A few weeks ago my sweetie was up on the hill above the house for a walk with the dogs, Maggie and Java. As often happens, the dogs were out of sight, poking around looking for chipmunks, carrion, and whatever "good stuff" it is that dogs look for.
Then Java came barreling in and quickly circled behind Doreen and sat down, seemingly in a "protect me" mode. Because of Maggie's tendency to tangle with porcupines Doreen decided to call her in. In short order Maggie came running in at top speed (which is very, very fast). She, too, circled around Doreen and sat. Something seemed amiss.
At that moment Doreen caught some movement, looked up, and saw, following in Maggie's tracks and running at top speed, a black bear. When she first saw the bear it was an estimated 100 yards out through open woods.
Doreen waved her arms over her head, started yelling and banging a stick against a tree. The bear didn't slow down. Finally, at an estimated range of 30 feet, the bear came to an abrupt stop. With Doreen still yelling and waving, the bear proceeded to huff repeatedly while stomping its front feet against the ground. It then stood up, turned, and took several steps away, then turned back and started approaching again. Doreen continued to wave and yell, and finally the bear walked off.
My first thought on hearing of this encounter was that the bear was a sow protecting its cubs, but I wasn't too convinced. Then I thought perhaps the bear was actually looking for a meal. Again, seemed a bit far fetched.
Then last evening Doreen stumbled upon THIS article. I'm now convinced that the bear was protecting a food source, perhaps a deer killed by coyotes. Maggie, not realizing that some animals are not interested in sharing, probably tried to crash the dinner party.
I'm also convinced that if Doreen had frozen, rather than wave and yell, the bear would have come straight in to the dogs, which it probably at first thought were simply sitting behind a (rather noisy and lively) tree stump. I hate to even contemplate what might have happened next.
I'd be interested in hearing others' thoughts on what led to this encounter.
Then Java came barreling in and quickly circled behind Doreen and sat down, seemingly in a "protect me" mode. Because of Maggie's tendency to tangle with porcupines Doreen decided to call her in. In short order Maggie came running in at top speed (which is very, very fast). She, too, circled around Doreen and sat. Something seemed amiss.
At that moment Doreen caught some movement, looked up, and saw, following in Maggie's tracks and running at top speed, a black bear. When she first saw the bear it was an estimated 100 yards out through open woods.
Doreen waved her arms over her head, started yelling and banging a stick against a tree. The bear didn't slow down. Finally, at an estimated range of 30 feet, the bear came to an abrupt stop. With Doreen still yelling and waving, the bear proceeded to huff repeatedly while stomping its front feet against the ground. It then stood up, turned, and took several steps away, then turned back and started approaching again. Doreen continued to wave and yell, and finally the bear walked off.
My first thought on hearing of this encounter was that the bear was a sow protecting its cubs, but I wasn't too convinced. Then I thought perhaps the bear was actually looking for a meal. Again, seemed a bit far fetched.
Then last evening Doreen stumbled upon THIS article. I'm now convinced that the bear was protecting a food source, perhaps a deer killed by coyotes. Maggie, not realizing that some animals are not interested in sharing, probably tried to crash the dinner party.
I'm also convinced that if Doreen had frozen, rather than wave and yell, the bear would have come straight in to the dogs, which it probably at first thought were simply sitting behind a (rather noisy and lively) tree stump. I hate to even contemplate what might have happened next.
I'd be interested in hearing others' thoughts on what led to this encounter.
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