In Which Mountain Woman Learns She Is A Coward
- May 08, 2010
- Category: Daily Diary
- (29) Comments
Thanks everyone for your comments. You have been great company for me while Mountain Man is still away and I appreciate it more than you’ll know.
Every night, 5 or 6 times a night, Lilly, our German Shepherd watch dog, goes out and patrols the perimeter of our fenced yard, bark, bark, barking. Not so when Mountain Man is gone. He takes Lilly with him and I don’t allow the other dogs outside at night because their barking scares me and I make them stay inside.
Last night, about 4:00 a.m., Katie Whippet all of a sudden popped out from under our comforter and started barking incessantly. “Quiet, Katie, you’re scaring me.” But Katie refused to be silenced so I decided to check into the problem. Normally, I would have opened our patio door and let the dogs outside but last night for some unknown reason, I didn’t. I switched on our patio lights and right there, yes right there, was the largest black bear I’ve ever seen. Right on our patio, staring into our patio door and raised up on his hind legs. Oh, My Goodness!! I was petrified. I started screaming at the top of my lungs, “GO AWAY BEAR!!!” and I took out pots and pans and started banging them. The dogs started barking and throwing themselves against the glass door and that darn bear refused to budge. I took a glass bottle and shattered it against the window to make more noise but he just kept staring at me, highly entertained by our antics. Whoever said black bears are shy hasn’t met this fellow.
I picked up the phone and dialed Mountain Man despite it being 3:00 a.m. Ozark time. “Help, there’s a bear at our door.” “Make some noise, scare him away.” “Can’t you hear all this noise? I’ve been making noise but he won’t budge.” Mountain Man listened to a few minutes of me making noise. “What do I do? He’s enormous and he won’t leave.” I was in a panic. Mountain Man said, “I sure wish you knew how to shoot a gun.” (Not to hurt the bear but to make a noise loud enough so he’d leave.) And for the first time in my life, I did wish I knew how. “Well, I don’t and I’d probably just end up shooting myself.” “Help, he’s rattling the door. What do I do?” “Call our neighbor.” And I did and he said he’d be right there. (Vermont farm neighbors are the most wonderful people in the world.) Help was on its way. Thank goodness! I hung up the phone, kept making noise and all of a sudden, the bear started to leave. Headed right out at a most leisurely pace. Relieved, I called our neighbor and said not to bother to come, the bear has left. I crawled back into bed with a shaking Katie Whippet and tried to get back to sleep. My voice was gone, my heart was beating a mile a minute. I was completely panicked. Minutes later, bark, bark, bark again. And, yes, there he was, trying to get in again. I grabbed the phone and our neighbor came as fast as he could. The bear went running at the sound of the truck.
My neighbor brought me a big air horn to use. He said he’s sure he’ll be back tonight. Once they find a spot they like, they usually return.
I guess if I were really brave, I would have grabbed the camera and photographed this large male black bear for you. But I wasn’t. I’ve never been so scared in my life. Worried more about the dogs than me because how would I ever get them away from the bear if he broke in.
Here’s pictures of his foot prints I took this morning, walking around very scared, air horn in hand.
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I spoke with Mountain Man this morning and he’s worried about the back of our house being all glass so he’s sending a friend over today to board it all up for me and he’s told me to move to an interior room for the night. He said he’s never heard about a bear not leaving with all racket I was making and he understands why I’m scared. Okay, I’m a big chicken. I admit it. But I’ve only been around bears in zoos.
Kind of like being in a horror movie, waiting for darkness to fall and then, HE’LL BE BACK!
Oh my…I would be terrified. You are very braver than you know.
Here is hoping that he stays away
Date: May 08, 2010
oh dear! Noise didn’t help? Maybe you and I need to take a gun course! I agree that being able to shoot to scare something off would be better than nothing. Except then all my dogs would be under the bed (they hate gunshots). I know of several Livestock Guardian dogs looking for homes…they live out 24/7 to patrol. We have two and I don’t think I’d sleep at all if I didn’t know they were on guard against the coyotes. I have a friend in town who lost several goats and a donkey to a bear this spring.
