It's Bear Season

[JCave]

We have the largest black bear I've ever seen roaming the neighborhood. He's tipped my trash bins several times. The lids are strapped down making the cans bear proof. My flag used to hang low, not anymore. He tore that down last night, broke the mount, broke the mast, and put a hole in the flag. From the videos folks are posting, he's making the rounds cruising everywhere. I hope people leave him alone.

[01bluemiata]

Duck Season!

[Dru Edwards]

Does Wildlife Service get involved? Tranquilize the bear and relocate him/her?

[AmericanEagle]

Sadly, I have never seen a bear except in a zoo once.

[Earl49]

We used to have problem bears on occasion in Anchorage, and often saw them in our subdivision on the Lower Hillside. It made me (and others) mad when the bear was just doing what bears do, raiding improperly stored trash cans and dog food that was left out. The bear usually ended up dead because of people's misbehavior and ignorance. 'Nuff said.

[JCave]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Does Wildlife Service get involved? Tranquilize the bear and relocate him/her?

ODFW only becomes involved with enough complaints. Sadly, bears are no longer relocated.

[llew]

I have a river cabin about an hour inland right off The Great Pee Dee River literally in the swamp. We have all kinds of wildlife both reptile and mammal. In 23 years I've seen two black bears (not on my property) but plenty of alligators which are more of a nuisance and countless snakes poisonous and non. Copperheads on the upper part of the property and Cotton Mouths (Water Moccasins) down by the creek in the swampy areas. Lots of non-problematic wildlife such as Bald Eagles, Barn Owls, Wild Turkeys, Bob Cats, etc. The bear situation has gotten a little more common with the deer hunters who "corn up" below their deer stands which attracts the bears. But I always remind myself when I'm out there "who is in who's backyard now?" I try to coexist with them all...well maybe not the poisonous snakes but all of the rest.

[RP]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Does Wildlife Service get involved? Tranquilize the bear and relocate him/her?

FWIW I contacted Game & Inland Fisheries a month or so ago when this yearling had become a fairly common visitor in my small rural neighborhood. I live about five miles as the crow flies from Shenandoah National Park and was told that they don't relocate bears because they'll only return. This policy may obviously vary in other places...

[catdaddy]

My wife and I encountered the black bear pictured below while hiking at Cape Breton Highland National Park in Canada. It was feeding on something close to the trail, and reacted aggressively by huffing and pacing on the trail as we approached (it saw us before we saw it). We were able to circumvent the animal by staying down wind and detouring over a hill to meet up with the trail about 1/4 mile beyond the bear. Interestingly, this was not a large bear, probably at most about 125-150lb.

[Mr. Paul]

Colorado DOW will tag "troublesome" bears the first time but when a tagged bear causes trouble it's a death sentence.

[blue]

Originally Posted by JCave

ODFW only becomes involved with enough complaints. Sadly, bears are no longer relocated.

Haven't had my green-waste toppled since early spring. It's where we toss bones, skin, and fat. Kinda surprised as its been in the 30's recently. As long as I've lived here, 20 years now, we've never had a bear moved or euthanized in my town. Certainly happens higher up in the foothills of the cascades, but thankfully hasn't happened here.

Coyote sightings are through the roof around here this fall though. If your cat refuses to be an indoor cat... Well... You're going to have trouble.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by JCave

ODFW only becomes involved with enough complaints. Sadly, bears are no longer relocated.

Sad. Can't have a bear roam the neighborhood though.

[JCave]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Sad. Can't have a bear roam the neighborhood though.

Shh, what bear....

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by JCave

Shh, what bear....

Let's hope this thread doesn't go viral

[reeve21]

This one spent a winter under my porch. Photos taken as the wildlife guys were removing her, except for the second one which was taken from the basement window. We had a good view of her from there. And they don't go into a deep sleep, they are in a "torpor" and will move around and get agitated, especially if your wife bangs on the window