Well, just a bear. It is now about 1AM, and we were awakened by the dogs barking and barking and barking. Ann went downstairs and came face to face with a black bear staring at her through the kitchen window. It was standing on the hot tub cover. She yelled up at me, and I looked out the window to see it sitting on the deck rail, trying to get the bird feeder. I got the camera (no, the good one is still in the shop), just as it got down off the deck. It stayed a while, and when it got part way down the driveway, Ann went out on the front porch and banged pot lids together. It ran. The dogs are still barking and barking and barking.
The deck is about a foot off the ground at the point where that bear is standing. The rail is about three feet high, which puts that bear at at least six feet standing. ( I am editing this at 5:45AM. There was very little sleep going on here last night. The dogs are still barking. )
I think it is a young one, seems not to have grown into its head.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:56 am
WOW…Great picture. He/she does look a little young…any plans to make the fence around the property taller and less climbable?
My concern would be the doggie door. I would be paranoid that it would be able to squeeze into the house…especially if it is a young bear (smaller). But…I am just paranoid like that. LOL
June 1st, 2009 at 1:08 pm
The bear is cute, but I don’t think I would want to be near him. Especially if he is a young one. You don’t know where the mother is. You have some good watch dogs. Give then extra treats for a job well done. I think I would not use the doggy door because they (the bears) may find that and use it to get in. I think if I was in your shoes, I would run for the hills. lol
Bears, snakes, squirrels - you sure have a animal problem. Sounds like you might need a electric fence to keep them out.
June 1st, 2009 at 1:21 pm
There is no way that a bear, even a young one, could get through the doggie door. We did close it last night so that the dogs would not do something stupid and go out. We are in the woods and the bear could easily climb a tree and then into the yard, even with a higher fence. I need to remove the bird feeders for a while, I think. I hate to do it, but the birds will be fine.
I am just glad he did not break the hot tub cover; those things are expensive.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:46 pm
WOW….the bear came back and you got a picture of him….he/she does look cute and harmless but I know the damage they can do and I can only imagine the how much barking the dogs were doing and you were up so early to from it.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:16 am
They barked last night in anticipation of it coming back. I am going to have to go to a hotel if this keeps up. I removed the bird feeders, for the night time anyway. If he comes back, he will see there is no reason to keep Possum Manor on his circuit.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:32 am
wowser! i think i’ll stay here and continue to take my chances with the gators. Seriously, having a bear outside must have been pretty cool…as long as it did no damage…but don’t y’all have a game warden or something you can call?
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I don’t know who we could call. I am hoping that now that the feeders are in storage, they bear will stay away. Now we have something extra to show you if you visit….bears.
June 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
okay…it’s time for new pictures or videos
scary bear is making me nervous….
June 7th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Ok, I give in to the pressure. Videos AND pictures are coming your way!