I just KNEW it was going to happen...

[Livingston]

eventually. We have the usual furry neighborhood pets - stray cats, stray dogs, rabbits, squirrels, racoons, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and bears. Not that big of a deal here on the Front Range.

So, I sit down every evening to keep up on XMarks, read a few things on the web. Then go out and get the 4 bird feeders off the deck. We've had the occasional racoon get to them so have cages etc and bring them in at night.

Well, last night I just HAD to read that last article. Turned off the lights and headed to the door. THUMP Glanced out but couldn't see anything so I turned on the deck light. Sure enough, there was the 3 year old cinnamon colored black bear going after the feeders. As any of you know that get around bears, no matter how much noice, no matter how many lights, no matter how much we tried, we couldn't get him to leave. Well, not until he had destroyed one feeder, spun the bottom off the hummingbird feeder and cleaned up the nector, and finally yanked down and emptied a third feeder. Not sure why he left the thistle alone. My wife kept wanting to grab the broom and poke him with it. Aaaa...no dear, I don't want to have to go get the claymore to get him off of you.

At least it was entertaining watching him try to get the feeder down that he ended up destroying. It had a squirrel cage on it. After trying to yank it down, knock it down or just pull down the branch it was on, he finally pull the bottom off. Then after fighting it some more he pulled the rest of the cage off. He never did get it off the branch but I still need a new one.

Oh well, lesson learned (pick the one you like best). 1. Bring the feeders in BEFORE it is full dark. or 2. Carry the claymore with you when you go out to bring the feeders in.

[turpin]

And all that time you forgot to get your camera? For Shame!!!

[mudd]

And all that time you forgot to get your camera? For Shame!!!

Yeah, man! No photographic evidence and it's just your word against his.

[Celtic Menace]

I can keep squirrels off the birdfeeders, no prob. Just spray a little cooking oil on the poles and watch the confusion. Bears? That would take a lot more oil, and maybe a moat.

[Livingston]

Loads of pictures that are all the same......flash bouncing off the window right back into the lens. Tried turning the flash off but just not enough light to get a good pic. Sorry.

I'm figuring on sinking a 21 ft piece of 2 inch schedule 40 pipe about 4-6 ft in the ground and putting a cross bar on it for the feeders. That ought to hold them back.

[ScottEPooh]

Make the poles metal, and run a current through them with a switch located indoors. That way, when you see that bear, tazer him!!!! Not enough to fry him, but enough for him to remember feeders=pain.

[Weasel Mender]

1 Bears are NOT cuddly ,they all have long claws and teeth and will use them!
2. Any bear that bear that worries you should become carpet AT ONCE!!!!!!!
You can tell Fish and Game "The bear is dead and I am alive because that's the way I wanted it. Last time I checked they were not going to kill and eat me in jail' It worked for a friend in north CA after a griz tried to break into his house with mayhem on its mind .

[Riverkilt]

Hmmm....Claymore vs. bear....wonder if that's ever been done and who won? Best that the Claymore was kept VERY VERY sharp...

Ron

[PiobBear]

Take care; now he that he knows there's food to be had, he'll put your house on his regular route.

[mbhandy]

Take care; now he that he knows there's food to be had, he'll put your house on his regular route.

Ain't that the Truth.

We just had a little boy killed in a camp ground. It was not very well reported.


http://www.ksl.com/?sid=1379567&nid=238

Not a mention of food in the tent or any thing?

MrBill