Bears!

[Bob C]

I woke up this morning, to find this guy in my back yard trying to steal fish out of my pond. Vicinity of Rivera.

[Nolena]

Did the bear get any fish?

[Bob C]

Did the bear get any fish?

Nope. About 5 seconds after that last photo was taken, he got a little shock from the electric fence surrounding the pond (which was installed for that very reason)

[SkierBob]

I'd have to say your fish are fair game. That's a better diet then garbage.

I can see the light reflecting off the fish eyes in the last picture.

Does the electric fence also prevent the racoons from eating the fish? 

For awhile last summer I was having trouble with a gopher snake eating my fish.  He'd go in the water and chase them around until he caught one. 

[Bob C]

Does the electric fence also prevent the racoons from eating the fish? 

Yes! Several times a week. They get just enough of a tingle, to prevent them from wanting to take a swim in the pond.

[Nolena]

Yeah, that's what's kept me out, too, even though I really like sushi.
Guess I'll just have to go to Jackson Lake. 

[angelwolf326]

Wow! 

[ForestGal]

Great photos, Bob C!

I've never seen a bear in my yard, but Darrell (from Mile Hi Pizza), who lives just up the street from me, told me that during the summer he saw a BIG one in my front yard while he was driving home one night.  I didn't hear or see a thing, even though my windows were open.  Sometimes I think I sleep toooooo soundly.....   

[RobertW]

We talked to quite a few hunters this weekend. While they didn't see any bucks, 4 of them reported seeing bears, but they didn't have bear tags.   

Lions and tigers and bears... oh my!

[ForestGal]

Well, animal lover that I am, I really hope that none of those hunters is able to kill any of our local critters, no matter what the species.  It's so extremely special, and rare, to see deer while out hiking.  I'd really rather not see a bear out there, I have, but he took off, this was several years ago, on the PCT, past Mt. Hawkins, heading toward Islip Saddle.

It's really amazing to me, how little wildlife I see in the forest, even on the high trails.  I see many more squirrels in town, than I ever see up in the high country.

[ChrisLynnet]

ForestGal, this is exactly my experience. I saw a deer once and I've lived here 7 years. That was in my car driving down LPC. I've never seen a bear on the trail -- like you I don't want to, but they are sure cool to spot!

And I also hope the hunters bag absolutely NOTHING.

[Toolman]

Ya'll will get a laugh out of this. When Bob and I were heading to our lunch break on Sunday, the biggest 6-8 point buck we had ever seen in our forest ran directly in front of us and up the hill. The funny part is, the buck ran directly past a camp of hunters while they were packing up and they never saw it. We had tears in our eyes we were laughing so hard.

 We generally see deer or an occasional bear or bobcat just about every time we are on patrol and plenty of coyote. So they are out there. We cover a lot of miles in a day so we have that advantage I guess.

[tallgal]

Ditto ChrisLynnet on the "bag nothing"  It isn't like they are going to eat bear meat, are they?   Yuck!  I remember the first time, while living in Missioula MT, seeing a hunter return with what I thought looked like his luggage falling off the roof of his car.  But sadly it was 2 antelope that he had shot.  Now granted most hunters in Montana eat what they shoot, but even with my degree in Biology and knowing about ecology and the food chain, I was never one for shooting things unless you are truly going to eat the meat, use the skins etc. But it isn't Little House on the Prairie any longer. Staters and those who raise the bison for food do just fine.  I have always thought we should leave nature to itself.  Yes, I know I will get cards and letters on that statement, but nature is a delicate balance which we have messed up.  Okay off my soap box, sorry about that,  but that was truly one big bear that was photographed.  We had a baby bear a month or so ago around my house and with baby there is mamma bear somewhere.

[ChrisLynnet]

Toolman, that's hilarious! I would have died laughing!

And tallgal, I"m 100% with you.

[Nolena]

Well, we could re-introduce grizzlies and wolves. That would help balance things out without the interference of hunters.
They were here first. It's up to us to live with the wildlife, not the other way around.
Unfortunately, their habitat has shrunk considerably.

[snowave]

 We generally see deer or an occasional bear or bobcat just about every time we are on patrol and plenty of coyote. So they are out there. We cover a lot of miles in a day so we have that advantage I guess.

If you want to see animals, just follow the green truck.... RobertW usually has some Yodeler burger residue on his pants, so often times, a pack of coyotes and bears will be trailing them around all afternoon.

btw, also it helps to go out after 1PM if you want to see more animals in the forest, as that's when we open the gates and let them out.

[Toolman]

If you want to see animals, just follow the green truck.... RobertW usually has some Yodeler burger residue on his pants, so often times, a pack of coyotes and bears will be trailing them around all afternoon.

 Unless he's had the Yodeler chili dog

[RennMan]

Nope. About 5 seconds after that last photo was taken, he got a little shock from the electric fence surrounding the pond (which was installed for that very reason)

I was talking with Linda from the bakery, and she said that early Sunday morning she saw a bear walking in the parking lot between the bakery and Mountain Hardware.   It was a good-sized brownish bear, and she was thrilled to see it.

I wonder if this is the same bear.

[makgirl]

Guess Cinnamon's needs an electric fence to keep RennMan the bear out.

[Stitches]

I bet that day 'bear claw' had a new meaning to Linda.

Not that far from Rivera.   That bear gets around.