For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Hello everyone and welcome to our new series! Most of what I write about in this series will be stories from my past and will feature many different true tales. Some will be short, others a bit longer, but I hope you will enjoy them all. And sometimes some more recent stories will be added in, like today. So off we go with our first post…
The night before last I had forgotten to bring in my two bird feeders for the night. That’s a must or the raccoons get at them and break them trying to get at the seeds. It was nearly 9pm and dark. I turn on the light and look around before going out. All clear. Out I go. I’m just unhooking the first feeder when I hear a strange sound. But a familiar sound. A sound that said “Steve, you don’t want to be out here”. I looked around. That strange feeling of being watched hit me. But I still needed that other feeder. I just got it unhooked when a crashing in the raspberry patch below me revealed something large…a bear! Fortunately he was going away from the steps and I came back inside, um, rather quickly. Note to Steve, “bring in feeders while it’s still daylight”. At least it wasn’t that huge bear that was around here last year. I would say this one was about 400 pounds. Still too big. This is the worst time of year for bears coming into town. They want food. And lots of it. It will soon be time for them to enter hibernation and they want to be as fat as possible. Normally they won’t attack people. But if there is a cub nearby, that can change things. If they are hurt, that can change things. Suddenly scaring them can change things. Two people this year were killed by bears. Not a lot perhaps, but I wouldn’t want to be one of them.
This reminded me of a time out at the cottage. There was a lot of bears out there and I was often out there alone. I was staying in a small “guest cottage”, at least it would be once the main cottage was built. It was a nice cozy little place. But one thing I did every morning before going outside was to look out each window, there was one on each wall, to make sure there was no bear hanging around for me to meet. This one morning I did that and all was clear. Out I went onto the steps and closed the doors behind me. I guess that sound got the attention of a bear behind my car. He came around the car and spotted me. I saw him too and immediately began to slowly open the first door. The bear came running at me! So I moved faster and just got inside and closed the inside door and the bear was at the door standing up against it. I’m glad it was a very solid wood door with only 3 small windows. He stayed there for a bit then got down and wandered off into the trees. I will admit, that was a bit too close for me. Not sure why he ran at me though.
There was other bear experiences out there too which I will write about another time. Well, I hope you enjoyed this first post in our new series. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
No thank you. Most I need to be concerned about is a snake and they haven’t been around much lately.
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I actually enjoy seeing bears, but at a much safer distance!
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A neighborhood cat comes at sunset Fer a tummy pack of chicken or meat. It will come if no other than or animal creation is in view. I saw him and waiting with a meal prepared, something else was more important than the tummy. Tigger was on the run.
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Nice that he has a friend giving him good meals!
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Bears- yikes!
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They are a beautiful animal, when viewed at a safe distance however.😳🐻
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I’ll take your word for it
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😁🏃♂️😳🐻
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Wow!!! I have no other words left!
It isn’t true: I love this series!
NOW I have no other words left! 😄😸🐻😱🙀
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Bears are amazing animals, though best observed from a safer distance!
Thanks so much, glad you like it!😁😸🐻😳
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I absolutely agree!😄😸
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Steve, at least the raccoons didn’t get into the bird feeders. Guess you never know what is lurking in your yard. I have always heard it is great to make lots of noise, use bells or sing to let the bears you are there and to send them on their way. Guess Fall is different. You have a guardian angel watching out for you! Blessings!!!
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With the raspberry patch so big now it is hard to see what is around. Usually noise works, but the bears coming into town are so used to noise it doesn’t bother them. Yes, I believe there is a guardian angel watching me. Have a nice evening.
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Living surrounded by nature is wonderful but has its risky things too…very very close encounters with bears Steve! Better be very careful and remember those feeders while is light outside 😉 🐻
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Yes, I will remember those feeders while it is still light from now on! Bears are magnificent animals, but definitely it is best to view them from a safe distance!😁😸🐻😳
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How scary is that ! Running into bears close by is a startling event ! Be VERY careful, Steve ! ☕️😮🙀☕️‼️
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I am careful, really, still happens anyway. I just need to remember to go outside only when it’s night, I mean, light.😳🐻🙀
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True tales stories. Exciting 🙂
Aw the bear looks cute… on distance haha 😄
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Well, he’s just a little guy, but I still wouldn’t trust him! Now that one at night was twice that size.😳🐻
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🐻🙀That’s a little too close for comfort to me! You are brave to live in bear country! I love seeing them on wildlife shows, but don’t know if I would want to see one that up
close and personal! Glad you were ok!
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Yes, I prefer to be at a safer distance when observing them. But I have seen a lot up close, too close! Just have to learn to be careful…and carry bear spray.😳🐻
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🙀🙀….bear spray? 🤔
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Bear spray is like pepper spray only much stronger. It will immobilize a bear for about 20 to 30 minutes. Not legal in the US apparently though that’s where it’s made. Just within legal limits here in Canada. Not legal to use on people however, it can cause serious damage.😳🐻
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It’s nice to know if you need it for protection in emergencies there in Canada that it’s available. Stay safe, and be careful! 😁
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Yep, there are some regulations to go through to obtain it but it’s nice to have since we have so many bears around here. Might get a bit of snow tonight, nothing serious though. A high of only 39 tomorrow.🥶🐻
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Take pics! I love snow, but more so when it’s not here but there! 😂
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Oh my, I hope there’s no snow to take pics!😳🙄
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No bears and no snakes! Thank you very much and have a wonderful day. Give Muffin a hug! 😻☕️☕️❌ ❌🐍🐻
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Yep, not too many people like those 2 critters. Bears are magnificent animals though, but best observed from a safe distance. Now if only I would remember that!😳🐻 Muffin hugged and she gave a purr of thanks!😻
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Thank you for sharing the first of my new series, I hope people will really like this one! Have a wonderful day!😀😺🌞☕☕
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close call!
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Yep, I’ve had a few like that!
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too close for me… 🙂
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Me too actually!
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How are you and pretty Muffin doing? Did she like the black bear?
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Hi Sara! Muffin is fine, I’m still slowly recovering. Muffin is terrified of bears and won’t go near the window.🙀🐻 It’s the same with wolves too.🙀🐺 Other things don’t bother her. How have you been? Hope all is going well!😀😺🌞
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