Bears are coming for plums... - Page 2

bower · September 17, 2012

Maybe harvesting the plums would be a good idea? Since that is what seems to be attracting them.

**carolyn137** · September 17, 2012

Tania, I'm delighted to read that you also have Black Bears.

This is the first year in five that I had only one visitation and never saw the bear, but the one bird feeder on the deck railing was smashed beyond repair so I know there was at least one here b'c no raccoon would do that.

Each summer Freda moves the bird feeders way up high so the bears can't get to them and that's worked quite well. DEC says there are no bears in my part of the county and have beens saying that for many years but now there are reports from all over about them breaking onto homes, and on and on.

It all started for me about five years ago when my cat, the one that died recently, was lounging on the deck railing, I was in the LRoom and all of a sudden I saw the cutest cub coming up the stone steps that are outside that go to the basement.

I screached, the cat left but the cub just nosed around and then left. In a couple of days it came back with BIG MOMMA bear and she was big. So there were regular visitations that summer and momma had a route she followed that let her walk around the back of my home right under the windows that look out to the backyard and where I sit now with my computer.

The next year the cub was bigger and momma still visited. And on and on it went with new cubs for a couple of years.

Usually the visitations were in the early AM or near to dark, but one day when Freda came it was about noon and she had to sit in her truck b'c they were on my deck.

My major problem was that I was concerned about trying to get to my car with my walker b'c for sure I can't move fast at all.

REcognizing that the bears are a real problem DEC is now allowing hunters to draw for a bear license which has been true for the northern part of my country forever. Everyone agrees that the bears have moved south due to habitat destruction to the north of me. it used to be the thing to go to a dump near Lake Placid and watch the bears. Now there are no more dumps. it's all recyling stations in the County.

Deer? I have a herd of about 12-15 that hang out up in my fields and them I like. Yesterday AM as I sat her typing one of the young ones from this year came down and was munching the leaves on the Honeysuckle bushes out back.

Quite a few years ago it was a terrible winter and I decided the deer needed help, this was when I could walk OK myself. I started out with cracked corn from Agway, that didn't work too well, then went to the special molasses deer food they sold, that was better, but what they loved the most were the deer apples that I'd buy and lug home.

I had a kid up the road dig out 5 big circles in the snow where they would come to feed. But I'd get mad b'c the bigger ones would kick the younger ones away. They were smart enough, the young ones, to come to this back window where I could see them, I'd get up ASAP and throw out apples and feed for just them.

For many years the does would bring their fawns down to the backyard so I could see them and I'm convinced that it was a thank you for getting them through that terrible winter.

Who knows? I can't be sure but my father was a deer hunter and I knew from him and the other members of his Rod and Gun Club that deer are smart, and I believe it.

Tania · September 17, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bower

Maybe harvesting the plums would be a good idea? Since that is what seems to be attracting them.

I'd be happy to, but they are not ripe yet. We are not attracted to greenish plums as much as bears are.

Tania · September 17, 2012

Carolyn, what a nice story!

We have enough vegetation here to feed the deer, even in winter, but they still prefer our landscaping plants. I stopped fighting with them - after all, they are providing pretty good fertilizer for the lawn!

dustdevil · September 17, 2012

I had a black bear snap a Montmorency cherry tree with a 3" diameter trunk. He tried to climb it to get to the cherries and over it went. I enjoy looking at the black bears, but sometimes they are a pain! They eat grass and bird seed, so it's no wonder they'll eat unripe plums. Really nice photos Tania.

Tania · September 17, 2012

I think they eat unripe plums because they know that's their only opportunity - before we pick them

In June/July bears would come for our cherries too. A smaller cub would climb up the tree and break off branches, so the other members of the bear family would pick the branches with the fruit and carry them to the forest where they can enjoy cherries. Once I was chasing a bear off the cherry tree - he knew he was stealing! so he was running away when I was coming after him banging on an empty bucket (that's all I had and I was so mad at him!) - but then he turned back, picked the broken branch and carried it with him to the forest. I was stunned and speechless. That was enough for us, so we also wrapped the cherries trees with electric fencing.

That helped to keep the bears away, but then birds picked every single cherry from the 4 trees, so we were left with nothing.

We really have to fight with the wild life here to get our share of the garden goodies.

Just yesterday I went to pick some corn, and discovered that EVERY cob was scraped clean by some animal. The stalks were still standing, so I am assuming it was somebody small. The garden is fenced, so it makes me wonder who (other than squirrels and chipmunks) could do that!

