close
    Are you afraid of Black Bears?

    I almost came face to face with one Friday night. He was right outside my back door lying on the ground and eating sunflower seeds. I tried to go get a garden tool that I forgot and there he was right in front of me. He did not bother me. He got up and ran into the woods, but came back again to steal the suet.

    +12  Views: 2900 Answers: 26 Posted: 12 years ago
    mycatsmom

    Ann, Do you live in a woodsy area ? My cousin's son and his family do and they've seen bear at the edge of there property .
    Just get a big dog. Then you won't feel so leary of the bear.
    Ann

    Mc., I live in the woods, off the beaten path . I am not afraid of bears. I had to put my dog to sleep last December. He always let me know when a wild animal was near the house. I have to get another dog sometime soon.
    Ann

    Hector, I know how you feel. I still miss mine very much too. At least you have a new dog now to keep you busy. Do you have bears where you live?
    sunnyB

    Sounds like you are not afraid of them Ann, is it true that brown bears are more dangerous ?
    Ann

    SunnyB, Yes, brown bear are much bigger than black bears. The Grizzly who lives around of yellowstone national park, can weight 660 lbs. or more and the Kodiak brown bear of Alaska can weight up to 3500 lbs.

    26 Answers

    You want to keep in mind that they are wild animals that are extremely powerful. That being said, you want to be careful not to accidently corner them, or come between them and their cubs. Usually you can smell them when they've been around, as they have a distinct smell.


    When I was young, I use to rake blueberries in fields that were surrounded by woods. For the most part, they would seem to try and avoid contact with humans...although they love blueberries. The times that they can become a nuisance, is when their natural food sources become scarce. They have a good sense of smell, and things like suet or garbage will occasionally attract them if they are in the area. Sometimes people don't fully realize it, but leaving things out like that, is the same thing hunters will do to bait animals. Just thought I'd bring that to your attention, so that you have a little more understanding of what is going on.

    Ann

    Thanks Shootah. I am aware what attracts bears and I dont keep anything outside that they can get into.When I see a bear, I just leave him be and go about what I am doing. They will watch you, but dont come near you.

    Never having seen one, I can't answer honestly BUT, you can bet I will avoid any bear I see, cub or no cub....

    Ann

    They are usually harmless and afraid of people, exept when they have cubs.

    Just don't get between the bear and its cubs!  I hear that they will, otherwise, run away as they are more frightened of you, than you are of them.  (I don't want to have to test that theory.) lol

    Benthere

    Wimp !
    dowsa

    Coward !!
    dowsa

    "OH Ducka "BEAR" in mind they protect there "Cubs
    Ann

    I would not dare go near a bear with cubs. Otherwise bears dont frighten me, They run away if they see a human.

    Not a lot of black bears in Scotland Ann, in fact there are none, not to my knowledge anyway, but what I understand of the black bear is that they won,t bother you if you don,t bother them.


    Don,t make them feel threatened and they will just do their own thing.


    But always be mindful that they are wild animals and they will protect what they perceive to be theirs.


     

    Ann

    That is true, exept if you see bear cubs, dont go near them. The mother will automatcially attack to protect her cubs.
    ROMOS

    You can be sure Mommy won,t be far away.
    nomdeplume

    Don't forget the pandas, Romos. If they escaped they could cause chaos in the Scottish pubs.

    We have big black bears here in Northern California. They generally avoid the area where I reside because most folk are well armed. But there are noises that are frightening to bears….a string of firecrackers…lit comes to mind.  A few pebbled in an empty milk jug, shaken vigorously while charging the bear will usually send them off. I heard of  a bear in Alaska that went into a house where it broke a kerosine lamp that lit on fire driving the bear off into the woods and burning the house down. Arsonist bears are pretty rare of course, a distant cousin of Smokey.   

