BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 09:45 AM

My grandmother was a worrier. She worried that I'd get bitten by a snake at church camp (I live on 25 acres of land, including woods and wetland. And what snake is so stupid to show as much as a scale with a couple thousand kids thundering through the neighborhood?) When I was 17, I went camping across Canada with my grandparents. In Banff National Park (Alberta), the camp was abuzz one morning with the news that there was a bear in the camp. My grandfather and I took our cameras and went for a walk on the road through the campground on the off chance that we'd see it. (Long shots only, thanks.) We never saw a thing, of course, but when we got back to camp, it seems the bear was there while we were gone. My grandmother was taking care of a few details and turned around just in time to see a young bear starting to climb into the car. Her first thought was that she didn't want "some dirty old bear smelling up the car" (it was August), so she chased it out of the car with her apron. The bear was so young that it climbed a tree, and that's where I photographed the bear.

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: LR Mole
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 09:38 AM

Ah, Buck. Bless his sainted soul.

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: Stewie
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 09:32 AM

Here's a classic from His Lordship:

God's Own Drunk

Enjoy.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 08:49 AM

Haliburton is so populated with bears this year that they are roaming around in town. Folks have been warned to not keep dog or cat food dishes on the porch and to take away the bird feeders.

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: MMario
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 08:31 AM

A couple years ago our horses were making a fuss - making a lot of noise , but taking the stance we have come to learn is "on guard" - something they usually do when there is a strange car in the drive. But we hadn't heard anyone drive up. We walked out the door to find a bear in our garden - calmly fisting up pawfuls of birdseed and eating it. He stayed about an hour - during which time the horses remained "on point" and the cats calmly strolled around pretending to ignore him, but jumping about a foot anytime he moved.

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 08:24 AM

Bear or Bare?

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 08:09 AM

So, tell us about it!

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: harpgirl
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 08:04 AM

...my last bear encounter was quite a lot of fun...

Subject: RE: BS: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 08:01 AM

This one is in my book, STORIES TOLD IN THE KITCHEN.

My great Uncle Curt said he was picking raspberries up on the mountain near his home, and suddenly, a big black bear rose up in front of him and let out a tremendous roar. Curt says, "Well, I took off running, and, I ran as fast as I could, but, that bear was right on my heels. We ran for miles, I couldn't gain any distance between us, and the bear couldn't gain on me. You know, the only way I got clear of that bear, was, I ran across the pond where the ice had frozen just thick enough to support my weight, but, the bear, being much heavier, fell through the ice, and I got away!" I said, "Now wait a minute, you were picking raspberries, that had to be in mid-summer, then, you ran across the ice? how can that be? I'm not as stupid as I look!" He says "You're right, you're not as stupid as you look, I just didn't tell you that this bear chased me from August to Christmas!"

Subject: Bear Encounters - Got Any Good Stories?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 07:32 AM

Recently I went camping near Algonquin Park. They said to be careful about our garbage because there were lots of bears around this year. The usual spring hunt was cancelled. As we were leaving the camping grounds I went to dump off our garbage into the bear proof dumpster. Right beside the dumpster was a big black bear just a couple of yards away from me.  I was looking down and did not see him. My friend yells out 'Bonnie bear!!!!'  I looked up and there he was right in front of me. Guess he was hoping I would walk right up to him and hand him my garbage.
Oy!
He was timid though, so I did not toss him the bag.  I backed up instead.  If he was really unhappy with my decision I would have tossed the garbage to him with pleasure but I had time and space to back up and dive into the car.  Boy my heart was racing.

Have any of you guys had bear encounters or some good bear stories you know of?

Bonnie