Black Bears - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/29/2005 11:26:19 AM · #1

Not the best pics, as in the excitement of seeing this Sow and her cubs, I did not check my settings, nor did I have time to grab a tripod. I thought you might enjoy seeing them none-the-less. These were taken right in my backyard about 15 minutes ago.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

06/29/2005 11:37:27 AM · #2

Wow! You have a nice back yard! I went out early every morning in Yosemite hoping to see some to no avail. Just be careful and don't get too close when her cubs are around, the mamas can get very protective and aggressive.

06/29/2005 11:47:03 AM · #3

Yes, the mamas can get an atitude going. I only got 6 shots off when one of the cubs caught wind of me and alerted the others. I was trying to sneak in closer at the time. Once the cubs got back into the forest line, mama stopped and gave me a stern look - then actually gave me some lip too, telling me to BACK OFF. I took her advice and stepped back while trying to look big so she would not charge me.

Message edited by author 2005-06-29 11:48:00.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/29/2005 11:51:55 AM · #4

Very cool shots!

...but where's the Macro? a bear's nose or teeth would've done very well in the challenge. :P

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

06/29/2005 11:52:05 AM · #5

I still can't get over that's in your own backyard! I need to move!!! :-(

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/29/2005 11:55:07 AM · #6

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

I still can't get over that's in your own backyard! I need to move!!! :-(

I dunno... When those bears start getting hungry and heading for the house, Shutterpug may need to move. ;-)

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

06/29/2005 11:57:59 AM · #7

Wow, sweet back yard. We get the odd neighborhood cat, & lots of squirrels. Bears, wow! Thanks for posting, it's fun to see stuff like this!

vtruan

Nikon D5100

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

06/29/2005 12:00:42 PM · #8

Cool, reminds me of last years bbq at my brother-in-law cabin in the mountains, A bear came in and knocked over the grill trying to find the bbq, we had to chase it off three times. Great shots

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

06/29/2005 12:10:46 PM · #9

Just this past weekend we drove down state for 4 days - got home to find the bear had been in the back yard and broke a branch off our tree to get to the hanging bird feeder. Needless to say, most of the feeder is gone. Only a few broken pieces left.
What the bears are eating now is the corn and mineral cubes we put out for the deer.

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

06/29/2005 01:11:19 PM · #10

I am jealous! I frequently have bears in my yard - they come to the pond to drink and pass through to get to the river. Mama and two cubs this year. But I have never even been able to get a blurry shot of them.

Last week I had one literally three feet out my kitchen window. He ripped down the bird feeder. By the time I got the camera he was in the woods.

nova

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

06/29/2005 02:07:05 PM · #11

Great shots, Linda, and I too am jealous of your back yard :) Just as a matter of curious interest, I was surprised to find the following at a website devoted to black bears:

"Greatest misconception: The greatest misconception about black bears is that they are likely to attack people in defense of cubs. They are highly unlikely to do this. Black bear researchers often capture screaming cubs in the presence of bluff-charging mothers with no attacks. Defense of cubs is a grizzly bear trait. About 70 percent of human deaths from grizzly bears are from mothers defending cubs, but black bear mothers have not been known to kill anyone in defense of cubs."

Still be very careful! But hopefully this will give you a little less to worry about. Hope to see lots more shots of your bear family in the future.

vtruan

Nikon D5100

06/29/2005 02:38:41 PM · #12

4N4M,

I've heard eastern bears are more mellow that our western bears and a bit smaller. There are many reports of folks being killed by black bears in the Rockies by a mamma to close to cubs. But its rare. Usually you can smell a black bear well before you see them. They really have a distinctively bad odor, worse than a mid-west pig farm.

Message edited by author 2005-06-29 14:39:18.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

06/29/2005 03:52:10 PM · #13

Very cool. Funny that other forums might be filled with people urging you to move away, while in a photo forum you're urged to move closer. Sounds like you need a bird feeder costume. ;-)

06/30/2005 11:58:54 AM · #14

Not sure if our bears are more mellow than western bears or not.
I have read articles saying they can be aggressive and others saying they will simply run from you when they sense you are there. The DNR of course tells you they are deadly and stay away. That's how they do their job of protecting wildlife.
I would not try to get so close for a macro but I would get within 20 feet if it were possible to sneak in and not get caught. Their noses are much too good for that though.
Today I sit ready and waiting - tripod is out on the deck, camera settings are set correctly.....so far no return of the bears. Heck I even trimmed a branch off my tree that would be in the way. lol

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/30/2005 12:34:10 PM · #15

bear cubs are just the cutest things ever...

you didn't actually go OUT into the yard did you? I read an article on 'bear facts' (due to some bear attacks/killings in and around Alberta lately) and they can run pretty freakin fast...and although all bears can climb trees- black bears climb like monkeys.

In Newfoundland we had them in our backyard every so often - scared teh crap outta me.