Almost got eaten by a Black Bear (home, dangerous)

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by ICS67

Future legions of CD posters whose first post will start, "I was recently ticketed for driving 87 MPH in a 65 MPH zone on I-81..." are (or will be) thankful you got out of this situation intact.

Good to know you're OK.

Funny you mention this. We have a member here who received one of these dreaded tickets and asked me for a referral for an attorney. I would never mention who this person is but a few of us might not be surprised he/she finally received one.

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Funny you mention this.

The priceless look on that sorry kids face when you said "Look in the Yellow Pages".

[dkf747]

I was going to say that the first bear probably recognized you as a distant cousin (a Smokey) and left you alone.

Good that nothing bad happened.

[ACWhite]

I'd be sure to carry a pic-a-nic basket as a peace offering at all times.

Stay safe out there!

[TheArcadian]

My uncle used to live on Bear Paw rd in Maurertown. That's not too far away from where I66 and I81 intersect in the Shenendoah. They had black bears stroll through occasionally. It sounds a lot more dangerous than it really was - the number of annual bear attacks on humans in the state is zero or close to it.

Bottom line is black bears aren't grizzlies and don't really want a fight. But if you put the bear in a position where it thinks it can scare you away at no risk to itself, it may give it a try, especially if food or cubs are involved. That's why they recommend stuff like waving your arms and shouting at the bear to make sure it doesn't see you as weak. And when you do make an exit, do it away from food and cubs and in a way that makes it look like you have apex predator stuff that you need to get back to rather than you're running for your life.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by VRE332

The priceless look on that sorry kids face when you said "Look in the Yellow Pages".

I should have mentioned he is a long time respected member on here and I had no issues with helping him.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by TheArcadian

My uncle used to live on Bear Paw rd in Maurertown. That's not too far away from where I66 and I81 intersect in the Shenendoah. They had black bears stroll through occasionally. It sounds a lot more dangerous than it really was - the number of annual bear attacks on humans in the state is zero or close to it.

Bottom line is black bears aren't grizzlies and don't really want a fight. But if you put the bear in a position where it thinks it can scare you away at no risk to itself, it may give it a try, especially if food or cubs are involved. That's why they recommend stuff like waving your arms and shouting at the bear to make sure it doesn't see you as weak. And when you do make an exit, do it away from food and cubs and in a way that makes it look like you have apex predator stuff that you need to get back to rather than you're running for your life.

I drive through Maurertown everyday. You're right about the Black bears but there are documented cases of attacks but fortunately not many. The biggest problem is the number of cubs where we are meaning there are some pretty protective moms around as well.

[Carlingtonian]

I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail almost 20 years ago, and I think I saw bears in the wild three times; I think one was in Maine and two were in New Jersey (which is teeming with 'em). Black bears (unlike grizzlies, which we don't have outside of Alaska) always run from you--unless they have cubs or they've become used to people, as they have in Gatlinburg, TN, and a few other places. Normally you'd hear a rustling and then see a flash of black for two seconds.

A black bear that doesn't run from you is a scary thing--because unlike Grizzlies, they can climb trees. If the bear isn't afraid of you and thinks you have food, that's a bad scene.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail almost 20 years ago, and I think I saw bears in the wild three times; I think one was in Maine and two were in New Jersey (which is teeming with 'em). Black bears (unlike grizzlies, which we don't have outside of Alaska) always run from you--unless they have cubs or they've become used to people, as they have in Gatlinburg, TN, and a few other places. Normally you'd hear a rustling and then see a flash of black for two seconds.

A black bear that doesn't run from you is a scary thing--because unlike Grizzlies, they can climb trees. If the bear isn't afraid of you and thinks you have food, that's a bad scene.

And herein lies the problem we're seeing at work right now. This is by far the worse since I've been associated with this facility in 2010. There is talk now about getting the state to trap some and move them. I arrive at 0400 every am for work and I take to blowing the horn when I park to make sure none of these Yogi's are hiding in one of the many hiding places close by. Of course the huge skunk foraging in the grass right next to where I park the other day was of no help either. He wouldn't even move when I yelled at him. So of course I parked elsewhere.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

And herein lies the problem we're seeing at work right now. This is by far the worse since I've been associated with this facility in 2010. There is talk now about getting the state to trap some and move them. I arrive at 0400 every am for work and I take to blowing the horn when I park to make sure none of these Yogi's are hiding in one of the many hiding places close by.

It sounds like the bears out there view vehicles as food sources. If all your colleagues agreed not to keep or eat any food in their vehicles, the bears might stop coming 'round. Not sure if you'd get 100% compliance, though. So yeah, I think traps may end up having to be the answer.

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Of course the huge skunk foraging in the grass right next to where I park the other day was of no help either. He wouldn't even move when I yelled at him. So of course I parked elsewhere.

I'm beginning to question your motivational power over the animal kingdom. You might need to get a skunk trainer out there--or as they prefer to be called, P-U unit trainers.