Bears!

[Tomas]

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.

Yes hunters do eat bear meat. Bears are related to pig so they taste similar to pork. As for the "Yuck" part. If the hunter is a bad shot and the bear runs a distance afterwards, male bears will have a bad musk that gets in the meat. However, the sows or a properly harvested boar can actually taste pretty good.

It's really unfortunate that those hunters flaunted the antelope like that. It's one thing to hunt legally and ethically, and use the meat and pelts. It's another thing to rub it in other people's faces that may not be care for hunting.

I'm with Nolena for reintroducing the grizzlies. If you want nature to be restored, than really do it. Of course, us living up here doesn't help the balance. And I do like living up here. I'll just continue to do the best I can to educate myself and be responsible.

There are parts of the country where deer are over populated and there are herds of unhealthy deer. Much like local forests that were too thick and became great environments for bark beetles to thrive. That is not the case in California (deer population) as mountain lions do a good job of keeping the deer population in check. Unfortunately, something must be done if the mountain lions do too good a job and their population grows out of hand. It's situations like those when responsible hunting comes into play. You can have too much of a good thing.

[RobertW]

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.

Actually, since Bonny started serving breakfast, it's been the Breakfast Burrito residue that brings them around.

Like Toolman said, it is rare we don't see some type of "big game" (Deer, Bear, Bighorn, Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Lemur, etc.) when out there in the forest.  As he mentioned, we usually put at least 70 - 90 miles a day on the truck when out on patrol and that obviously increases our chances of seeing them.

As for Toolman's comment about the Chili Dogs; while I really love them, I had to give them up for lunch, as the "green truck" is only a two door and there aren't enough windows to open...   

[RobertW]

You can tell how skiddish they are.  No wonder they are rarely seen.

So, how about those Bears?  One hunter we talked to at Blue Ridge Campground, part of a group that are regulars opening weekend, said he saw a Bear that must have been 350 to 450 LBs, but had no Bear Tag.

Now that's a really big California Black Bear.

[Elk]

So, how about those Bears?  One hunter we talked to at Blue Ridge Campground, part of a group that are regulars opening weekend, said he saw a Bear that must have been 350 to 450 LBs, but had no Bear Tag.

Now that's a really big California Black Bear.

In 9 years living out here in the forest I have seen 2 bears that were as big as the one described above. The first time I saw one I was shocked  at how big it was.
It has been a few years since I have seen a bear this big but they are still out there among us. Nature at its best!

[Bob C]

On the way to work this morning (4:30am), I almost hit a bear. He was about 1/4 east of the Elk camp on Big Pines Highway, in the middle of the roadway, right at one of the turnouts. Didn't see him of course, until he was illuminated by my headlights. I had time to stop, turn around, and watch him for a few mins, before he ran up the hill. I took a picture, but it was too dark to see him.

[makgirl]

Did he have a "pic-a-nic" basket with him?? 

[be8dad]

There is a very large bear walking around the back of the houses at the top of Timberline Dr -  heading over to the top of Cardinal......5:30 am

[MMB]

Make sure you cover your trash as best as you possibly could because bears have great olfactory systems.  And never sick your dog on a bear btw.   Be loud if you must... but don't run after the bear with a stick.... and stay away from cubs no matter how cute, cuddly, or lonely they look. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmZMjCeIdWg&feature=related

Ideas for dealing with bears.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWnACum4SJs&NR=1

Bear spray.


(The above are simply meant as alternatives to those who automatically prefer to pull their shootin' irons off the wall) 

[MMB]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ThZ8dc2B8E&feature=related

This is wild, scary, cool.   I'd never try it.  I'm not brave.

[be8dad]

He came back again this morning - 5am - (trash day for us) . He knocked over a few trash cans until he found one that was not latched properly... ( hint, hint )

This is the biggest one I've seen so far up here and I've seen quite a few. Could not get a decent pic as he was too far off for the flash and it doesn't focus very well with the spotlight... ( I'm shooting from our 2nd floor balcony )

Its funny to see him just plaud along so slowly like he owns the place- (knowing how fast he can go if he wants to). Our Lab is smart enough to give him his space.

