June 15, 2008: Bears in June

[BobT]

To answer a few questions. He looks "oily" because he is SOAKING wet! It had been pouring just before they showed up at our bird feeder. The mom checked out the feeder, tasted a few of the seeds, and climbed down off of the railing onto the deck.

The cubs are only cute from a distance. They are kind of "rangy" looking up close. Especially when they are soaking wet! I think because of there are THREE cubs trying to "make a living" off of only one sow's teats food is in short supply. It is much more frequent to see a sow with only two cubs at most.

My house is up on a mountain in Gatlinburg, TN. The altitude is about
2,500 feet. Just at the base of the mountain is the entrance to the National Park. The sightings of bears roaming the neighborhood is not at all uncommon. We have had several storms that have adversely effected the supply of nuts and berries, so they are looking for unguarded trash cans. The city has ordinances that require bear proof garbage receptacles, but nothing is foolproof.