Pesky Bears

[YardBikeBob]

Here is something that doesn't happen every day. I awoke from my afternoon nap and glanced outside to see what the squirrels were doing to the bird feeder.

Oops. That is a pretty big squirrel!

The fellow seemed pretty content out there.

I can peer into the bird feeder just like he does! That is a 6' bear.

I live on 120 acres of recreational property in South/Central Missouri -- true Ozarks. Land is mostly trees (hardwoods & ERC), rocks, and is flat pretty much nowhere. Surrounding area is private property on similar sized parcels. Some cattle, goats, but no farming.

This is the 3rd year we've had bears on the trail cams. They always come in the summer. This year I've counted 4 different bears. I don't feed them however when they become attracted to the deer blocks I quit putting out deer blocks.

Timid, not aggressive, and will leave when confronted. Don't mind having them around as keeps the city folks from wanting to visit. However, we're blaming them on the disappearance of wild turkeys. The deer don't seem to be effected. This season the trail cams have a couple 100 bear pictures and it is curious that I've never captured a night shot on three cameras.

We are the only homestead in the area that don't have outside dogs. Maybe that's why we get the show.

Just thought I'd share! ~Bob

 

[oosik]

That is one BIG, well fed(FAT) black bear. Dogs would surely run them off. What is "chubby" eating there - bird seed?? BTW - he has very good posture - the way he is standing up so straight there - peering in the feeder.

Ha - with bird feeders and deer blocks around - they don't have to be out foraging at night. They are home sleeping. Ergo - no night shots on your game cams.

 

[MikeR 2018]

We always have visiting bears here in central Pa woods. Bird feeders do not last long unless we keep them out or reach.

This year I built a bird feeding station that is bear proof and squirrel resistant. It consists of a 12 foot 4x4 pole bolted to a base with 2 carriage bolts. One of the bolts can be removed and the 4x4 swung down if maintenance is needed. On the pole are 4 rope/pulley systems for attaching bird feeders. To fill the feeders just lower the feeder with the rope/pulley then raise it back up.



The weather vain is just to make it look better.

 

[/pine]

We currently have some bothersome bears raiding bird feeders etc...even though there is still plenty of ripe wild berries...
...It seems this year a larger than typical number of bee keepers have moved their hives onto the surrounding farms to take advantage of the sour wood bloom...they get more money for sour wood honey so they all bring their hives from south and east of here...most are protected with electric fencing but that has not stopped the invading bruins from wreaking havoc on bbq grills and bird and game feeders etc...

 

[oosik]

Sourwood trees - new one on me. Had to look it up - favorite for the honey the bees can make from the blooms. Around here the very best honey is if your bees can get into a field of Fireweed. Makes a dark, strong, rich honey. For the bee keepers - brings premium $$$.

I make coffee that you can cut with a moldboard plow and then flavor it with a teaspoon of Fireweed honey.

 

[rekees4300]

Lions and Tigers and Bears OH MY

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Thank goodness we don't have any bears here in Central Oklahoma...yet. We have about everything else; coyotes, bobcats, deer, turkeys, army diggers, fox, etc. And...there some mountain lions coming back, probably because of the deer and turkeys.

 

[atsah]

That's a healthy looking bear, I have them here all the time..

 

[Steppenwolfe]

We currently have some bothersome bears raiding bird feeders etc...even though there is still plenty of ripe wild berries...
...It seems this year a larger than typical number of bee keepers have moved their hives onto the surrounding farms to take advantage of the sour wood bloom...they get more money for sour wood honey so they all bring their hives from south and east of here...most are protected with electric fencing but that has not stopped the invading bruins from wreaking havoc on bbq grills and bird and game feeders etc...

Man... I've got Sour Woods up the yazoo on my property. Real pretty in the fall.

 

[oosik]

There are those, in our area, that say we do have black bear. Thirty six plus years out here - never seen any sign or any bears. Sure have a lot of sign of cougars. And then - fifteen years ago some smart a**ed government employees introduced turkeys. Turkeys will do to your yard what the wild hogs are doing in Texas - just takes them a while longer. Friends up the road quit feeding the turkeys in her yard - it was starting to cost big $$$. Those dam turkeys tore her yard, her flower beds, her garden, all her potted plants to shreds. Later that summer all the neighbors - up and down the county road - each got a free turkey. They are tough as old shoe leather. It must have only taken one turkey to feed everybody at the first Thanksgiving. That first bite - you can chew on that for hours.