Caught a possum on the porch camera a couple months ago. No bears, thank goodness.

2 hours ago, n4gix said:

I actually live IN a National Park, which in my case means being surrounded by literally millions of trees! In the snip below from Google Maps, I live in the little house just to the right of the BIG house. You can just see the gray roof partially obscured by tree limbs.

That looks like me. House cannot be seen from the air except slightly when the trees are bare in the winter.

6 hours ago, martin-w said:

 

Loved the baby that decided to climb on your roof.

If we humans will build houses on territory they inhabited first, then we can expect interactions. 

Perhaps the bear worked for the local refuge collectors? 😀

Most I see is a mini jumping spider on my coffee table, a few sparrows outside and plenty of seagulls squawking.  And yes, the seagulls are partial to a bit of bin bag exploration. Back in the UK Mr Fox was very interested in bin bag exploration.

Actually the cub just climbed one of the palm trees in the front of the house. 

Had this happen a few years ago!  Less than 1/2 mile from my house!  We get reports of coyotes (which I have seen) every once in a while, also!

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Mountain-lion-spotted-cornered-in-San-Francisco-12348041.php

6 hours ago, enright said:

Just to balance things out - I'd say its an uncommon experience. I've lived in five different regions of the US, and I've not only never had a bear problem or saw a bear personally, but I've also never met anyone that had a bear problem. 

I'm a bit jealous - your bear issue means you live in an area that is probably surrounded by natural wilderness - an increasingly rare thing. Having said that, if someone offered to put a few bears in my neighborhood, my answer would be an emphatic NO.:)

Historical black bear range:

Black bear range circa 1995 (it's almost certainly even smaller now)

For me, I'm in the frequent area. This area is also has a large military range that covers most of the area. 

 

6 hours ago, martin-w said:

 

Do you know that there have only been 27 fatal mountain lion attacks in the whole of North America in 100 years? Much less frequent that snake bites, lightning strikes and fatal bee stings apparently.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_cougar_attacks_in_North_America#:~:text=A total of 126 attacks,Children are particularly vulnerable.

I didn't know that it was so few, is reassuring. Thanks.

I do know that some of a few hikers whose large packs meant they were probably returning from a long hike whom I asked 'did you see any mountain lions' said yes.

Actually I asked because I'm afraid of lions and worried. I chuck pine cones at bears and they flee. But lions might just move back and stay behind and trail you for a spell. They do go away fairly soon. But they act more suspiciously than bears. One couple told me a lion had tracked them for days and ruined their hike. It never got real close however, just kept spooking them.

53 minutes ago, Wise87 said:

For me, I'm in the frequent area. This area is also has a large military range that covers most of the area. 

 

I live in the southern tier of New York just north of the Pennsylvania border, and bears are plentiful - especially in the forested hills south of the city of Elmira. They don’t come into the city very often (unlike deer which are VERY common). But last year, there was a black bear wandering around downtown Elmira. It got spooked and swam across the Chemung river and ended up in my residential neighborhood for a few hours. Finally made its way back to the hills 

13 minutes ago, Fielder said:

Actually I asked because I'm afraid of lions and worried. I chuck pine cones at bears and they flee. But lions might just move back and stay behind and trail you for a spell. They do go away fairly soon. But they act more suspiciously than bears. One couple told me a lion had tracked them for days and ruined their hike. It never got real close however, just kept spooking them.

Not sure why, maybe my history with fairly laid back bears....

But I think I would much rather bump into a bear than something like this.

 

Yeah that's familiar to me. Lions act suspiciously, unlike bears who only want to get closer to you if you are asleep or something. But  I'm talking black bears. There are no brown bear species in California outside a zoo or Hollywood movie set.

I only have done day hikes in places like Colorado or Wyoming, never over night, because of grizzlies.

12 hours ago, Fielder said:

I didn't know that it was so few, is reassuring. Thanks.

 

Always remember, cats are awesome. 😺

2 hours ago, martin-w said:

 

Always remember, cats are awesome. 😺

And given the opportunity, will turn you into their next meal.

2 hours ago, stans said:

And given the opportunity, will turn you into their next meal.

 

No way. 

And Bear's are Bear'ly an issue. 🙂

Bears who raid garbage cans in Ruidoso New Mexico are considered pets.  Wild pets for sure but they are tolerated and let pretty much alone.

Several years ago a man shot and killed one in Ruidoso.  The town was enraged.  They demanded he be jailed.  He was cited for shooting a bear out of season and heavily fined.

Their pets might be a nuisance for newcomers Riodosoans love their bears.

Noel 

 

Martin, that's simply unbearable.

Do they run around bearbutt naked?  No tie and a hat like Yogi?  That's bearly legal! 🐻