While the dogs were hungrily devouring their breakfasts this morning, I walked around opening the curtains at the front of the house. When I opened the curtain in the office there was something not quite right about my view. There was something big and black near the bird feeding station and it wasn’t a crow. A bear! Finally! I haven’t seen a bear around since last September.

No pics because I didn’t have time. It didn’t find any fresh bird seed so it did not stick around. It started off for my neighbor’s across the road, so I headed for the phone instead of my camera to warn her in case her dogs were outside. The bear was walking at a pretty good clip and was soon out of my range of vision. The amount of ground he/she could cover in just a few minutes by just walking was amazing.

It was a fairly big bear but I can’t be certain it was the same bear that was hanging around in my trees eating acorns last year. It might have been, but I think that bear was just a bit bigger than this one. Neither bear had any ear tags so for sure it was not Ursa, Doris or either of the two cubs, Major and Minor, from the first year.

My neighbor Luke, who lives at the other end of our street, told me he saw a mother with two tiny cubs down by the pond the other day. I was so hoping that they would come up here. It’s so much fun to watch the interaction between mom and cubs. Since moving here I have a whole new respect and admiration for bears instead of just fearing them. I love having them around! I have hopes that this could be a good bear year.

Do you think it’s a grown-up cub from last year? Or the father of the two cubs I saw the other day?

How exciting.  If you were outside and met a bear would it attack you?  When we were travelling on the Canadian Rocky Train we saw a black bear sat by the side of the track - it was the highlight of the trip for me.

Joyce, no the bear would not attack. I have been in my yard not 40 feet from watching a bear eating plants in my woods and it totally ignored me. Our black bears are not attack bears. My husband met one on a trail and the bear was the first to deviate from the trail. They are smart beings. They don’t want conflict and as long as you respect them and keep your distance all will be well. Saying that I would not want to provoke one. That would not be smart!

It’s about time for the bears to come out of hibernation! Excellent. Can’t wait to see this year’s pics.

That is so cool.  We had a bull elk in our side yard one spring.  Just hanging out.  We are on the west side of town, next to the foot hills, but sometimes bears are seen ‘in town’!

Thanks for reading about Mom, and the comments.  It’s been quite a cathartis to write it out.  I am the one with the big round glasses…and will be 53 next month.  Don’t you love the print coordination of the garments in the photograph??

yay the bears are back!  can’t wait for your photos