Black bear in Fall River

[bob_G]

Apparently there's a bear running around Fall River.  The local tv news recommends to stay away from it, and immediately call the Ma Environmental Police. 

Obviously they don't know our Environmental Police.  They'll see Elvis before they see them.

[zak-striper]

It's only a matter of time before the bear is poaching out of slot stripers at Bell Rd.

 

I've seen bears all over western MA, on the pike in Central MA and at Wachusett reservoir. No surprise they've made if father south in MA.

[Richard_the_Aughth]

On 5/22/2023 at 11:45 AM, zak-striper said:

It's only a matter of time before the bear is poaching out of slot stripers at Bell Rd.

 

I've seen bears all over western MA, on the pike in Central MA and at Wachusett reservoir. No surprise they've made if father south in MA.

Have you ever felt them to be a threat? One of my biggest fears is running into a bear in the middle of the woods(or on a path that descends into the reservoir)

[bob_G]

On 5/22/2023 at 12:36 PM, Richard_the_Aughth said:

Have you ever felt them to be a threat? One of my biggest fears is running into a bear in the middle of the woods(or on a path that descends into the reservoir)

Don't lose any sleep.  Black bears want no part of humans, and usually make a hasty retreat as soon as they sense one.

[Eagles Dare]

The only time I've ever felt threatened by one was when I was spring turkey scouting in VT many years ago. I came around a downed tree, and on the other side 10 yards away was a sow and 2 cubs. The sow put her front paws on a tree and started raking it, up climbed the cubs. Then she turned her attention to me. Snarling and popping her teeth (a fun sound if you've never heard it). Followed by a couple bluff charges. After the second one she turned to look up at the cubs. I backed up around the tree as fast as I could. Continued backwards when I got around the tree. I could see the cubs but not the sow. Got out of there as fast as I could.  

 

 

[zak-striper]

On 5/22/2023 at 12:36 PM, Richard_the_Aughth said:

Have you ever felt them to be a threat? One of my biggest fears is running into a bear in the middle of the woods(or on a path that descends into the reservoir)

 

On 5/22/2023 at 12:47 PM, bob_G said:

Don't lose any sleep.  Black bears want no part of humans, and usually make a hasty retreat as soon as they sense one.

 

 

I ran into a bear at the 'Chu during late fall a few years ago. I was hiking back to my car at the end of the day. I heard a lot of crashing in the trees, branches breaking, etc. The bear ran onto the trail then stopped. I looked at it. The bear looked at me. Then the bear ran back into the woods on the other side of the trail.  It happened so quickly, I never had a chance to feel threatened.

 

Last year someone told me they had a bear watching them fish at the 'Chu. The bear was behind some trees but never approached the person. However, that may have changed if the person caught a fish while the bear was watching.

 

I've seen a few coyotes at the rez as well. So far, nothing has tried to attack me. The only thing that has scared me out there has been birds unexpectedly exploding out from brushes or a tree during the quiet of 1st light. When you don;t expect it, it seems almost as loud as a gun shot.

 

I don't let the wildlife of central MA stop me from fishing.

Edited May 22 by zak-striper

[Joser]

On 5/22/2023 at 2:13 PM, zak-striper said:

 

 

 

I ran into a bear at the 'Chu during late fall a few years ago. I was hiking back to my car at the end of the day. I heard a lot of crashing in the trees, branches breaking, etc. The bear ran onto the trail then stopped. I looked at it. The bear looked at me. Then the bear ran back into the woods on the other side of the trail.  It happened so quickly, I never had a chance to feel threatened.

 

Last year someone told me they had a bear watching them fish at the 'Chu. The bear was behind some trees but never approached the person. However, that may have changed if the person caught a fish while the bear was watching.

 

I've seen a few coyotes at the rez as well. So far, nothing has tried to attack me. The only thing that has scared me out there has been birds unexpectedly exploding out from brushes or a tree during the quiet of 1st light. When you don;t expect it, it seems almost as loud as a gun shot.

 

I don't let the wildlife of central MA stop me from fishing.

 

 

Sounds like you may be coming across grouse if that what it sounds like.

[bdowning]

Agree that black bears want no part of a confrontation with humans and will generally take off like a shot's been fired. The only exception is if you get between a sow and cubs and even then it's just a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing other than to scare you off. 

 

If I did see cubs, I would quickly distance myself from them. They may be cute but the mother not so much. 

[b-ware]

The cubs are cute and cuddly

[b-ware]

And they love to play hide and seek..........

[zak-striper]

On 5/22/2023 at 2:32 PM, Joser said:

 

 

Sounds like you may be coming across grouse if that what it sounds like.

 

Yeah, one time it was probably a grouse, I was walking between the water's edge and some shrubs/bushes when a bird exploded out from the bushes. Another time it was a bald eagle. I passed it in a tree, not long after 1st light, when the bird took off from the tree. That eagle was really loud. 

Edited May 22 by zak-striper

[Intrepid95]

On 5/22/2023 at 12:47 PM, bob_G said:

Don't lose any sleep.  Black bears want no part of humans, and usually make a hasty retreat as soon as they sense one.

 

Absolutely this. It honestly amazes me how worked up people get over seeing black bears in eastern MA. A few years back I got tied up in traffic for an hour on my way to work because they shut down my entire neighborhood (Arlington Heights) after a black bear was spotted at Turkey Hill. Like, come on. If this was just a few miles further west it wouldn't even be a consideration.

 

They want nothing to do with us are basically oversized raccoons. There have only been a few attacks from them in the entire history of this state and not a single one resulting in a fatality. Literally every encounter I've ever had with one personally was basically me saying, "oh ****, bear!" followed by a good view of their backside booking through the woods to get away from me lol

Edited May 23 by Intrepid95

[Intrepid95]

On 5/22/2023 at 2:13 PM, zak-striper said:

 

 

Last year someone told me they had a bear watching them fish at the 'Chu. The bear was behind some trees but never approached the person. However, that may have changed if the person caught a fish while the bear was watching.

 

 

Nah, it wouldn't. Fish isn't even a regular part of a black bear's diet.

[HugeDinghy]

A girl

i grew up with had two approach her whole hiking. They were kind of playfully nibbling on her leg and messing. With her a little. She got it on video and because they had been ear tagged previously they put them down. She had to shut off all

social media etc because the treehuggers were threatening etc her. 

[saxon59]

I'm watching news last night. It says residents of block xxx north main st beware, bear in neighborhood, wait a minute thats my address.Not at all surprised we are surrounded by forest. guess that's why nobody out there walking their dog tonight.