First Bear Sighting (neighborhood, live, yard)

[akck]

For the past couple of weeks, our dogs and I have heard a bear in the green belt and creek that runs behind the house. Yesterday, we finally got a glimpse of him as he crossed the street in front. The dogs saw him first and we saw him as we tried to quiet them down. He was fairly large, so I don't think he's the same black bear that liked our bird feeder from last year. It's just nice to place a face on who's been making all the noise and stirring up the dogs.

[Barkingowl]

Did you give him a name?

[akck]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Did you give him a name?

Nope, we have to see him more before we name him. About 3 years ago, there are a bear who would come through the neighborhood like clockwork. The first time we knew about him was from the big footprints he left because of the high iron content creek mud. He had a name, but I don't remember what it was. I think they ended up either re-locating him or destroying him. The bear last year was the bird feeder bear because he helped himself to the bird feed which we no longer put out.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Wow, I can understand why you quit putting out the bird feeder, don't know that I would like for a big bear,(or a small one for that matter) to get but so comfortable in my back yard, I could easily forsee this escalating in all sorts of bad directions.

[akck]

Make that two bears. Friday evening, they knocked over our neighbor's bird feeder who lives across the street and it was on a 6' pole. One was a smaller black bear and the other was a bigger cinnamon colored black bear. The smaller one might have been our bear from last year. Looks like the birds are going to have to fend for themselves this summer and hopefully they won't show up on garbage pick up day until the afternoon.

[Wrennie]

I thought it was illegal to leave bird feed in the feeders during the summer.... It's a F&G violation---or is that just for not securing your trash?
I had thought it was statewide. (maybe I'm wrong)?

[HighlandLady]

Originally Posted by Wrennie

I thought it was illegal to leave bird feed in the feeders during the summer.... It's a F&G violation---or is that just for not securing your trash?
I had thought it was statewide. (maybe I'm wrong)?

Ehm....if someone could answer this one quickly, I'd appreciate it as well. I have two feeders in place.

[Barkingowl]

Just tell the F&G people that they're bear feeders & you'll be just fine.

[HighlandLady]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Just tell the F&G people that they're bear feeders & you'll be just fine.

The only problem is that one of the feeders hangs overhead on the back balcony. The other feeder was in place before we moved in - a plant pot full of seed next to the back door

[akck]

From everything I could find, they just recommend you take in your bird feeders from April to November. We've had them for years and last year was the first year we had a problem. We haven't put it up since last year.