[MMB]

Be careful!  I wish the pictures were clear though.  They sortof remind me of watching the Blair Witch Project and/or Sasquatch Hunters.   

[Wrightwood]

A Pennsylvania couple is attacked by a black bear that entered their home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwnT5mxIxDM

[Joe Schmoe]

Finally saw my first bear locally (leaving the location out on purpose - not Wrightwood but in the San Gabriels somewhat close) earlier this week.  Took a very late night drive and spotted the bear next to a bear proof trash can.  Someone either couldn't fit a bag of trash in the can, or just left it there and he/she was munching away.  I stopped and he watched me watching him in the headlights for a bit.  It was kinda cool, and about time!!, but I was sort of bummed because my girlfriend wasn't with me to see it so we could cross it off of our list of things we've seen around here.  After telling her about it, we were out the next evening and I took her up there to show her where I saw it, on a whim.  It was getting dark-ish, I pointed the spot out and drove up the road to a turnout I used the night before to make a u-turn.  And......just off the road and adjacent to the turnout I notice a large brown-ish bush among the other bushes that didn't look right.  It was the bear again!  We pulled off at the turnout (it turns out it wasn't a turnout, but I'm leaving out what it was on purpose again) and we stopped maybe 25 yards from it.  It was standing still looking at a car that was parked there already.  As we watch someone gets out of the car, evidently unaware of what looks to us like a large bear standing motionless beside "the turnout".  The person walks towards the bear, right in front of the bear, then a little beyond the bear with his back completely turned to it, no more than maybe 10-15 yards from it and conducts his business.  The whole time the bear continues to stand, nearly motionless, watching this guy's every move.  WTF was the only thing that came to mind.  As the guy walks back to his car, again giving the impression of complete unawareness, he looks at us for a moment perhaps wondering why we were staring at him?  We gesture and say, "There's a bear right there"....he turns and stares at it for a moment, mumbles something about them "being around", then gets in his car and drives away.  Yes, that all really happened lol!!

A couple pretty obviously drunk guys on Harleys spot the bear (I saw them in a parking lot at a bar just down the road on the way up) and do what drunk people do in situations like this.  The noise from the Harleys eventually drives the bear away...though the bear was in NO hurry whatsoever.  We eventually left too.

The bear looked to me to be the same bear I saw the night before...same size, same markings (big tan patch on the chest), same area. 

[ChrisLynnet]

What a great story! Glad no one was hurt but that's pretty funny about Mr. Oblivious. I finally spotted a bear this spring after 9 years living up here. I was on foot with the dog so kept my distance. Oh, who am I kidding? Once I realized it was a bear, I think I made it to the state line in under 10 seconds.   

[free2bee]

Bears who stand and stare at you aren't nearly as hazardous as a coupla drunk guys on Harelys!!

[Joe Schmoe]

Went back again tonight - saw it again!  Only briefly this time as there was nowhere easy to stop at a safe distance.  I'd love to park and wait for it and get some good pictures from inside a car...but that doesn't really align with the whole "keep wildlife wild" philosophy...

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

Love this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv=WmhvdtX72eQ

[in my dreams]

Last week, a friend on the east side was awaken by a bear going through her neighbors trash, then trying to open her trash can, a friend on the west side watched a bear go through all the trash cans on her street that were out for the morning's trash pick up, last night, we had a bear on our street (also west side.)

Oh MY!

[Mikeswave]

Last Monday my neighbor went out to chase off what he thought was a racoon out of his trash cans and it turned out to be a bear The bear didnt like being disturbed and charged him he took off for the house in a hurry. This was on Lonepine between Orchard and East Cyn. Will see if we get a return visit tonight