Bear sightings

ppine · 12-24-2011, 11:50 AM

I went through a whole year in 2011 without seeing a bear. May have heard one in October, but turned on some electric lights and dog barking scared him away and did not see him. I did see a mountain lion in broad daylight which was a gift. Did anyone see many bears this year? Where were you and what were the conditions?

Lorax · 12-25-2011, 07:09 AM

Namakagon River in northern WI this year as we stopped at a campsite along the way to have some lunch. My friend's wife went to water the foliage and came back quickly. There was an average sized black bear down the path leading away from the site.
I went to check him out and he was already lumbering up the ridge where he sat and turned to listen. We took a picture or two of him at about 80 yds away.

This was my wife's very first experience seeing a bear near a camp.

Grandpa · 12-25-2011, 08:49 AM

One bear from the road in Teton NP near South Gate to Yellowstone. No cats, one wolf sighting moving across the snow about 1/2 mile from my back porch.

ppine · 01-02-2012, 11:43 AM

This thread only generated two responses, which I find to be very telling. It is no surprise that they came from the venerable Grandpa and Lorax. It helps explain the attitude of many people on the forum in that they probably don't have much experience in the backcountry.

Miley · 01-02-2012, 01:18 PM

I have only seen a bear at the zoo. A few times, while on a week long camp/hike, I thought I heard a bear rustling, but it could have been my imagination. I imagine some people did not comment, because they don't live in an area where bears live.

MountainMan22 · 01-02-2012, 03:31 PM

My mom snapped some pictures of a young bear on her property that they own some acres of. She always told me they were out there, but I didn't actually see proof until she put them up on Facebook. I hope she wasn't lying and just taking them from the internet.

Lamebeaver · 01-02-2012, 04:57 PM

I saw 2 in 2010, but none last year.

Judy Ann · 01-02-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppine

I went through a whole year in 2011 without seeing a bear. May have heard one in October, but turned on some electric lights and dog barking scared him away and did not see him. I did see a mountain lion in broad daylight which was a gift. Did anyone see many bears this year? Where were you and what were the conditions?

I stopped at Peaks of Otter to eat my lunch and walk my dog. Saw a momma and 3 cubs about 25 yards from my car. Bummer, the camera was in the trunk and the cellphone was off so I couldn't take a picture. I could hardly wait to get to a town where the phone would work to call home and I inadvertendly scared the daylights out of my parents with the report.

I'm the crazy woman hiking the mountains in NC and VA with a brass tipped golf umbrella because someone told me to be as big as I could be if I saw a bear. I figured if one charged me I could open the umbrella faster than remove my pack and have time to grab the old dog and kiss my ass goodbye. One of the members here has fortunately refrained from posting my picture with said umbrella, and has been unsuccessful in getting me to trade it in for a set of hiking poles. Thank you ---! :-)

craig · 01-03-2012, 10:08 AM

I've never seen a bear in person, except in the zoom to be exact. I'm not even sure that I would like to see one in person. On the other hand, would a bear like to see me in person?

Pathfinder1 · 01-03-2012, 10:46 AM

Hi...

To date, I haven't seen a bear all year (2012).