Last Sunday driving home from the local Walmart, and just a few miles south of the store, I crossed the bridge to the secondary road on the opposite side of the river.
Freshly plowed corn fields are in abundance. I spotted something moving next to the brush line at the edge of a plowed corn field.
Large dog? Small horse? Nope, HUGE black bear! It spun around when our vehicle got within 50 yards and disappeared into the brush. Not enough time to take a photo.
It was the size of my Kubota tractor.
It's only a few miles from the house to the location of the bear. I may have to rethink my tactical strategy when letting the dog out at night to do her business.
It's the first time for me seeing a bear during daylight hours and so close to my location.
I'm only about three miles from the closest Town, but still quite rural with corn fields, pastures, and large woods acreage for my neighbors.

Recently my neighbor heard his garbage and recycling bins getting disturbed at night. He went out with his flashlight and phone.
Personally, I think taking photos of a Mama bear with cubs is somewhat foolish up close, but he sent me the pictures and doesn't mind them being posted online.
They have no personally identifiable content.
He's less than one mile away from my place.

4704 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

4705 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

4706 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

4707 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Don’t worry about the doggo. When I lived in the mountains of NC, literally next to Nantahala National Forest (also a bear preserve) The neighbor(retired park ranger) kept two dogs out back to keep bears away. Our dogs were free range dogs and they never went far. A lab and a chow. We never saw bears near the house,because the bears can smell them further away than the dogs roamed.

I just had one cross the road 15 minutes ago. 150 would be my guess. They’ve been hitting out garbage can too. Bastards!

There was a bear roaming around MQT neighborhoods just this week.

Must have a small "Kubota"

Hey Boo Boo!

We have a large momma bear around our house. I haven't seen her "cubs" this year since around March, and she was being kind of aggressive toward them then, so I think that was her fledgling them. Last summer they were small and cute.

They/she doesn't seem to care that my neighbor has Rhodesian ridge backs and I have a black lab. She roams a few square miles eating birdfeed and garbage can goodies.

Right or wrong, I've decided she is a gigantic racoon, and so my worry is low. When we take the dog out, we arm up with flashlights that put light-sabers to shame. So hopefully we'll see her first, and she'll see big yellow dots for the rest of the night.

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
Hey Boo Boo!

Take him a pic-a-nic basket.

This is one of three in our area this was taken three yards from our new build in Branson.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:
This is one of three in our area this was taken three yards from our new build in Branson.

Is that another one beyond the trees in the woods?

quote:

Originally posted by spunk639:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:
This is one of three in our area this was taken three yards from our new build in Branson.

Is that another one beyond the trees in the woods?

I don’t believe so. But anything is possible.

It might be a good idea to game cam or two around your property to watch what's going on at night, and/or when you're not looking.

what is the matter with yours? he doesn't stand up and wave?