I take it back.
While snuggled up to a warm computer, I heard an odd metallic noise just outside. That seemed odd, given the distance of the neighbors.
Looked out the back - nothing there.
Looked out the front - okay, why is Cleo laying in the front garden under my birdfeeders? Cleo is our neighbor's Newfoundland. She doesn't respect her invisible fence, and often comes to visit.
Wait - that's not Cleo shaped.
"Hey Bob - come see the bear! Oh, wait - it's bearS." Mom and cub knocked down my birdfeeders and were having a nice snack. Not sure what I'll do about the feeders, because I love the birds, but I think that perhaps it's time for the garbage can to move into the garage...
Yes, as a matter of fact, those ARE my front steps.
And the back bumper of Bob's car. Tomorrow morning I'll find out how many of my plants they trampled. I've already filled out a DEP bear sighting form, and even got a picture of the ear tags. So now they know that bear E9 is in Burlington with a cub.
Yippee.
While snuggled up to a warm computer, I heard an odd metallic noise just outside. That seemed odd, given the distance of the neighbors.
Looked out the back - nothing there.
Looked out the front - okay, why is Cleo laying in the front garden under my birdfeeders? Cleo is our neighbor's Newfoundland. She doesn't respect her invisible fence, and often comes to visit.
Wait - that's not Cleo shaped.
"Hey Bob - come see the bear! Oh, wait - it's bearS." Mom and cub knocked down my birdfeeders and were having a nice snack. Not sure what I'll do about the feeders, because I love the birds, but I think that perhaps it's time for the garbage can to move into the garage...
Yes, as a matter of fact, those ARE my front steps.
And the back bumper of Bob's car. Tomorrow morning I'll find out how many of my plants they trampled. I've already filled out a DEP bear sighting form, and even got a picture of the ear tags. So now they know that bear E9 is in Burlington with a cub.
Yippee.
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kls_eloise- kls_eloise
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Both cats are indoor cats, and the garbage pails are secured (by now), right?
Edited at 2010-04-16 03:27 am (UTC)
I think I'd rather have my Local 103 Squirrels. Even if they do bounce pine cones off the Land Rover.
I must say though, growing up on 6 acres within 10 miles of the Delaware Water Gap, it was far more likely to happen by there. You guys are a bit densely populated for this. Of course, where I am now, they apparently show up at the parking lot of the Walmart.
If we see them again, I'll need to take some action regarding the feeders, the trash, and the grill.
Said woods are a vacant lot where a burned house had been demolished some years ago.
Between and among a neighborhood of triple deckers.
Very uncool that mama bear is teaching baby that humans = food. Around here there's a "3 strikes and euthanize" policy for bears that are repeat offenders. The fact that she's tagged means she's probably done this before.
If they're not just passing through - i.e. if we see that pair again - I'm going to police the property for all food items and start making it unpleasant for them. I'm not sure what the DEP's policy is - we're right on the edge of an almost 800 acre Wildlife Area, so it's distinctly possible that she's just one that they're tracking for information.
Just meeting another set of neighbors...
When we get a bear, dad just goes out and runs at it, yelling, and they go away quickly and meekly. I prefer not to have to try it, but I guess I would if Dad weren't around to do it. We had a customer run screaming at one that showed up in the perennial yard and it ran away super quick (probably thinking OMG A MAD HUMAN RUUUUUUUN!)
I just got my new shipment of snap traps for the chipmunks. :-)
Several years ago, Rob had a bear knock over three beehives (one survived, I was up there alone so I gulped hard and worked the bees alone for the first time. Reassembling an angry hive is scary.) So we extended the electric fence we'd erected to keep deer out of grapevines.
Flash forward to Easter Sunday -- 5:30 am a bear showed up and bent down Mom's birdfeeder. Went after the can of seed but Victoria's toys clattered down and scared it away. Still in search of breakfast, it went up to the bees, pushed through the electric fence, and trashed the one hive that had made it through the winter.
Bears suck.