No Summer in Maine this year! (furnace, visit, thunderstorm)

[tankratt]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

We've lived here for 12 years. The first summer we were here we watched bears eating blueberries 50' from the house on many nights. Other than a pile of poop once in a great while we don't usually know there are bears here. This year we're having a serious problem. He's been here four times in six days, I've seen him twice. I know it's the end of mating season and they're moving more than usual but this seems unusual. Does a cold wet summer cause them to be bigger pests than normal?

There maybe less campers this year, in turn less garbage to rummage through, food sources rotting from to much rain, colder than normal temps causing them to prepare for winter sooner because they think it is later in the season. Just a few thoughts off the top of my head, most of all be careful MW, be aware of the bear

[reloop]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

We've lived here for 12 years. The first summer we were here we watched bears eating blueberries 50' from the house on many nights. Other than a pile of poop once in a great while we don't usually know there are bears here. This year we're having a serious problem. He's been here four times in six days, I've seen him twice. I know it's the end of mating season and they're moving more than usual but this seems unusual. Does a cold wet summer cause them to be bigger pests than normal?

Yep. Until the berries really start ripening, they're going to be on the lookout for food. They'll raid anything they can get their paws on - bird feeders, garbage, grill grease etc...You'll have to put everything in "lockdown"

Plus, like tankratt said, they may be eating more due to the cooler weather.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by reloop

Yep. Until the berries really start ripening, they're going to be on the lookout for food. They'll raid anything they can get their paws on - bird feeders, garbage, grill grease etc...You'll have to put everything in "lockdown"

Plus, like tankratt said, they may be eating more due to the cooler weather.

Blast him! They stop coming around when you do that!

[reloop]

Originally Posted by maineah

blast him! They stop coming around when you do that!

Heh, heh...

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Blast him! They stop coming around when you do that!

I hear that works on mosquitoes too. I can if I have too. Two wardens have tried to be helpful but there are so many nuisance bears and so few traps right now there's not much they can do. "It's not a big deal but keep the gun handy." Ever tried to pick peas with a rifle in one hand? I'm a little freaked out to look up from the garden at 9 am and see him watching me.

It's dry today! It doesn't look like it rained while I was in Calais.

[7th generation]

A bear broke into the neighbor's mud room last week to get his garbage.

Monday, the "bar" broke into a coop and killed 6 chickens. He is suspected of another serial killing the previous week on the back side of Bartlett Mtn.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by 7th generation

A bear broke into the neighbor's mud room last week to get his garbage.

Monday, the "bar" broke into a coop and killed 6 chickens. He is suspected of another serial killing the previous week on the back side of Bartlett Mtn.

Oh Oh you know what they say about once they get the taste of blood! No chicken is safe in Rumford now!

[Maineah]

Well it's back to being drizzly and gray here. Only 60 degrees out. Yesterday was the first day since all of the rain I could actually mow most of my lawn without driving through standing water. It was real nice and FELT like summer. I got the cupola on the barn painted (before I dropped my 36 foot ladder and bent it into a pretzel!) Still have the front of the barn to do. (after I buy a new ladder!) At least the wood is stacked and under cover. The mason says he's coming to rebuild the chimney top next week if the weather cooperates! Yay!... it's only been three years since we got an estimate from the first mason! I'll believe it when it's done! We could still do with a nice long spell of dry weather though at this point we may not get it! Maybe we'll have a dry fall?

[reloop]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Well it's back to being drizzly and gray here. Only 60 degrees out. Yesterday was the first day since all of the rain I could actually mow most of my lawn without driving through standing water. It was real nice and FELT like summer. I got the cupola on the barn painted (before I dropped my 36 foot ladder and bent it into a pretzel!) Still have the front of the barn to do. (after I buy a new ladder!) At least the wood is stacked and under cover. The mason says he's coming to rebuild the chimney top next week if the weather cooperates! Yay!... it's only been three years since we got an estimate from the first mason! I'll believe it when it's done! We could still do with a nice long spell of dry weather though at this point we may not get it! Maybe we'll have a dry fall?

Gawd I hope we'll have a dry fall. I also hope we'll have a long warm one.

[krisk590]

How many of you fired up the woodstoves last week? Tomorrow after work I'm going to pick up the last two round bales for the horses. After that geuss I'll be punting,it's getting really scarey.