first bear of 2021

[mrbb]

for those of you that know me and bears and have enjoyed my post on them

well last night I had my first bear here this yr, a young male, that I helped raise(1 of 3 cubs I had that yr)

this one was an orphaned cub from back in May of 2019 ( the other two I got in Nov of 2019, when there mother got hit by a vehicle a a couple miles from me, and I went and got the two cubs!
and she(there mother) was a bear I actually raised back in like 2012 or so, she had 6 different cubs over the yrs)
any how,
he was last here in late Dec. and then gather he slept a little over the winter and coldest times!

but last two days here have been super warm(broke all time standing high record yesterday 74 degree's)
so guessing the heat wave and sunshine must have stirred him up and got him walking about!

some hoe he managed to get past 7 trail camera's I have on my property and ended up on my deck last night licking up sun flower seeds birds dropped!
then sat at my door for a few hours watching the back yard

its always good for me to see bears I helped raise, and pretty amazing to em, how they never forget me, and how things went when smaller

Over the decades I have helped a lot of bears, and still have some that are 15+ yrs old, that even ever in my area, will stop by for a visit, hang out and just relax here
then away they go, some time don't see them for months or even years
but when they are about, they all come by like they were never gone!!

so will see if he stops by tonight
way too early for bears to be out and about, as food isn;'t that plentiful, so odds are bird feeders in area will be getting some attention early this yr LOL
Local gun clubs corn field and other food plots will be getting hit harder now too!

 

[buddah2]

Man, that is hard to try to read...I only opened it because I misread it as "beer"

 

[mrbb]

Man, that is hard to try to read...I only opened it because I misread it as "beer" <img src="/vbulletin/images/smilies/wink.png" border="0" alt="" title="Wink" smilieid="4" class="inlineimg">

<br>
NOT sure why all that crap was added to thing, seems to happen here some times, , if I open to edit, and do NOTHING< it seems to resolve things?? sorry, no clue why, hope above is better now for others?<br><br><br>

 

[snomoman]

Man, that is hard to try to read...I only opened it because I misread it as "beer"

I was kind of thinking the same, I was wondering if I had to get myself one of those “private eye” mail order enigma kits to decode it...LOL
It is a good story though, once you get through the “firewall” for a better term

- - - Updated - - -

I was kind of thinking the same, I was wondering if I had to get myself one of those “private eye” mail order enigma kits to decode it...LOL
It is a good story though, once you get through the “firewall” for a better term

Wow a miracle has happened, I went back up to it and it’s been decoded back to normalcy

 

[gary_in_neenah]

Asking for a friend....how do you tell them apart assuming we're talking Black Bears?

 

[snomoman]

I always love reading these bear stories, it’s an interesting angle on this website, I think we can officially proclaim MRBB as the “bear whisperer” from now on...HAHA

 

[mrbb]

well after you spend enough time with them as I do, you   develop a higher attention to detail on them, and start notice differences in them, and then  some times you get  real lucky and they have features that stand out,(different colors, shapes and build,  injuries, scars and likes!<br> making them easier to ID<br> then bears like people,  they all have there own personalities   and attitudes they give off!<br><br> I know most would find this hard to believe or maybe even imagine<br> but there NOT all the same<br> think like a Black lab, or other such animal, many may look the same, or even a LOT alike, but they all don;t behave or interact the same ways, learn, or  likes!<br><br><br> some will eat some things others won't, which I always find funny, some just won't eat certain things and others cannot get enough of the same thing! even cubs of the same litter , its interesting or has been for me for 40 yrs or so now!<br><br> I an also ID some by how  they go about eating things, looking for things to eat!<br>  one thing most folks never understand or believe is how gentile bears are when there eating(not competing for same meal that is)<br> they eat in very small bites and slow, nothing a like a dog does! <br> Bears seem to want to enjoy every flavor they can in every bite!<br><br><br> another thing I have learned from decades with them, is they will also, have there own area's of my yard they prefer to be in!, be it sleeping, hanging out, or likes!!<br><br> I have to admit the bears I have  I helped raise, are the easiest to ID for me  when it comes to how they hang out here!<br><br> Then there are the  ones that have gotten ear tags(they be super easy  to ID with ID tags on ears, but they some times loose them, which then helps in other ways as you get scar's from tags being torn out and such!<br><br> But cubs I raised, due to  I had hands on with them for weeks or months at a time,  tend to be easy for me as well, as <br>  <br>They will still come up and greet my like a dog would,  when there passing thru here! <br>so that's helps me get a better view of them LOL<br>as they will come right to me ,  smell me over, and enjoy a pat on the head or something simple, or some times I think they just want em to see them to know there still about!<br><br><br>I do my best to not spend much time allowing them to be humanized or close to me or others, as it just doesn;'t do them any good to loose all fear of humans<br> but  raising cubs, there is not an option at times, so,<br> it just part of the deal!<br><br>SO, that's pretty much how I ID them,<br>I have mixed a few up at times, but most after I help them along, they move off to there own new home range, some times I learn of there passing , be it from hunters, or car hits or, sadly, being poached!<br><br>I try not to dig too deep into finding out where some end up, just rather not know, to be honest,<br>I am not against hunting of them legally,<br> heck, to be honest I feel its extremely important for them to be hunted, to keep them as they should be wild, and scared of us humans!<br><br> but after raising some , or knowing some for so long, (they can live to be 30 yrs old)  its hard swallow some times when you   loose them too! ,<br><br>like  many things in life, come with a  doubled edged sword of sorts!<br><br><br>