I also have a family of wild rats (very cute and completely unafraid of me) who live in one of my tomato GHouses. They get the first tasting of each tomato that either hang low or close enough to the wire mesh which they can easily climb. It has already happened twice that one of them jumped on my arm when I was trying to reach for a tomato. They jumped off right away, but this was startling anyway

They would also eat seeds from every unripe pepper they find.

coloken · September 17, 2012

I admire you for your connection with nature. I think I would enjoy the bears, but the rats would be a bit too much. Nature needs a balance so I suggest that you get the biggest mother cat you can find.
KennyP

dustdevil · September 17, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tania

I think they eat unripe plums because they know that's their only opportunity - before we pick them

In June/July bears would come for our cherries too. A smaller cub would climb up the tree and break off branches, so the other members of the bear family would pick the branches with the fruit and carry them to the forest where they can enjoy cherries. Once I was chasing a bear off the cherry tree - he knew he was stealing! so he was running away when I was coming after him banging on an empty bucket (that's all I had and I was so mad at him!) - but then he turned back, picked the broken branch and carried it with him to the forest. I was stunned and speechless. That was enough for us, so we also wrapped the cherries trees with electric fencing.

That helped to keep the bears away, but then birds picked every single cherry from the 4 trees, so we were left with nothing.

We really have to fight with the wild life here to get our share of the garden goodies.

Just yesterday I went to pick some corn, and discovered that EVERY cob was scraped clean by some animal. The stalks were still standing, so I am assuming it was somebody small. The garden is fenced, so it makes me wonder who (other than squirrels and chipmunks) could do that!

I also have a family of wild rats (very cute and completely unafraid of me) who live in one of my tomato GHouses. They get the first tasting of each tomato that either hang low or close enough to the wire mesh which they can easily climb. It has already happened twice that one of them jumped on my arm when I was trying to reach for a tomato. They jumped off right away, but this was startling anyway

They would also eat seeds from every unripe pepper they find.

Last year I found a surprise visitor under the mesh of one of my Bali cherry trees...a very tiny hummingbird. I watched him trying to find a way out for about ten minutes, but I figured he was up the creek until I let him out. I went back for my camera and when I got back he was gone! He sure was tiny...

We have had just about every animal you can imagine go after our corn. We grew some colorful mixed ornamental corn for Halloween one year and the blasted woodpeckers put a handful of peck marks in just about every cob...what kind of fence do you put up for them?

I can sympathize with you Tania. The animals get their cut first and we get left with the crumbs

Or, we'd have to live another 50 years to recoup the investment on all that 8 foot fencing

What do you call an animal that eats all your fruit and veg? (scroll down)

Supper!

rockhound · September 17, 2012

2 words- Ghost pepper. Make a spray and apply it to the low hanging fruit. Mark the ones you sprayed.

Texas Blues · September 17, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhound

2 words- Ghost pepper. Make a spray and apply it to the low hanging fruit. Mark the ones you sprayed.

I spent 28 years in Alaska. Much of it around bears. They like their food spicy!

meadowyck · September 17, 2012

great pictures, but I don't know if I could deal with them, especially when you have to keep a look out before going outside....

Tania · September 18, 2012

Jan, I also thought I did not know how I could deal with bears - until it became obvious that we have to live with them... I'd prefer not to have them around, but what can I do?

kurt · September 18, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tania

Jan, I also thought I did not know how I could deal with bears - until it became obvious that we have to live with them... I'd prefer not to have them around, but what can I do?

I would call your local wildlife authoritys and have them relocate the bears.They will come back forever if you do nothing.It is not worth the chance of getting harmed yourself or guests or pets.If they know there is a food source they will move in the area and multiply.Just tell the authoritys you feel for your safety and they have to respond.Bears are smart and will figure out a way to get to a food source.In the meantime get some self defense,bear spray and keep on hand at all times,and yes some firearms(check your local laws on property protection).Nothing less than a .45 or .50 caliber pistol would be the best.Bears do not go down easy,sure they are cute,but they do kill humans.Sorry for the harshness.

dustdevil · September 18, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurt

I would call your local wildlife authoritys and have them relocate the bears.They will come back forever if you do nothing.It is not worth the chance of getting harmed yourself or guests or pets.If they know there is a food source they will move in the area and multiply.Just tell the authoritys you feel for your safety and they have to respond.Bears are smart and will figure out a way to get to a food source.In the meantime get some self defense,bear spray and keep on hand at all times,and yes some firearms(check your local laws on property protection).Nothing less than a .45 or .50 caliber pistol would be the best.Bears do not go down easy,sure they are cute,but they do kill humans.Sorry for the harshness.

Kurt, you don't shoot black bears with a .45/.50 pistol or mace them with "bear spray"

Black bears aren't big on killing people either...stay away from mamma bear when she has cubs and odds are you'll be fine.

Tania · September 18, 2012

Kurt,

We do not have 'local authorities' here in the village.

Actually we live in the area where they would move the bears from the city area. There is no other place the bears would go - we live in their forest.

Bears do not attack if they are not provoked. There was only one bear attack in the village last year - when a guy was walking with his dog, and the big Momma bear thought the dog was threatening her cubs. So she pushed the guy and slapped him a few times. A car was passing by and rescued him and took to the hospital. He was not seriously injured, but I am sure he'd be scared of bears for a long time.

The bear was shot by the RCMP officer.

