Yep we do.. or we did anyway, haven't seen them back since the first day.. which makes me happy. We have sort of been on a 'lockdown' for the past few days.. a little scared to go out to play... we go from the house to the car, and back.. and that is about it!
The other day.. Monday, I looked out our window and saw that something had got in our dumpster.. we have one of those big square-ish ones that gets dumped once a month (oh yes, the joys of living in the country)... anyhoo, there was garbage on the ground beside it. My first thought was cats.. or maybe even a raccoon... although, I am not too sure we have those around here or not.. even though I know we are smack dab in the middle of bear country... it never entered my mind!
So, I yelled downstairs to James that something had gotten in the garbage.. went to go out to clean it up... opened the door, went out on the deck and was on my way down the stairs to the garbage.. when a black bear walks out from behind the garage! OMG. I about peed in my pants I tell you! Needless to say, I got my butt back up those stairs and into the house.. where I proceeded to scream "there is a bear in the yard, there is a bear in the yard!" She was big too.. not big around.. tall and skinny.. but shockingly tall. I have seen bears up here, mostly when I go out with James while he is working.. they are always in the distance and look quite small. ha ha! Shocking when you are face to face with it and it is only 30 feet away.
This is mama bear's foot print. Yes, I said mama bear.. which means there was also a baby bear. We were on the phone with the Fish and Wildlife people (sitting on the deck.. kids inside don't worry) when baby bear wandered into a little clearing right beside our garden shed. Baby bear was much much smaller! hee heee!
A few hours later, James yelled to me to grab my camera (I was too slow though, and didn't see).. but mama bear had come back into the yard... walked along the tree line in the back.. right by the little kiddie pool, and right on through the kids play area/sandbox. Um hello.. I am soooo totally staying inside and keeping my kiddies safe! That is a little too close for comfort.
The dogs have been freaking.. the oldest of the 2 (Newt) is finally going outside without being talked into it... and they only stay out long enough to do their business. The first day after.. they had their noses in the air... smelling the entire time. They are acting normal now though, so I am thinking the bears are no longer wandering close by.
Yes I am a paranoid person normally.. and this just multiplied it by 1000! ahhh! The good news I suppose though.. we have been here 3 years and this is our first 'backyard' encounter. Not bad for being in the middle of bear country! Yes, I am grasping at straws here. heee! There has got to be a positive spin right? How about a harmless wake up call.. there ya go. I have read enough about black bears in the past few days that I could probably get 100% on a pop quiz. ha! Kidding.. but I definitely know more about what to do and how to be safe than I did 4 days ago! ;)
OMG i would have peed in my pants.
And a positive spin? It will make a cool page! ;) xo
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | July 19, 2009 at 09:52 PM
We retreated into our camper at the lake this week when a bear walked through our campsite, and around the camper. Of course we were in Northern Saskatchewan and in their back yard so it was to be expected. Hubby and I were a lot more nervous than our little ones!
Posted by: Jerri-Lea | July 18, 2009 at 09:39 PM
I would so be freaking out too!! Yikes!!
Posted by: Jen Gallacher | July 18, 2009 at 03:21 PM
I would be sooo freaked out!! The only animals we have wandering around our property are bunnies, birdies, coons, and maybe a skunk, but I'd rather not think about that... :)
Posted by: Mandi Johnson | July 17, 2009 at 08:23 AM
Wow! I can't even imagine walking outside to be greeted by a bear ~ yikes!!
I hope that that they did move on & don't plan on visiting your family anymore so you can enjoy the outdoors, not just through a window :)
Posted by: Lorelle | July 17, 2009 at 07:47 AM
That is crazy!!! I am scared for you...
Posted by: veronica | July 16, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Omgosh Jen!! That's CA-RAZY!!! Kinda cool... but Crazy! ;) hopefully you don't have to deal with one for another 3 year! .. but if you do.. I'd love it if you could get a pic of it! Hee! ;)
Posted by: amanda | July 16, 2009 at 10:53 PM
We have bears all the time in our yard. Unfortunately we are on its daily food run. There are lots of fruit trees to get a snack. They also enjoy eating the food out of the garden and the seed out of the bird feeder. They have been right up on our deck looking in the window!
Posted by: Tracy | July 16, 2009 at 08:18 PM
Thankfully we just have dear (and porcupines, racoons, etc.) And be thankful for your dumpster!! ;) We have to haul our garbage ourselves! LOL
Posted by: marcy | July 16, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Gosh, and I thought seeing a rabbit hopping around the neighborhood was a big deal for me. BEARS? Wow!
Posted by: Jill Sprott | July 16, 2009 at 04:19 PM