if there anything to scare them away. Dont they tell you not too

[savage727]

You want to leave the bears alone unless you are in a face to face encounter with them.  My enclosed porch is a good distance off the ground from where the bear was so there was no danger to us or my cat Arwen who watched the bear intently without moving a muscle!   

Mr. Bear was just back visiting us again for his late afternoon snack!  He seems to be on a 12 hour schedule here!  I took a lot of pictures from outside on our deck this time.  I was downwind of the bear so he did not smell or see me as I was above him!     He sure is a beauty!   

[grecopa]

I just read that a little girl was killed by a black bear yesterday in Tennessee's Cherokee Nat'l Forest.  VERY rare for something like that to happen, but be careful all the same, Ed.  Make sure you're making some noise when you go outside so the bear can hear you coming.  Would'nt want him to think you're sneaking up on him! 

[savage727]

I have been following the same sad story Kelly.  Unfortunately most people do not have a clue how to act around wild animals.  You would not believe what we see tourists do when they see bear and moose up here.  They seem to think you can walk right up close and take pictures or even try to pet them!  We are very aware of our surroundings and know how to act and take care of ourselves in the woods.   

I just read this morning that a 7 year old boy was mauled by a mountain lion in Boulder, Colorado while on a hike with his parents 50 meters from the parking lot.  The boy was the last one in line of the 7 people on the hike and the lion waited until everyone passed and then pounced on him.  He was bitten in his head and arms but luckily was saved by his parents and friends who scared the animal off.  A Park Ranger shot and killed the lion.  Again this is a very unusual case as mountain lions are very wary of people and usually run away.  This is another example of city folks going into the wild and not being aware of their surroundings.  They are very lucky the boy survived.