September 17, 2012	#17
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Tania, I'm delighted to read that you also have Black Bears. This is the first year in five that I had only one visitation and never saw the bear, but the one bird feeder on the deck railing was smashed beyond repair so I know there was at least one here b'c no raccoon would do that. Each summer Freda moves the bird feeders way up high so the bears can't get to them and that's worked quite well. DEC says there are no bears in my part of the county and have beens saying that for many years but now there are reports from all over about them breaking onto homes, and on and on. It all started for me about five years ago when my cat, the one that died recently, was lounging on the deck railing, I was in the LRoom and all of a sudden I saw the cutest cub coming up the stone steps that are outside that go to the basement. I screached, the cat left but the cub just nosed around and then left. In a couple of days it came back with BIG MOMMA bear and she was big. So there were regular visitations that summer and momma had a route she followed that let her walk around the back of my home right under the windows that look out to the backyard and where I sit now with my computer. The next year the cub was bigger and momma still visited. And on and on it went with new cubs for a couple of years. Usually the visitations were in the early AM or near to dark, but one day when Freda came it was about noon and she had to sit in her truck b'c they were on my deck. My major problem was that I was concerned about trying to get to my car with my walker b'c for sure I can't move fast at all. REcognizing that the bears are a real problem DEC is now allowing hunters to draw for a bear license which has been true for the northern part of my country forever. Everyone agrees that the bears have moved south due to habitat destruction to the north of me. it used to be the thing to go to a dump near Lake Placid and watch the bears. Now there are no more dumps. it's all recyling stations in the County. Deer? I have a herd of about 12-15 that hang out up in my fields and them I like. Yesterday AM as I sat her typing one of the young ones from this year came down and was munching the leaves on the Honeysuckle bushes out back. Quite a few years ago it was a terrible winter and I decided the deer needed help, this was when I could walk OK myself. I started out with cracked corn from Agway, that didn't work too well, then went to the special molasses deer food they sold, that was better, but what they loved the most were the deer apples that I'd buy and lug home. I had a kid up the road dig out 5 big circles in the snow where they would come to feed. But I'd get mad b'c the bigger ones would kick the younger ones away. They were smart enough, the young ones, to come to this back window where I could see them, I'd get up ASAP and throw out apples and feed for just them. For many years the does would bring their fawns down to the backyard so I could see them and I'm convinced that it was a thank you for getting them through that terrible winter. Who knows? I can't be sure but my father was a deer hunter and I knew from him and the other members of his Rod and Gun Club that deer are smart, and I believe it. __________________ Carolyn

September 17, 2012	#19
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Carolyn, what a nice story! We have enough vegetation here to feed the deer, even in winter, but they still prefer our landscaping plants. I stopped fighting with them - after all, they are providing pretty good fertilizer for the lawn! __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

September 17, 2012	#21
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	I think they eat unripe plums because they know that's their only opportunity - before we pick them In June/July bears would come for our cherries too. A smaller cub would climb up the tree and break off branches, so the other members of the bear family would pick the branches with the fruit and carry them to the forest where they can enjoy cherries. Once I was chasing a bear off the cherry tree - he knew he was stealing! so he was running away when I was coming after him banging on an empty bucket (that's all I had and I was so mad at him!) - but then he turned back, picked the broken branch and carried it with him to the forest. I was stunned and speechless. That was enough for us, so we also wrapped the cherries trees with electric fencing. That helped to keep the bears away, but then birds picked every single cherry from the 4 trees, so we were left with nothing. We really have to fight with the wild life here to get our share of the garden goodies. Just yesterday I went to pick some corn, and discovered that EVERY cob was scraped clean by some animal. The stalks were still standing, so I am assuming it was somebody small. The garden is fenced, so it makes me wonder who (other than squirrels and chipmunks) could do that! I also have a family of wild rats (very cute and completely unafraid of me) who live in one of my tomato GHouses. They get the first tasting of each tomato that either hang low or close enough to the wire mesh which they can easily climb. It has already happened twice that one of them jumped on my arm when I was trying to reach for a tomato. They jumped off right away, but this was startling anyway They would also eat seeds from every unripe pepper they find. __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

September 17, 2012	#26
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	great pictures, but I don't know if I could deal with them, especially when you have to keep a look out before going outside.... __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

September 18, 2012	#27
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Jan, I also thought I did not know how I could deal with bears - until it became obvious that we have to live with them... I'd prefer not to have them around, but what can I do? __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

September 17, 2012	#16
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	Maybe harvesting the plums would be a good idea? Since that is what seems to be attracting them.

September 17, 2012	#20
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	I had a black bear snap a Montmorency cherry tree with a 3" diameter trunk. He tried to climb it to get to the cherries and over it went. I enjoy looking at the black bears, but sometimes they are a pain! They eat grass and bird seed, so it's no wonder they'll eat unripe plums. Really nice photos Tania.

September 17, 2012	#22
coloken Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NE Co Posts: 303	I admire you for your connection with nature. I think I would enjoy the bears, but the rats would be a bit too much. Nature needs a balance so I suggest that you get the biggest mother cat you can find. KennyP

September 17, 2012	#24
rockhound Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 285	2 words- Ghost pepper. Make a spray and apply it to the low hanging fruit. Mark the ones you sprayed.