Look What I Found in my Garden

[Tuckervill]

I think if I was ever close enough to sniff a Black Bear, the overwhelming aroma in the air would definitely NOT be from the bear.

You know, I wasn't scared at all. Just had a slow realization that it was probably a bear. I did, right before falling asleep, remember that story about the 11 year old boy who was dragged out of his tent by a bear recently. I reached out and grabbed my son's hand while he slept and and just held it until I went to sleep, because I know that's an irrational fear. But now I'm not so sure it was irrational! Especially after, on the trail some miles away, we saw bear scat in a couple of different places. And we were parked at Bear Creek Horse Camp for our ride. yikes, now I'm really freaked out! lol.

Karen

[chickwhorips]

Anyone know what a black bear smells like?

Yes, its a very distinctive smell. Brown bears are worse, specially when its salmon season. Been walking through some alder bushes and smelled bear, never saw it though. Must've been sleeping.

Especially after, on the trail some miles away, we saw bear scat in a couple of different places. And we were parked at Bear Creek Horse Camp for our ride. yikes, now I'm really freaked out! lol.

Just remember to be safe, alert, and know what to do. Most of the time they are more afraid of you than you of them. In an area where they see many people, they just avoid you. Just make sure you have your food safely put away and no garbage around. The hardest thing up here is people coming up and having no idea about being around bears. They leave all their trash out and saying "EAT HERE".

[Tuckervill]

Thanks. I had read about black bears in Arkansas being timid around humans and I knew about the trash thing. All our food was in the car locked up (these aren't Yellowstone bears who know how to crack open a window). I left my camp kitchen out on the table, and I did consider whether it would still be there in one piece (it's a suitcase, basically with all the cooking stuff in it). Some of the stuff smells like food, I'm sure. It didn't appear to be touched at all. But I know in my gut that bear was really close--it probably wasn't just the smell that woke me up, a sound, maybe, that I don't remember.

However timid the black bears may be--there have been several incidents of black bears in back yards around here lately, including one in my own town. So I shouldn't get too complacent!

Karen