BIG black bear!

[Jillis]

Right next to our house!!!

Yikes!

I was at church. Early evening, still very light out. My dh saw our cats scram off the deck like they saw Bigfoot! They looked out the side window, which is 2 stories up above the side of the house, and down the hill, about 20 feet from the house, was a BIG black bear!

It was standing next to the bird bath, but we have no bird feeders up at this time.

It was sniffing the air back and forth the way they do. My son snapped a picture of it...or I wouldn't have believed him!

Our big, goofy golden retriever, who is basically afraid of his own shadow, was barking up a storm. Our radially protective beagle mix, who thinks she is a Rottie, just STARED. My son said she basically did that martial arts symbol of submission, placing one (symbolically speaking of course!) open hand over a closed fist and bowing.

When dh and son went out on the back deck, the bear spotted them and ran away in the opposite direction.

I am hoping that the bear will not bother my goats! Also, the doors to the feed shed would never hold off a bear.

Maybe he went back into the woods across the road.

I hope he (or she?) stays there! My dd and her friend like to play in our woods!

I can't post the picture because I can't download it to my computer. It looks like one of the kids broke the wire that I use to connect the camera to the computer!

[pcdreams]

most of the time theyre more afraid of humans than we are of them. Unless of course someones been feeding it.

As far as the feed shed. Got me there.

I love these creatures but understand you concerns.

We saw 2 while we were on vacation there last summer. One crossing the highway and one about 10 ft in front of the car on the road to our property. Also saw moose tracks (no moose thought dang it)..

[Beeman]

I have relatives in MA that have bears all around them. They are very destructive and my relatives are a bit scared of them. My MIL has had a bear pounding on her sliding glass doors on her 2nd story deck. She has also had her car destroyed when she left a bag of sunflower seeds in the car overnight. The bear walked all over the car and broke the window to get in. They don't have any livestock so I can't say what will happen there. I do know many have to relocate their bee hives due to bears, they will destroy hives to get honey.

[pcdreams]

Originally Posted by Beeman

I have relatives in MA that have bears all around them. They are very destructive and my relatives are a bit scared of them. My MIL has had a bear pounding on her sliding glass doors on her 2nd story deck. She has also had her car destroyed when she left a bag of sunflower seeds in the car overnight. The bear walked all over the car and broke the window to get in. They don't have any livestock so I can't say what will happen there. I do know many have to relocate their bee hives due to bears, they will destroy hives to get honey.

If you live in bear country you do have to take precautions. no leaving food out (that would include in cars, ect), beehives should be kept behind a fence. Besides bears, livestock can turn them over and get stung to death.

A little common sense goes a long ways. I stress once again that the bear may be a problem, especially if someone (neighbor) has been feeding it. Otherwise they're generally pretty shy.

[EDDIE BUCK]

They must be on the move, one night last week, one munched on a few of my butterbean plants about 150 yards from the house. Left a big track.

[tamatik]

I saw over 20 last weekend from the train ride from Prince George bc to terrace Bc..also 2 moose and deer..lotsa eagles..Had one in my back yard last year..I went out to get the cat,after dark, and he was within 4 feet of me..we both made a hasty retreat.
Gord in BC

[EDDIE BUCK]

There was a song about a man running from a bear, neither was gaining or losing ground. So the man looked up and said "Lord, Lord, if you dont help me PLEASE dont help that bear!"