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Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Photo by Tom15
Published on Project Noah
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42.6112, -71.5745

Field Notes

Notes:

This bear has a pair of nice yellow earrings that were put on to identify it. I was alerted that something was in the backyard when my parrot started screaming, and I looked out and saw the bear heading towards the feeders. It quickly took down one tube feeder that I just filled and went into the woods to eat the seeds. I wanted some photos, so I waited for it to come back for the second tube feeder. After I got enough pictures, I went out and made a lot of noise and chased it away, then took down the feeders until next fall.

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Comments (13)
Tom15
Thanks Ashley and congrats on your bear.
AshleyT
Awesome shots as usual, Tom! Just got back from my NC trip and have tons of cool things to upload eventually, including some bear shots :)
Tom15
Thanks outsidegirl.
Tom15
Jamie, that's one of the nice things about not living in a big city, wildlife in my backyard:-)
jamiewgoodspeed
seems like you've got quite a few friends at your feeder.
Tom15
Rieko, I hated taking down the feeders too. The birds have been coming, but there's nothing there for them. Sunnyjosef, this bear must know he's doing something mischievous, since he's already been tagged:-) But I like him anyway.
sunnyjosef
Tom, he has that mischievous look of children doing something not proper!!! With all that flower like tags on his ears he looks adorable.. TFS..
RiekoS
I hate to admit that my bird feeder is still out there during the day. I just love to see the birds coming to eat the bird seeds. I too witnessed a wild bear came to attack my bird feeder right in front of my eyes and it was in middle of the day. So, I guess I will have to give up and take my feeder down.....
Tom15
Neil, usually black bears are terrified of people and run as soon as they spot us, so not a problem. This one must be accustomed to going into peoples yards and thus was tagged. When I had the window open taking pictures, I started talking out loud to the bear and he didn't move. It did run when I went out stomping my feet and yelling at it. If they get too comfortable around people, that's when they could be a problem, and that's why I took down the bird feeders. Maria, it's nice when wildlife comes to you and you don't have to even look for them:-) Earlier today a raccoon was out back on the feeders again, and tonight I turned on the spotlight and saw a red fox eating some of the birdseed that was still on the ground.
Maria dB
Great series - what wildlife photographers won't do even at their homes to get nice shots! :)
Neil Ross
OMG! I wouldn't be game to go out my back door knowing there were such massive backyard beasties come to visit. I would love to see this though. Are they aggressive towards humans, Tom, knowing there's food on the property? He/she is a beautiful bear, looking very calm and casual. A great spotting and series.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Wildlife of Northeastern USA
Photographed
PublishedJune 1, 2014

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