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Post by hazelrunmama on Apr 16, 2015 23:21:45 GMT -5
We had our first bear of the season tonight. We didn't see it, but the last time out with the dogs we noticed that one of the shepherd's hooks was on the ground. Luckily the ground was soft--instead of bending or breaking, the pole just pulled out of the ground, so no damage to that. The platform feeder was empty, as was the suet feeder. But the only damage done was to the suet feeder--it was ripped open on one end and the cover pulled off at the hinges. I'm pretty sure that's not something a raccoon could do, so I'm guessing a yearling bear. I'll have to check for prints tomorrow. Now I have to start bringing the feeders in at night again. *sigh* Dang bears! So much extra work! Surprisingly, there wasn't a peep out of the Pack. For dogs that otherwise seem to bark at the slightest imaginary provocation, it would be nice if they'd at least try to scare off the bears when they're raiding the feeders! LOL
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Apr 16, 2015 23:30:01 GMT -5
DANG bears is right! The pack need to start 'doing their job!' Maybe it is like the dogs around here when coyotes start yipping - NO ONE joins in.It is like all the dogs (several in the neighborhood) want to be invisible when the coyote come.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Apr 16, 2015 23:38:31 GMT -5
That's a phenomenon they reserve for wolves here. They often will bark back at the coyotes, but their response to wolves is to spread out at the fence, silent, looking out. They'll bark at bears, but only if they're inside (the dogs, not the bear LOL). If they're outside, they all gather at a spot closest to the where the bear is and just stare....
It was a very nice day today so the dogs and I spent a lot of time outdoors and my poor aging puppies were tired. I'm sure it was sheer exhaustion that caused them to miss the bear. (Yes, I'm making excuses for their lax security protocols... LOL)
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Apr 17, 2015 8:36:16 GMT -5
only if they're inside (the dogs, not the bear LOL) That is a mighty fine idea to keep the bear outside! LOL And it is good to rationalize behaviors! The pack know you always "got their back". They count on you (and vice versa) for all those good things in life.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Apr 17, 2015 12:37:44 GMT -5
Little do they know that their mama is a little bit freaked out by bears. o.o heheheh
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Post by luv2bird on Apr 17, 2015 13:16:20 GMT -5
Wow! Be careful Hazel, you don't want to get mixed up with that bunch. lol.
l2b
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Apr 17, 2015 17:59:32 GMT -5
Little do they know that their mama is a little bit freaked out by bears. o.o heheheh ... don't believe it, that's not the HRM I've come to admire and enjoy! The woman who climbs fire towers to watch for fires - no way is she "a little bit freaked out"!!
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Post by hazelrunmama on Apr 18, 2015 13:14:41 GMT -5
Okay, I'll admit it. Not a 'little bit freaked out'--I'm a LOT freaked out! LMBO So much so that I've had dreams where there were bears on the first floor of the house, trapping me on the second floor.
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Post by downylover on Apr 19, 2015 15:00:43 GMT -5
Bears, coyotes - I'd be freaked out for sure. I'm good with the bunnies.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Apr 19, 2015 15:37:22 GMT -5
LOL I like bunnies, too!
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Apr 19, 2015 21:33:39 GMT -5
I grew up around black bears too. I don't think I was ever afraid of them. Maybe because I remember my father saying a black bear was more afraid of me then me of them!! That was a long time ago and we never feed birds, so there wasn't a food source by the house.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Apr 20, 2015 18:51:34 GMT -5
I'm not afraid of them till I end up nearly face-to-face with them on foot. LOL I love to see them from the window and from the car... They just don't find my voice impressive enough to run away like they do when hubby yells at them. Maybe bears just wanna be my friend!
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Apr 21, 2015 7:27:22 GMT -5
I had forgotten about your very close encounter - that would be scary. And you could be right, maybe they really are your protector animal...
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Post by hazelrunmama on Apr 21, 2015 10:51:32 GMT -5
I'll have to give a big hug to the next one I meet--then I'll know for sure if it's my protector! LOL o.o On second thought... heheh
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Post by naturelover on Apr 22, 2015 7:09:01 GMT -5
Fun thread! We have coyotes and deer out in the back woods but no bears that I've heard about. I'm sure they can't be too far away because I've read & seen on TV that they're moving into towns. I really don't want to meet one outdoors! Like you Hazel, watching through the windows is a good thing!
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