All Quiet On The Home Front
- May 12, 2010
- Category: Daily Diary
- (17) Comments
I think (I hope, I pray) that my bear friend has moved on. I’ve had no evidence of him anywhere the past couple of nights and once again I’m sleeping (although armed with a giant fog horn).
My vet visited yesterday to give Khrysta her yearly physical so naturally we got to talking about bears and I think they had my bear at their house. A large, male black bear went right up on their porch and pulled down all their bird feeders. When they looked out at the commotion, the bear raised up on his hind legs and stared right back at them and wasn’t in the least interested in moving on. Given the time frame, it’s a distinct possibility it’s the same bear. Which brings me to an important point. Never feed the bears!! No matter how adorable they are or how hungry you think they are, resist the temptation to feed them. Bears who are fed by people become less afraid of entering human territory and although they can hurt people, usually it is the bear who ends up paying the price and having to be destroyed.
My vet did tell me that this bear or his cousin killed a miniature donkey. I can’t even begin to imagine waking up to find your beloved donkey mauled.
Mountain Man is still busy working away in the Ozarks remodeling the front of the house and having a blast. Visions of us moving to the Ozarks are running through his mind along with about 100 tick and chigger bites before he stopped counting. I don’t think so or at least I hope not. Give me bears over chiggers any day. Now that’s not to say I don’t appreciate the beauty of the Ozarks because I do and the people are the kindest you will find anywhere but after my last run in with the chiggers, I don’t want anything more to do with them.
This weekend an elderly couple stopped by while he was outside working. They were the owners of the original farm way back before the Army Corps of Engineers came in and took the property around Bull Shoals Lake for their dam projects. The original ranch comprised 600 acres and the house was located right by the lake.
Remember these pictures of our mystery building from our Ozarks walk?
Mountain Man’s visitors told us that’s part of the old house but the Army Corps of Engineers made them move the main residence because it was too close to the new “take line.” Gee, talk about government power but that’s a topic for a long rant someday maybe. Anyway, now we know the history behind Circling Hawk Ranch and the people who loved and cared for the ranch for so many years.
And Mountain Man’s parting words to me last night? I’m sure you’re all dying to know. “I hope you’ve got your confidence back.” Yes, that’s what he said. Sure, Mountain Man, I’m one confident woman. Confident enough to know if the bear shows up again, I’m going to run!
And that’s life on Red Pine Mountain at the moment. How is yours?
Bears!! Oh no!! Thank ya very much.. I will take my chiggers, although (knock wood) we don’t usually have too bad of a chigger problem here. Our MO Conservation Dept is also telling us that more and more black bears are moving in, for now mostly in the southern part of the state… not in ours.. yet. Be safe out there!
Date: May 12, 2010
Glad it is quiet. I hope the bear returns to the “wild woods: and leaves people and animals alone.
I don’t think you ever lost your confidence, you just had to discover a different kind.
Date: May 12, 2010
If I stay quietly in my house, can I avoid both chiggers and bears??
Date: May 12, 2010
I’m glad that the bear has moved on and that things are quite. That does sound like the same one that visited your vet. Hopefully, Fish and Game will be able to catch him before he hurts someone. Oh, and I think you are very brave!!
Date: May 12, 2010
I remember that building..a take line..now that term confuses me..must be Government talk for too close to the property boundary.
If that bear got no munchies at your place he is probably long gone to people with bird feeders out. I guess he could come back..if he does you are ready for him. Their natural habitat is being reduced everyday.:(
Date: May 12, 2010
“that’s part of the old house but the Army Corps of Engineers made them move the main residence because it was too close to the new “take line.”
I’m still not sure what that “house” is……you mean an old house from 100+ years ago??? …don’t know what a “take line” is either….property???
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I don’t think I would ever……I KNOW I would never live in an area in the country……infested with chiggers, blackflies, horse fly’s, moose fly’s (etc etc etc….and I do mean etc….) ever again. Citronella candles never worked for repelling insects for me….0%
If you’ve ever had any luck with a “natural” bug repellent let us know………None ever worked for me
Date: May 12, 2010
I think given the choice of chiggers, bears or earthquakes I may stick with earthquakes, hee hee.
Date: May 12, 2010
Listen woman, you’ve GOT to learn to shoot a gun. I think I’ll get on the next plane back there and we’ll go through a gun safety course and get you set up! lol And listen BEAR, no attacking the animals!
Date: May 13, 2010
And I’ll take a bear over a tick, thank you very much!
Date: May 13, 2010
Glad the bear is leaving you alone. I’m surprised you’re not blowing that air horn all day–good for you on being so brave! Take care, watch out for the bear.
Date: May 13, 2010
If I had to pick between a bear and a spider, I am picking the bear. Yes, it’s that bad.
Date: May 13, 2010
Good Morning Mountain Woman! I’ve certainly had my share of bear experiences living in the mountains of British Columbia and some of them were when the ex was gone and it was just the kids and I. I’d feel the same as you after seeing that big guy outside my window and the fact that he wasn’t afraid of you or the dogs…that’s very unnerving to say the least! Don’t let you guard down when you’re outside around the farm….and PLEASE…don’t run if you see him…just back quietly away and head inside. I’ll be watching to see how things go. Take care….Maura
Date: May 13, 2010
I am certainly glad everything is ok and you have not seen the bear lately. I will keep in touch.
Date: May 13, 2010
Life in the country is so much fun! I thoroughly enjoy your blog. Check my page as I’ve just given you an award!
Date: May 14, 2010
MW, if there could be a female Jeremiah Johnson it would be you. You certainly are living the wild mountain life for sure. I wouldn’t mind living the country life, but I’m not sure I’d want to live that far out in the wild. Bears are for zoos and not my back yard. I hope you get your bear problem taken care of real soon.
Ticks or Chiggers never have been a problem with me. I’ve run through the woods in Nebraska and in Missouri and never got attached to either one. Maybe I just have blood they don’t like. Mosquitoes are the same way. They just leave me alone and pester everyone else with me. I guess I just don’t smell right for them biten’ insects. I guess that’s a good thing huh.
Date: May 14, 2010
Oh my goodness! I am complaint about a few snakes and opossums around here.
I don’t know how to shoot a gun either and FarmMan is always trying to get me to learn.
You did a great noise job I think. You sure have a first class watch/listen dog too.
The building reminds so much of a spring house we built on our last property. It is wonderful to have so much history surrounding your farm.
Have a great and safe weekend.
Pam
Date: May 15, 2010
your building looks like a storm shelter, we have lots of tornadoes in the South
Date: May 16, 2010