 

[old abe]

Really enjoy your posts mrbb! Please keep us up to date.

 

[ezra]

Real cool life lived .

 

[mrbb]

thanks, glad you enjoy the stories info then!<br><br> Little guy was back last night but didn't stay long, too windy (40-50+ mph winds), winds make them very nervous, so they tend to hide more in windy days!<br><br> got cold again last night too, back into low 20's and high of 40 today!<br> he might even go back sleep for a while  if it stays cold!<br><br> <br><br><br>

 

[wiviperman]

This is a good read. I have only seen a few Black Bears in the wild, but they sure are fun to see!

 

[mrbb]

Had my second bear this spring show up , one of my other orphans from 2 yrs ago
here he is hanging out, outside my door on my deck, hoping to see me!

 

[bearrassler]

I think he is smiling at you in pic #4

 

[mrbb]

haha they do smile at me, but sadly, I never knew he was at the door, my buzzer that normally lets me know something is at the door wasn't working, so I missed the poor guy, both times he came by that day!

so, he was a just looking and hoping I'd show up! at door
I'm sure he will be back again some time, and I got my alarm working again, so, next time, I'll get to say hi back to him or others!

 

[mrbb]

well my poor little guy was here last night , but again I missed him,as I was sleeping when eh showed up
he sat for about an hour hopping to see me, before moving off

I know he will be back again, they always do if there alive any how!

they never forget, they have impressive memories!

 

[WorkHardPlayHrd]

You need to teach them how to ring the door bell.

 

[mrbb]

well to be honest I don't have any door bells any more
due to they used to stand up and lean on them and ring it all the time, and drove me nuts
I also have to keep doors locked at all times as they also know how to turn a door knob and open them, as I said, bears are pretty smart critters
they learn by watching, even when you don;t think they are, they will watch and repeat things you do


and since yesterday was Easter, the little male orphan showed up and I got to say HI this time and even gave him a little Easter treat
he was rather happy with it too!
was his first Bunny I bet he ever had! Too! HAHA!

I don't recommend anyone feeding bears too by the way, but, there better off fending for themselves!

however since I raised this one more or less,and its not a normal situation with me and bears, I will break the rule on rare occasions after they are on there own!

sorry on upside down pic, not sure WHY and don't know how to fix< if anyone does and can, please feel free to do so!

 

[confusion_900]

Wow... very cool Life you're having , I had a buddy growing up that his Dad took in a orphan deer (his dad is a veterinarian) we could go in and feed him which was cool so I couldn't imagine a Beer , please keep us updated and Thanks !

 

[gary_in_neenah]

sorry on upside down pic, not sure WHY and don't know how to fix< if anyone does and can, please feel free to do so!

- - - Updated - - -

 

[mrbb]

thanks for fixing the pic upright!<br><br><br> and I have also raised some deer fawns as well as countless other  critters over the the yrs<br><br> Bears just have been something I have  been fascinated with I guess the most, 40 yrs or so been working with them and still find  then interesting and unique , they all have there different personalities its seen's,<br> and  the fact many live as long as they do, has allowed me to see so many differences  in them as time passes<br><br>deer and smaller critters here just don't seem to live so long, between hunting, vehicles and just nature, its a lot harder to track them over time for me here<br><br> I have had some make it a 7-8 yrs, but not many get past that<br> bears however I have had many for 15-16+ yrs<br> However I do have to admit that the recent hunting season changes for bears here has put a BIG dent in my regulars, used to loose maybe 2-3 a yr , and since the new seasons last 2 yrs, been loosing like <br>8-9 a yr now  to hunting , but its what it is, I am NOT against hunting them, its good for them in the long run<br><br> that is as long as the state manages right, I DO fear there going too far with dates now,  going from basically 7 days of hunting to 30+ now, is a BIG jump in time allowed on them IMO<br><br> But PA, like most states have lost hunter numbers and as such, game depts have lost INCOME from lic sales,<br> so there all they can to make the $$ back<br><br>sadly based on PA's  Game dept history, they been known to let things go too far before reacting to things, so for now,  only time will tell!<br><br>