    Ann

    That of course was an accident. They dont break in houses around here. People need to be mindful and secure the lids of theire trash cans. It has given some people a reason to shoot the bear. I am very mindful of all wild animals and theire behavior. I just let them be.
    ROMOS

    @Ducka.
    That,s a bloody shame.
    They could have tranquilised the poor big thing.
    Ann

    Ducka & Ramos. Its a bloody shame they killed that bear. I agree with Romos. They could have tranquilized the bear and relocated him.Where I live , they have a Bear Hunt every fall. People come from different states to hunt. They also have a Moose and Deer Hunt. Its all about the money. Makes me sick. Those savages.
    Ducky

    Moderator
    They re-located him and he came back.
    lindilou

    I love Northern California robertgrist!!!It's my other favorite place on this planet!Love Bears too!

    Why are some people, so trigger happy, both on humans and animals. Most of time I cant read such bad reports, I would just cry, knowing I cant help them.

    mycatsmom

    Me too, Dolly . I hate the killing of animals !
    Ann

    I dont understand people. We are taking theire habitat away and then shoot them when they try to find food. It makes me feel helpless and angry that there is no law to protect them.
    Dollybird

    Also, I dont agree with animals been kept in Zoos.

    We don`t have any bears in Australia, except in zoos, so no worry.


    I always believe if you confront any wild animal you will get a unwelcome response, just leave them be.

    Ann

    If they feel threatened, like any wild animal, they will attack. I love watching them. Years ago my dogs were barking in the woods and when I got near the source of theire barking, this huge black bear stood up and all three of us were running like mad to get home.
    He could have easily caught up with me.
    PEOPLELOVER

    Ann that would have been a fantastic experience up close and personal.
    I absolutely adore wild animals in their natural habitat love to go to African wildlife reserve but finances and age against me.

    Black Bears are very clever (and friendly) scavengers!  They primarily eat fruit and vegetation...but they like fatty food-suet, bologna..you get the picture.  They will eat your trash- or at least scatter it...and they'll eat fruit and some plants you have around...I've seen pictures of cubs playing on slides and swings...and Mama on a deck watching the "kids" play.  Cute!  They (except if Mama thinks you are too close to her cubs) are non-aggressive and tend to be more fearful of humans then we (some of us) are of them.

    Ann

    I dont leave garbage outside this time of the year. I keep it in my shed and it is locked...Bears are not agressive and I have had many here over the years looking for food.

    NO. they are the "BEAR" Necessities!  of life.

    FISH-O

    Look for the Bear... I have a song in my head Baloo!
    Ann

    Nice song.
    dowsa

    Yes ANN .Pity about the "Voice From Fishlet!! still cant reach the high "Notes must be something to do with the salt water.
    Ducky

    Moderator
    Or the smell from that pottery paint? Poor dear.
    dowsa

    Ducka .Is it not her "Deodorant Kinda stale "FISHY smell HEE

    WOW!  Ann I would give anything for an experience like that. They are fabulous creatures.Glad you had the good sense to stand your ground & not confront him.

    Ann

    Bears are beautiful creatures, but never confront them, they can attack. I just ignore them and we get along fine.

    We MIchiganers walk all over the woods in N. Michigan, and don't give a thought to black bears. Many people have seen one. There was one in my cousin's neighbors garage. I've been hiking on trails where there is fresh bear scat. The usaully don't want to have anything to do witth humans, but I wouldn't suggest approaching one........especially if it is a mother with cubs nearby .

    Ann

    I have never seen a mother with cubs here. I would stay far away as possible.

    I am more afraid of Eagles picking up my little Pico right now.  I am a bit of a nut but I love that little dog.  It is nesting season and she would make a mighty tasty meal... rubber boots, bright flannel pajamas ... flapping arms... "NO!  Don't eat my baby!"  It is a good thing my neighbors pay no attention to me.


    Eagles eat dogs.  It is creepy.


    I have a friend that worries about bears.  She has a gun.  This is one thing we don't talk about.

