My walking stick sits by the front door..I have tied the bells to it so I make noise when I walk...so they can hear me coming. I think twice before going out for walks lately...and there are times when I decide not to go outside at all...I've been thinking about the bears. They have been behaving badly.
There is one bear in particular. who has been hanging around at the dumpster near the end of the road. He has ventured up the road and onto our property, sniffing around. I want to avoid him. I'm not looking conflict.
Last weekend, as I turned the corner, I saw him on the hillside. He was pawing through the trash that he pulled out of the dumpster and up into the wooded area. The photos that I took of him were blurry...I think I was so full of fear and exhilaration that I must have been shaking...
Or maybe it was the bear who was so full of motion that I couldn't quite catch a good photo of him/her...these are the only two photos I dared take of him, I don't trust him, I cannot even look into his eyes.
It isn't really the bears fault. He is just doing what comes natural to bears at this time of year. He needs to pack on the pounds, and he looks for an easy way to do it. He is not thinking about what is right or wrong behaviour. He acts on instinct. So it is up to me to take precautions to avoid confrontations. I soak rags in ammonia and place them in the trash can. I take my walking stick with the bells on it when I go outside...I sing or talk loudly to announce my arrival...my bird feeders are all taken down...the bbq grill is clean and locked down...and my rabbit has nail boards around her hutch...just in case. And one more thing...this little pocket air horn...
don't leave home without it!
There were announcements in the local news this week, concerning the bears..so I know we are not the only ones that have seen them around. I hope the people at the corner with dumpster have realized that they are creating a nuisance bear by not locking the dumpster and not cleaning up the trash that the bear has already pulled apart. No one likes a bad bear.
11 comments:
Oh my, do be careful Cyndy. This looks like a creature not to be taken lightly. Give it no confidence.
The air horn works great! Well until they get used to the noise....you are wise to be careful...the mama bear here has been going to my compost pile, something else you might want to consider if you have compost.
Take care and hope to see you soon :-)
Be safe dear one....we couldn't "bear" to lose you!!
Wow, such an 'alien' problem. I suppose we are lucky here that we don't have any real BIG predator animals, so its hard for me to not look at that bear and think how cute and cuddly it is!!!! But seriously take care, and hopefully those with the dumpster get their act together and clean up, and he will be on his way.
For the first time in a couple of generations black bears are being sighted frequently here. So far there have been no real problems, except that a local park had to bear-proof their trash cans. I've seen a couple while I was with the dog and so far they've fled...I think your precautions are wise, though, and will be looking to adopt some of them!
There are plenty of black bears around here where I live but thank heavens I have never seen one. I would be scared shitless if I did.
I can't believe the people don't have a locking dumpster! That's really creating a problem where there may not have been one, not to mention dangerous.
Oh! My husband went hiking in No. Ala. recently and saw a black bear! We always scoffed at the idea of bears this far south, but no more!
Cyndy, thank you for acknowledging your responsibility to the bears. They are only doing what comes naturally and PEOPLE create problem bears. If WE choose to live in THEIR habitat then there are responsibilities that come with that choice. I don't live in the woods like you, but even in my barn I have to lock up the horse, sheep, chicken and cat food or else I have the racoons and possums becoming problems.
Enough, I'll get off my soapbox. Thanks for another wonderful post!
I have seen more bears this year than any other. I checked the game comm. and they report there were 2500 bears statewide in 1975 to about 15000 now. Stay safe.
That is not a small bear. Yikes! Hope your neighbors come around. Sigh.
Yesterday, I walk the lines with guys from the power company. More bear scat. Everyone has stories or sightings.
Did you see the special on bears the other night. C is almost ready to give up walking in the woods. I'm still singing as I go.
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