Burrs and Berries and Bears, Oh My!

[Josh Feltman]

Went for a nice hike with my wife today. Parked her truck near the entrance to the old logging road we were gonna be walking, stopped to take advantage of the ripe blackberries, inadvertently walked through some stickers that fell in love with my wife's pants, and then, after removing the damned things, we set off down the heavily wooded road to go play in the creek at the bottom (and wash our purple fingers).

About halfway down this twisty logging road that hugs the side of a canyon and twists its way down like a serpent, we came around a wide turn and spotted a small brown bear about fifty feet ahead on the trail. I put up a hand to stop my wife, and she said, "What?" That's all it took; the poor thing flew off the road in an absolute panic sliding and crashing down the embankment through the trees and underbrush. It was a really neat thing to see--made my afternoon--but I felt bad for scaring the poor thing. It was prety small, probably 100 lbs, but I was concerned that momma bear might come out of the woods as well. We turned around after that and called it a day. I wish I'd had my camera on me, but I doubt I'd have had time to take a picture. Little bears are surprisingly fast!

 

[munk]

I was in the San Bernardino's one afternoon on a bike. About 60 yards away on the road in front of me was a strange animal. I say strange because no matter how hard I looked it was a bear, only it didn't look like a bear. It looked like a large dog. I realized with Summer heat and only being a year and a half old or so, it wasn't the fat Boo-boo bear in the cartoons.

I guessed its age based upon it's size and the fact it was alone. Weaned not all that long ago and life was not easy street.

It caught a slight wiff of me eventually and ran down a ravine and up the other side. Then it stopped and sort of turned all its senses on trying to figure out what I was and what I was doing. I pulled a harmonica out of my pocket and started playing. I was afraid bad music might make it angry. I didn't want anything to do with that bear as a boxing partner. Small or not. I knew it was strong. Anyway, it cocked its head listening the music. I played for about 2 minutes, when it gave a 'wuff' and ran off into the chapperal.


munk

 

[Fiddleback]

I've only seen one bear in the wild. It was rummaging through a campsite in a state park here in GA looking for food. It wasn't big, but I was simply in awe of it as a creature. We watched it quietly till it got bored and sombered off. Awesome experience.

 

[TomFetter]

Was flyfishing on the Marble River in northern Vancouver Island, walked 'round a bend to see a mom and 2 cubs having more success than I. Perhaps 300 yards away.

Luckily, the wind blew their scent towards me rather than the reverse. Backed up quietly and left them to their fishing, reflecting that I was in their backyard, not the reverse.

t.

 

[Ad Astra]

Sounds like that cute lil fella from "The Bear." Neat scene when he eats the psychedelic mushrooms. :thumbup:


Mike :foot:

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I watched what looked like a juvenile brown bear today right by camp. was runnin' hell bent for leather through the tundra, just runnin' in circles like crazy. mind boggling how fast and agile they are. I'm not sure what he was doing. just playin' 'round? chasin' down a marathon trained marmot? I've heard that the fox will harass the bears at times too. Not sure what was up with the ole boy, but he sure was havin' a time out there.

a couple days ago I got to watch a fox kill and eat a goose. that was something to see. The fox and the goose were about the same size, but the fox eventually won out with perseverence. They had a helluva tug of war goin' on for awhile. Kinda funny watching the other fifteen geese or so. thier demeanor seemed to very much say "well...better you than me, buddy!" Once they all escaped the immediate danger, they didn't seem too disturbed by the events.

Also got to see a fox dig out a marmot, that was pretty cool.

Also came nose to nose with a caribou coming out of a warehouse the other day. he won by sheer size, I ran back to the truck while he finished perusing the merchandise. (little was he aware, I'd just gotten the last midsized Pelican flashlight)


I'm rotating home in nine more days (thank God! this has been the hitch from hell!) hope to see a moose and a bear while I've got my rifle handy.


Moose are strange that way...they eat apples outta yer hand when they're outta season, but somehow know not to come within a half mile of a person until the day moose season closes again.....

If it weren't for seeing so much wildlife out here I'd have already gone insane...