    Ann

    I can understand your worries about little Pico. We have Eagles here too, but never heard of a Eagle carrying away a little dog.
    Your friend seems to be afraid of black bears.
    I encountered many since I live here. I just leave them be and they dont bother anyone.
    FISH-O

    I know of a woman who lost her Yorkie to an eagle... just swooped down and took the dog from the end of their boat.
    Ann

    That must have been awful to loose the dog that way. I think I would have had a breakdown if it happened to me.
    FISH-O

    Me too. That is why I go out with my dogs every time they go out. We have a very large Beech tree and sometimes an Eagle will sit in it and watch the dogs.
    I have read that Eagles usually don't hunt where people are but the next thing is a nest was found with collars in it... Eagles have been known to carry off 15 pound Mule Deer fawns.
    I think I would have a heart attack if one of my dogs were carried off.

    Ann, what an experience! The last time I camped, there were deer, raccoon, javelinas, and skunks in the campground.  I've come across elk on the trail, and even a mountain lion on a bridge near the coast. It is scary, for sure, because they are not domesticated, and one doesn't know FOR SURE what will happen.  It's very cool that you live in an area where there are still such things as black bears.  Are there pheasants, wild turkeys? 
    P.S.  Yes, I would be scared. Totally stoked, but scared, too. 

    Ann

    Yes, there are some wild turkeys and pheasants. I have lived here for 30 years and there are many wild animals and I am used to them beeing part of my world. Just dont bother them and they wont bother me.I would however be very much afraid if we had Grizly Bears instead of the Black Bear. They are twice the size of Black Bears.
    Bob/PKB

    Are you thinking about getting a dog or cat anytime soon? Mine make my existence much nicer.. not my little back yard, by my life :D
    Ann

    Bob, We have a cat and a Lhaso Apso named charlie. He is getting old and likes to sleep a lot. He does not sound an alarm like chester did when a wild animal comes near the house. I will have to get another dog. Right now I still miss Chester very much and it would almost feel like a betrayal if I simply replaced him with another dog so soon.
    Bob/PKB

    Totally understand your feelings. May I just say that Chester will never be replaced. Another pet will find its own place in your heart. :D

    I love Bears so much!We have a bears' den about 400 feet from our door and it's under a magnificent 200+ year old Fir tree, dug into the root mass.I've been inside and it was cozy and warm and thankfully nobody was home at the time.Our cat Nikita has the nickname"Dances On Bears" as once she encountered our Bear in the woods behind the house as it was snuffling around and found her sleeping.She took the opportunity to  stand upon its' head as it reared up and launch herself (using an implanted anti-gravity device) in my direction,flying over the fence,and landing at my feet where she promptly began to clean her paws!!Meanwhile,Bear cut a swath through the trees and ended up on the neighbors' lawn and up a tree for awhile until all the screaming kids went indoors!!Poor Bear learned in a hurry that kittens do indeed have claws!!!

    Ann

    I would have loved to see that with Nikita and the bear.I dont mind bears either. Last spring there was a young bear here and kept hugging the trees and tilting his head back and looking at me. He was so funny. I still had my dog Chester. He always barked like mad, if he smelled a wild animal. I had to put him to sleep last Dec. I miss him so much.
    lindilou

    I'm glad you love Bears!And I'm sorry about your loss.I always thought that dogs ought live way longer than they do(my old boy was 16+ when he passed)...boo hoo for me and you!
    doolittle

    @ Ann-Oh Ann..I bet you miss your dog- I lost mine quite a few years ago and I still think about her and talk about the silly things she used to do (she was as sweet and stubborn as could be- but not too bright!...a delightful combination for funny moments).

    @ lindilou- How very cool that you have a bear den!!!!!!!!
    Ann

    Lindi. My dachshund was only 11 1/2 years when I had to put him to sleep. He had kidney faillure. A friend gave him to me when he was only 6 month old. I feel that he might have came from a puppy mill and that is why he had so many problems. We had a wonderful time together and he was so smart.
    Ann

    Doo,this page also a "Remberance" for all the animals we have lost, theire unconditional love and the beauty of theire souls.

