That old question about a bear in the woods

[Antonmb]

We have a path that runs through some woods and brush a couple of hundred yards from our house (5 acre lot) where we walk our dog, and also where we dump grass clippings and crab apples from our apple tree in the fall. Usually deer and coyotes come to eat the apples, but a couple of days ago we noticed some different scat on the path, so we moved a trail camera over by the apple pile. Here’s what showed up about 2:00am this morning.

[crwilli]

You might want to rethink where you dump those crabapples Tony. That’s a serious animal!

[pjetrof]

OMG I have seen those kind of animals only in the zoo.
From Belgium Antwerp

[jdandy]

Tony.......It is unwise to encourage wild animals to grow accustomed to you feeding them, especially close to your home. Even coyotes can be dangerous when there is more than one. Bears are in an all together different category, and much more lethal without warning to humans. Like Craig said, "You might want to rethink where you dump those crabapples."

[Antonmb]

Dan, I appreciate the thoughts. We live in a very rural area in the mountains, and bears are a fact of life. We don’t encourage them or purposefully feed them, nor do,we take their presence lightly - quite the opposite. It’s why the apples are 200 yards in the woods and not under the tree in our back yard, or in a garbage can, which would surely bring bears to the house. That far from the house is the safest place to put them. We’ve been here for 31 years and have been hauling our apples (nobody wants them, but the tree is beautiful in the spring) for that long. The bear or one of his relatives has been there before, we just never had a trail cam out there. We also always have two pretty good sized dogs (German shepherds at the moment) who patrol the property, and I think there’s a mutual territorial respect established. The bears don’t want trouble any more than we do.

Cougars, on the other hand, are a real danger and we’re very cautious of them, especially when hiking.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Dan, I appreciate the thoughts. We live in a very rural area in the mountains, and bears are a fact of life. We don’t encourage them or purposefully feed them, nor do,we take their presence lightly - quite the opposite. It’s why the apples are 200 yards in the woods and not under the tree in our back yard, or in a garbage can, which would surely bring bears to the house. That far from the house is the safest place to put them. We’ve been here for 31 years and have been hauling our apples (nobody wants them, but the tree is beautiful in the spring) for that long. The bear or one of his relatives has been there before, we just never had a trail cam out there. We also always have two pretty good sized dogs (German shepherds at the moment) who patrol the property, and I think there’s a mutual territorial respect established. The bears don’t want trouble any more than we do.

Cougars, on the other hand, are a real danger and we’re very cautious of them, especially when hiking.

Tony.......Thank you for the reply. It is clear you have an understanding of living with wild animals in your vicinity. Caution is a cornerstone of safety. I am glad to know you have experience with living in a rural area and take precautions to protect yourself and family.

[Doug Lax]

I would keep my Pick A Nic baskets locked up too !