Today's Black Bear Video

This youtube includes a well composed acoustical guitar and song performed by Van Wagner. If you appreciate nature and are fascinated by black bears I know it will touch you.

Today's Bear Proof Trash Can

Here's today's bear proof trash can. The reason I post these, besides a lack of an actual bear pictures, is to relate the shear power the bears have. NOTE THE FOOTERS OF THE TRASH CAN. This trash can was pulled out of the ground, concrete footers and all, and knocked around like a Tonka Toy by a hungry bear. Not to mention that our cabin maintenance folks then had to retrieve if from the gully Bo is standing in, clean it up and upright it in its original location. (I wonder how that would be worked into a resume - 'facilitated the cleaning of bear damage without bailout money to maintain the ambiance and economy of the area').

Remember Black Bears are WILD ANIMALS, not feral, but wild animals who spend most of their day looking for food. DO NOT FEED THE BEARS. Between the bear proof trash and their natural food sources - berries, nuts, roots and the occasional carrion they have plenty of food.

If you should feed them, sometimes they appear appreciative and docile, but in reality you are endangering them, as well as yourself. Once they associate humans with food, you put your life and theirs in danger. They will never get enough of the human food you may think you are innocently adding to their diet. They may become disappointed with the amount of food given. And you don't want them demanding more.

Most importantly, once deemed by the wildlife management folks as 'too accustomed to humans' - they will be killed. They may tell you that they'll relocate the bear - but that's just a nice way of saying - relocating to them to bear heaven.

R E S P E C T..... O U R......B E A R S!!!
They do try to respect you!!

Resting Bear Cub

Here's a bear cub who decided to hang out and rest a bit. Again, we must thank Dolores for this picture of her Bears. Isn't he a cutie !??!??!

Today's Bear Proof Trash Can

We call him Bruno

We rarely see the big, BIG Black Bears. My theory is if they live long enough to get this big they know how to interact with humans. By staying out of sight.

This is another one of my neighbor's many pictures. Let's take a moment to thank her for her werewithall and presence of mind to snap a picture.

When these guys walk thru the hood, most folks are running for their cabin, slaming doors and calming their nerves. Then as a second thought they try to locate their camera, hope the batteries aren't dead, and oh, how does this thing work again. By then the bear is long gone.

You would be amazed how fast they are... even in a casual stride. But, the thing that amazes all of us is how quiet they are.

Bo 'TREED" his first bear this week....

Bo 'treed' his first bear this week. Oh how proud can an Airedale be!!! Details to come. The story is actually quite amusing. Seeing that Bo surprised the bear (and mommy (moi)) during the Black Bear's mid-morning nap. All are ok!! Again, details to come -- no pictures tho. The tourist with the camera took off before I could give him my personal contact card.

Pictures!! Pictures ~ Albeit too Dark Pictures

My neighbor finally consented to giving me some pictures of HER black bears. She's lived up here for more than 20yrs. Prior to bear proof trash cans and has so many wonderful stories to relate.

For now, here's a scan of one of her pictures.

For size reference - wooden bear proof trash cans run about 50"h x 60"w. So this guy on all four paws is about 4 ft tall. Standing up.... your guess is as good as mine.

BTW... for technical folks any help in converting traditional photos from a scanned photo to a .jpg would be helpful. Just for the machines to scan this picture and a bit of fireworks editing takes a half hour per picture