    I have never encontered one Ia. I could see one at a zoo.

    Ann

    Too bad. They are a sight to see. I love watching them.
    fjoel

    they probably are a sight to see.Ann

    Now for the real deal. Black bears don't just eat berries, they have killed two elderly people on separate occasions and ate half of their insides. They are carnivores. They will avoid an area were dogs are present, but they have been known to kill small dogs as they are aggressive towards bears. I see a bear, I take my 12 Ga. I'm not in a hurry to become "Smokey's" Big Mac. They have been know to pull the entire window frame out of a wall because they smell the trash that has not been taken out. Cute animals, my ass.

    Bob/PKB

    Goes to show you can't trust animals any more than a person.
    lindilou

    They also go after refridgerators because the insulation emits a chemical that mimics that of a beehive!!Go figure!
    doolittle

    Sounds like they don't have enough food to eat...anything starving will go to extreme lengths to eat- It is the life force within all creatures-including humans.
    ed shank

    The biggest black bear to date in PA has been shot and killed in my community. 1,035 LBS. They hang around the dumpsters. I NEVER take my trash out without a 38 or a shotgun.
    Ann

    Ed, by the sounds of it you have Grizzly bears. Female black bears weight 125-150 lbs. Male black bears weigt 200-250 lbs.Its too bad these people were killed.Like any wild animal, they will attack if provoked. I see them early in the morning and at dusk.We tolerate each other and dont get in each others way.
    Ann

    Bob, I would rather encounter a black bear in the woods, than a human who might have something bad in mind.
    Ann

    Doo. You are right. If they are hungry they will get into things.
    ed shank

    Ann, Your right about the average normal weight of a black bear, however they have been known to get much bigger. I personally witnessed seven men putting this bear in the back of a pick-up truck.
    Ducky

    Moderator
    ed..After reading your comments I remembered an experience from many years ago (probably 40) and you're not the only one who has seen a different side of those black bears being not so adorable and non-agressive. I witnessed (first hand in a camp ground) the very aggressive nature of black bears. NO ONE was doing ANYTHING to them...it was 4AM and 3 black bears entered a camp ground and went on a rampage...tore up 3 tents and scared many of us half to death...park rangers came running from everywhere with noise guns, while trying to keep people calm. The (very experienced) head ranger told us that they had been hanging around the camp area for months and the largest one weighed well over 500 pounds. Scarey..scarey..scary!!!
    Ann

    Ducka, people go camping in the white mountains of NH. and they have specific camgrounds and also have a warning sign about bears, and especially about leaving garbage and food around. That is was attracts bears in the first place. And yes, they can be dangerous if confronted.

    Nope.

    Ann

    I dont think you have bears where you live,
    eggplant

    Only in the zoo.
    Ann

    There are also brown bears and grizzly bears and they are much bigger. I am glad they dont live here.

    We don't get bears in the UK, only foxes and a few wild cats. They are talking about reintroducing the Lynx.

    Ann

    We have Canada Lynx in northern NH., but are a endangered species and cannot be hunted. The Bob cat was hunted to nearly extiction. It is now on the endangered species list also.

    I've not seen any bears near my house. The nightly news last week informed everyone that due to the early Sprng we are experiencing the bears are coming out of hibernation earlier than usual.

    Ann

    They are out early this year here too. We had an unusually mild winter

    Just a thought The only "Bear to get near to me Is "Me naked in front of the "Mirror


                                                       "BEAR as in NAKED.

    Ann

    You are too funny.

