I am glad he left instead of coming closer!
Oh my @Cryss. I would have peed my pants.
We only have black bears up here in the Northeast. They are pretty easy to scare off. Unless it's a momma with cubs. That certainly doesn't mean being confronted with one when you are half asleep and in need of oiling of the joints won't shake you up.
I'm sure most of us have seen this sign.
As funny as this is, you can bet Mr Bear will be back for those chickens......
Sounds like you need a flashlight AND A WEAPON for chicken chores. Sorry to say that it'll likely be back. Perhaps some boards with nails pounded thru 'em (pointy side up) could help around the coop? Glad that you're all safe!Yesterday just after 6am I sleepily and rather stiffly (I'm old) took the feeders to the run, opened pop doors, and scooped poop. I was smart enough to take my huge (18 inches maybe?) Flashlight with me so I could actually see poop inside the coop. I forget sometimes and end up blindly scooping. As I exited and locked up the run I turned to walk to the house and stopped to contemplate with mild irritation who put what huge item in the middle of the yard and covered it with a black tarp that was obviously too small since the interestingly thick black legs were in view below the edge of the tarp.....
It's very interesting how ones mind processes something unexpected. All of those thoughts went through my mind in less than a second. They weren't words. They were more like images flashing simultaneously. Irritation, curiosity, assessment. Flash.
Then my eyes saw the nose. Then the eyes. I patted my pocket realizing I had forgotten my cellphone. I can't call anyone sleeping in the house. I can't take the perfect picture. Instinct made me take 2 steps toward the house. Common sense stopped me since I would have to pass closer to the bear to get there. He stood stock still, his shoulder probably as high as my armpit, about 20 feet away. I am between him and the chickens. I turned to unlock the run thinking I'd get back inside but slammed it shut again as I imagined how I would be cornered if he came after the chickens. I stood staring with a tight feeling deep in my chest. I've never been afraid of the bears before but this time I was trapped between him and the chicken run and bears can run at a high speed. Did I mention I am old and early morning stiffness is still in effect?
It occured to me that just to my right the ladder is still in place leaning against the coop we are building. Not sure how this would go down I did the only thing left to do. I banged my huge heavy metal flashlight against the metal ladder repeatedly cause a loud metallic reverberation! (Did you think I was going to climb the ladder? That was plan #2)
Mr. Volkswagen (as big as) turned around and ambled his way out of the yard and into the surrounding woods. I waited a few minutes then briskly walked to the house sayin omg omg (grandson heard this from his bedroom) , closed the door behind me, gripped the chair back resting my head on it, and let waves of nausea pass over me. I shook as I sat down with my morning coffee. Bern (hubby) comes out from the bedroom saying goodmorning, then noticed I'm pale. "What's wrong?"
Hun, let me tell you what just happened.
Or worse.....?Oh my @Cryss. I would have peed my pants.
As funny as this is, you can bet Mr Bear will be back for those chickens......
Mr. Volkswagen has visited often in the past but oddly enough we hadn't seen him since we started raising chickens in November '17. I'm positively sure that was pure luck. I remove feed every night when I close up the coops and the run. However there is always spilled crumbles on the dirt run.
