First bear encounter of the season!

[SoulRaven]

First bear encounter of the season!

I am at my summer home (35’ park model TT) in the Pocono’s and about 7pm I hear noise outside but there are no other humans in residence in my 15 site “park”.

I open the front door just a bit and less than 15 feet a momma black bear and cub had just taken the lid off my 45 gallon recycling container.

I yell at them momma walks away slowly while baby just stands there and looks at me in distain.

With six degree below average temps in March tree bud is at least two weeks behind a normal year.

Poor beasts are starving right now.

 

[Starlight]

My comment is not meant as a personal remark on your handling of the bear -- which is as fair a deal as a bear can get... merely shooed away.
But...

I can't help but grieve about the way we humans have managed our wild areas. When we put up fences, expand our cities, and establish our farms and ranches - we deprive the wildlife of their foraging resources and force them to either starve to death or "steal." When they "trespass" on "our" areas, we treat them like criminals -- abuse and kill them. If we (i.e. our society) hope to starve them out and die, why don't we just shoot them and reduce their suffering...??

How hard would it be-- to plant foraging foods for them in the areas that we want them to be...? encourage them away from "our" areas... provide water sources... shelter areas... proteins -- Chestnuts and hazelnuts are a good source of food for deer and other forest animals --
I'm starting to believe that animals are the higher intelligence creatures.

---

Bill Mollison, the creater of the permaculture philosophy, carried seeds in his pocket and planted them anywhere and everywhere. The seeds were not "decorative" plants -- but food plants. He believed in replanting the earth to the point where we could all live and thrive off of the land... free.

 

[GrinningPanther]

Mr.LooReed: 'Glad that Momma Bear went peacefully...

Starlight, I think you make some very good points. And I wouldn't be surprised if in future generations building permits in "wild" areas would require making alternative arrangements for food and shelter for the wildlife.

A somewhat related point: I've always been astonished at how the vast, vast majority of our lawns and properties are planted not with food plants, but with grass and other plants that, while sometimes pretty, are sort of "wasting" the land and resources and people's labors. I spent hours a week mowing acres of grass--and for all my efforts got no crop, nothing anyone could eat.

"Edible landscaping" is, to me, a wonderful concept...but as of yet only a small movement. If I ever own land again, I'll be planning the landscape for both beauty and food.

 

[SoulRaven]

I am getting the impression that the above responses are from a bunch a city guys that actually have no clue what life is like living in remote areas.


We have laws when it comes to bear baiting etc. Most likely you have not had a vehicle collision with a bear, deer, or wild turkey for I have all three in my trophy collection.

Hunting and its economic impact is a huge part of the economy. Wildlife is just another commodity just like hogs or cattle.

It’s best you drive thru the state w/o stopping, the last thing you would want to do is get lost in a Deliverance portage area and me up with a local much like myself.

 

[Starlight]

Note:
When driving through wild areas -- especially at night -- expect an animal encounter -- and SLOW DOWN.

I don't know where the hunting argument happened here -- all I meant to say was that -- we should practice respect for wild animals and their right to exist. If we deprive them of their foraging areas, we should replace them elsewhere... not leave them to starve. Animals actually practice more respect than humans, IMHO.

---

@Mr Loo Read

I've lived in many places.
I'll give you credit where credit is due -- how's that?

 

[SoulRaven]

Second encounter just 5 mins ago 8:05pm


Hear noise outside looked up see black shadow thru front door translucent window..

Big mama bear on front porch right outside, I yell she gets off porch I look at door and see two cubs too yell again they walk off.

 

[Donedirtcheap]

Second encounter just 5 mins ago 8:05pm


Hear noise outside looked up see black shadow thru front door translucent window..

Big mama bear on front porch right outside, I yell she gets off porch I look at door and see two cubs too yell again they walk off.

You chased away a nice rug. It dont get any better than them coming to you.

 

[SoulRaven]

That rug would cost me over $10k if caught poaching.

http://m.citizensvoice.com/news/game-commission-probes-illegal-black-bear-killing-1.1682793