[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Fasder

Growing up in Hot Springs, we had a Black Bear come in town near my family home, but this was years ago.

My Father was deer hunting in Southern Arkansas this last season and had a bear come up to his stand (really it's more like a kids play house but that's another story).

Just as a aside, there are lots of other interesting animals in Arkansas, including Elk, Bobcats, Mountain Lions, Foxes, multiple types of hogs, Bald Eagles, and Coyotes. In addition, some say Red Wolf, still call the deep wilds in Arkansas home. But many studies have listed them extinct in Arkansas and Eastern Texas. Personally, I think I saw one back in early 70's, hunting same area as listed above with my father seeing the Bear. But being a young teenage in the deep woods with a larger hairy beast running around you ... is sure way to create campfire stories. Grins.

However, I did have the pleasure of spending deal of time with a group of older members of our family, that grew up in Ark, OK, Texas rural area's. Of which, the best stories were of my ex wive great great grandmother, who was close to 100 at time back in early 80's. She could remember homesteading with her family in area way back in 1800's as young child. She told tales of Bears, Wolves, Bob Cats, and Mountain Lions roaming around their homes growing up around Hot Springs. Of course, this was also back when a trip into town would take a couple days on horseback. Needless to say, it was like listening to verbal history book. Sadly, my wife and I were just young kids, with hardly a penny between us, so we didn't think or attempt to record anything. What I would give now to have chance to listen to her again ... /sigh.

They are all still here.

Not in Bella Vista, or Little Rock. or Ft. Smith...but when you get out in the boonies, they're all here.

In rural AR, we hear them every night, and view them occasionally.

It's just part of living in the country.

I've got a very large bobcat that likes to hunt behind my shop building. A lot of bunnies back there. See it running when trucks come to visit every now and then.

Might make a nice rug before long.

[adysmom]

How dangerous are these bears? Will they attack if we come up on one when at walking?

[DC at the Ridge]

I go hiking on some pretty isolated trails with my dog all the time, and while I've seen bear tracks I've never come across one. As someone else posted, the bears are generally black bears, not very aggressive, but if you do come across one, don't make eye contact, don't run, back away cautiously and try to look very, very big. If the bear does come after you, drop to the ground and play dead.

[arguy1973]

Figured Id ask someone smarter than me...
http://www.agfc.com/pdfs/nuisance/nuisance_bears.pdf

[adysmom]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

I go hiking on some pretty isolated trails with my dog all the time, and while I've seen bear tracks I've never come across one. As someone else posted, the bears are generally black bears, not very aggressive, but if you do come across one, don't make eye contact, don't run, back away cautiously and try to look very, very big. If the bear does come after you, drop to the ground and play dead.

I would do all these things other than play dead. If a bear came after me I would be shooting

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by adysmom

I would do all these things other than play dead. If a bear came after me I would be shooting

We used to be told to make a lot of noise if you encounter a bear and they'll just run off. The only time you probably need to even remotely worry is if it's a mom with a cub or two in tow.

On the side topic of mountain lions, a lot of naturalists will tell you you they are extinct in Arkansas. A lot of people who spend more time in the woods than most "naturalists" will tell you they're still here. I've met a LOT of people who have had supposed run ins with them but no one has any evidence. It's a minor controversy as to whether they still exist in Arkansas or not. I'm making no conclusions until I see one personally.

[Bull Winkus]

Haven't seen any mountain lion in Arkansas yet, but my brother and I did flush one out of the tall grass next to Lake Fork in East Texas. This was not the woods, either. This area was sparsely populated and mostly cleared. We had a large dog with us (half wolf half german shepard) that did the actual flushing. I think it surprised her as much as it did us as to just how big a cat it was. She didn't chase it.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

We used to be told to make a lot of noise if you encounter a bear and they'll just run off. The only time you probably need to even remotely worry is if it's a mom with a cub or two in tow.

On the side topic of mountain lions, a lot of naturalists will tell you you they are extinct in Arkansas. A lot of people who spend more time in the woods than most "naturalists" will tell you they're still here. I've met a LOT of people who have had supposed run ins with them but no one has any evidence. It's a minor controversy as to whether they still exist in Arkansas or not. I'm making no conclusions until I see one personally.

I have not seen one, but I *have*:

Seen the tracks

Heard the screams

Seen dead calves taken down by them, which is distinct from any other predator.

I have also seen, many times, a herd of deer in the feed pasture I face, all grazing peacefully, and then all snap thei heads up at once looking in the same direction, and start running.

Ya gotta realize that deer, when alrmed or spooked in a herd, will wait for the lead doe to give the "danger snort" before they all bolt, and there's a slight delay. To get them all to snap like that and run, there's some mighty big ju-ju in the air.

And...adysmom...I think you asked about the aggresiveness of black bears..not real. There have been attacks recorded, but they are very rare. A black bear will run, with one exception.

When they're out with their cubs in the spring...*all* mothers are vicious when they think their young are in danger.

[Bull Winkus]

Originally Posted by adysmom

I would do all these things other than play dead. If a bear came after me I would be shooting

Better not be totin' a 22 pistol then. That'll just make that ole bear mad!

[adysmom]

Originally Posted by Bull Winkus

Better not be totin' a 22 pistol then. That'll just make that ole bear mad!

22 No way! .40 Cal. S&W