"DOUBLE TROUBLE" 
WOW! We certainly can tell it is near hibernation time for black bears. These past several weeks of October
we have seen a total of four bears and some we did not see but did find recycle cans re-arranged.
Bird feeders down and banged up. One destroyed bird bath and Suet holders missing but we found them.
Three days ago, October 20th. around 3 PM, Joe goes "UH OH" and our boxer Lilah started barking fiercely.
I ran to the dining room where they were and Lilah's fur was standing straight up. She spied a bear
and I got a glimpse of it but wanted to get Lilah in another room.
When I went back, the bear hearing Lilah barking took off. Joe said it was a small bear, not big bear like Rascal and Shortie are now.
October 21st. around 2 AM, I got awake, and saw the back corner of house motion lights on.
I went to dining room and laying right by the walk was a very small bear, smaller then the one we saw the day before,
eating out of a metal feeder. This smart little bear got the lid open, didn't damage it and didn't take off with it
like most bears do. We named this bear "Little Bear", for it was almost the size of a mastiff. I know mastiffs are big dogs,
but bears are much bigger and this bear was very small and around one to two years old.
I decided not to get Joe awake, as he had to get up at five to get ready for work.
I watched this young bear for almost two hours. He was a happy bear, and having a great time playing in the yard.
He romped around, and then decided to check out the garbage can. It must have smelled good,
for he drug the can out into the yard, pulled the garbage bag out, and dragged the bag further up in yard.
He laid down and took every little thing out of it, and munched away.
Little Bear
We have only one garbage can but this little guy wanted to see what was in the other cans
that are set under the back porch. He knocked several of them over and tin cans laid all over.
Aluminum cans spilled everywhere. I grabbed my camera and took some inside pictures, but always afraid there will be flash back from the windows.
So I thought okay, this is just a little fella, and quietly opened the door and tiptoed to the side of the house where he was standing.
I don't know if he saw me or smelled me, but he looked right at me, didn't move a muscle,
and snap, snap, two pictures, and I high-tailed back in the house.
Then HIS real fun began.
He got hold of one of the cans and romped all around the
yard playing with it. He was so funny and having a good time.
And just like a kid, when he got bored with that, he left it lay, and did one more look around and finally went up into the mountain for the night.
Later in the morning, I did clean up. And noticed a bent shepherd's hook. When Joe came home from work
he straightened the rod. He has this job down pat after years of unbending bent rods.
Geeshh!
Towards evening going on five PM, this same day, Joe and I had just sat down to eat
supper, when I looked out the back window, and saw a bear slowly moving towards the house.
The bird feeders were still hanging up on shepherds hooks, and along side of house.
After all it was broad daylight and birds eat till close to dusk.
We hurried out the door and grabbed
all the feeders and brought them in the house.
We noticed the white spot on it's chest as it got closer to the house.
It was Patch, with the white Vee on his chest.
We sat down to finish our supper while Patch checked out the landscape,
looking for what ever he could find to devour.
The first place he looked was all around the side of the house where the feeders had been hanging.
Then he saw berries on our flaming bush and nibbled at them.
He came back to the house and strolled on the walk in front of the windows,
but whether he could actually see us through the big window sitting at the table we don't know.
He walked back and forth, and then went for the garbage can. Drug it up in the yard
and took the garbage bag out, which of course there was nothing in it since Little Bear cleaned it out earlier.
But then Patch got very very close to the windows which made us a bit nervous,
and as he moved away Joe got some pans, went outside and banged them together. Patch headed for the mountain.
So now we needed some ingenuity as to what to do about the windows.
Bears are strong, and if any of them fell against the windows or pushed on them
hard enough, we just don't know if they would break.
Joe got a sheet of plywood, a 2x4 and cut an angle on the one end and screwed it
to the plywood. Then he made braces in the ground and set the plywood against the corner window and braced it tight.
We had no more plywood
UPDATE HERE _ Joe stopped at building supply and bought several more sheets. We covered the windows in front
with plywood and more braces. What beautiful decorations - NOT - but it is for protecting the windows, us, and the bears.
We also relocated the garbage can down behind the shed till the snows begin.
And all our bears go into partial hibernation.
People often ask if we aren't afraid. We are very cautious.
We watch their mannerisms. And we let them go about their business.
We do not feed them. And we don't go outside with them, except for little ones.
Then the next day after they have visited, we go around and clean up. LOL!
In the picture above Little Bear did the black garbage can in, and Patch
took care of the brown garbage can. And they both made the mess.
I am truly sorry the pictures are not better - but night time pictures are very
hard to get especially with windows in the way. If you look real hard - you can see Little Bear's shape right behind the rain gauge.
If you have read other stories of mine, like "My Helper", they like to play, and eat.
Sounds like us doesn't it? But they are wild animals, and where ever there are wild animals,
some birds or bats, there is always a risk of being hurt. For us it is part of mountain living.
Eye Contact ~ Just like looking into the eyes of one of ours right outside our window.
Written by Barbara L Carter
through the week of October 22nd., 2010
Copyrights 1972-2016
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Song Title: "Mountain Music" Click Bluejay Icon ~ My page listings.
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