    I think it's illegal to kill Black Bears in the us, or I would look forward to Bear stew or Bear burgers or Bear steak............JK

    Ann

    HL. NH.is a tourist state. In order to attrack people, especially the ones who like to hunt or enjoy killing animals, they have a Bear hunt, beginning Sept.1st for a whole month. Last year they killed 418 black bears(it just makes me so angry) They have a Deer hunt, a Moose hunt,Grey sqirrel hunt,Snow Shoe hare hunt, Cottontail Rabbit hunt,Grouse and Partridge hunt, Pheasant hunt, Opposum and Skunk hunt, Weasel and Racoon hunt, Crow hunt, Grey and Red Fox hunt,Muskrat and Mink hunt and a long season to kill coyotes. Our state does not care much about wild animals, they only care about the revenue.I do not let anyone hunt in my woods, I do everything to protect them.
    lindilou

    My brother sports a t-shirt that states"Maintain Your Right To Arm Bears" with a picture of a Grizzly cradleing a 30 odd 6 longrifle in his arms with a big grin on his muzzle!!!
    Headless Man

    In some places you need to control the animals, if you don't they kill pets or people if their hungry or die of starvation.
    Ann

    Lindi, that is a good way to make a statement. I am totally against any hunting. I live in a state with usually very severe winters where half of the wild animal population dies from starvation during the winter.The black bear is harmless, it looks for food to survive, like any wild animal does.

    I have been face down in a two man tent with a black bear circling the tent (close enough to be rubbing the sides). Was I scared? Damn right. And at 1:30 am, my young son and I got into our canoe and left everything for the bear.

    Ann

    I am glad you and your son got away unharmed. Bears are solidary animals who will stay away from people. But food can attract them and it can turn into a dangerous situation. Dog or catfood left autside, or garbage left outside will attract them.
    Flip

    Yeah, he ruined my brand new Coleman cooler and ate/drank everything in it. We didn't have anything edible inside the tent.

    I would be very afraid if I encountered a black bear during the circumstances that you encountered him.  God bless your heart!

    Ann

    It was the mild winter that made them come out of hibernation early. I live in an area where most houses are closed for the winter und he was looking for food. They avoid people like the plaque otherwise. I am not afraid of them, I am used to them.

    In the wrong place at the wrong time, yes.

    Ann

    I can tell by the demeanor of the bear. If he stays on the ground with all four of his paws, then he just wants to be left alone. If he stands up, then I am worried and dont go anywhere near him, or slowly back up and never make eyecontact. Standing up is a warning.

    No, not them, only THE BIG BAD WOLF!!!

    No, why would I.


    If I could, I'd want to hug one right now. They are so fluffy! :3

    AldeWicht

    haha thanks i think
    Colleen

    Moderator
    Moved

    ______________________________________________

    Ann
    Karma: 391821

    I am not afraid either, but I would not want to hug a big bear. They are still big, wild animals.
    AldeWicht

    What do you mean with moved, I never actually got that?
    Colleen

    Moderator
    Moved means that the comment below me is one I moved to where it belongs. Ann posted her reply to you as a new answer and not as a comment. I moved it here to where it belonged.
    AldeWicht

    aha cool, thanks


    Top contributors in Uncategorized category

     
    ROMOS
    Answers: 18061 / Questions: 154
    Karma: 1101K
     
    Colleen
    Answers: 47269 / Questions: 115
    Karma: 953K
     
    country bumpkin
    Answers: 11322 / Questions: 160
    Karma: 838K
     
    Benthere
    Answers: 2392 / Questions: 30
    Karma: 760K
    > Top contributors chart

    Unanswered Questions

    iwinclubpcfsv
    Answers: 0 Views: 10 Rating: 0
    789win
    Answers: 0 Views: 7 Rating: 0
    188betdecom
    Answers: 0 Views: 7 Rating: 0
    fggdgfdgdf
    Answers: 0 Views: 9 Rating: 0
    dada
    Answers: 0 Views: 11 Rating: 0
    J88
    Answers: 0 Views: 11 Rating: 0
    > More questions...
    464170
    questions
    721927
    answers
    781392
    users