Date: May 08, 2010
Oh, my! Bears are the one animal that I have never encountered and I don’t know how to react around! How scary!!!
Date: May 08, 2010
Wow! I don’t blame you for being scared, I would be too. You better take that air horn with you to the barn too for awhile. I like bears at the zoo, but wouldn’t want one knocking on my door! What a great video that would have made! You have such excitement there on your farm! Stay safe!
Date: May 08, 2010
I would be scared (even the footprints look scary), but also very excited to see a real wild bear. Please be courages next time and take a picture for us, maybe the flashlight will scare him off?
Date: May 08, 2010
I do believe that EVERYONE who lives out in the country should know how to shoot. I do and I have a variety of weapons that I’ve practiced with. We don’t have bears near where I live, but we have had a mountain lion. I also carry around a little .22 with snake shot for the snakes we have.
As for the bear, call your state game and fish or wildlife department what ever they call it in your state and report it. Nuisance bears may be trapped and moved to a new location to try and help stop them from coming back. If they trap him and take him away that may stop your late night visits.
Date: May 08, 2010
Who in their right mind wouldn’t be scared!!!! Praying the bear does not come back for another visit. :O)
Date: May 08, 2010
Oh man…I’m 200 miles away and I’m scared! I’d even be scared during the daylight! We had a bear visit here about 11 years ago and ever since then, they make me real nervous.
MM is so good, taking care of you from so far away. Hopefully having less glass will help you feel a bit safer. And by the way, I’d be leaving that patio light on (especially since I’m afraid of the dark!). I’ll be thinking of you tonight.
Date: May 08, 2010
I am so glad that bear finally left you alone!!! And that you are safe. I think I’d have been very scared too. This summer you must learn to use the gun. Even though it’s against your nature. You have to be able to protect yourself!! Now that’s an order. Mtn. Man will agree I am sure.
Date: May 08, 2010
There is no bear in coward. I’d be scared to death too (mostly for the dogs! Although mine would definitely be bear snacks). However, I DO know how to shoot a gun, so maybe I can move in after all!
Date: May 08, 2010
Wow, that’s scary! I’d be giving that air horn a little blast every hour starting at dinnertime, just in case he’s lurking… Stay safe!
Date: May 08, 2010
You are not a chicken, hope all will be well.
May be it’s better to learn how to shoot.
Date: May 08, 2010
Holy cow!!!!! I’d be freaking, too! I don’t know how to shoot, but I’d probably have tried it!!!
Glad you & dogs are safe. You had better post every day, girl, or we’ll send a posse out to you if we don’t hear from you!!!
Date: May 08, 2010
Scared is right! Those prints look like Bigfoot! I wouldn’t let the dogs out at night for nothing right now. When will MM be home? I know, not soon enough! Stay safe and have air horn at hand. He won’t bother the animals in the barn will he? Keep us posted and have the neighbor’s number on speed dial!
Date: May 08, 2010
As I read this, my eyes grew wider and wider and I actually had chill bumps on my arms. I cannot imagine the terror you went through.
I may have mentioned this before…a couple of years ago, when we were in Franconia, NH, a bear ambled slowly out in the road in front of us…in what little there is of DOWNTOWN FRANCONIA. Right into somebody’s yard. I was thrilled and panicked at the same time.
I have some friends who used to live in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, and they had a regular bear visitor, who would rummage through the garbage cans, then sit ON THEIR CAR and dine. A park ranger eventually was able to tranquilize it and relocate it.
Use that air horn, and just in case, I think you should have a back up plan – like how to get yourself and the dogs out quickly if he should break through the glass and come in. Seriously. It probably won’t ever happen, but like the Boy Scouts say, BE PREPARED.
Date: May 08, 2010
MW, wow that was certainly a near bear encourter of the third kind for sure. We don’t have bears in this part of Nebraska. Mountain Lions yes but bears no. A couple years ago people kept reporting hearing and seeing a Mountain Lion in the middle of town. Animal control kept saying not to be concerned that it probably was just someone’s big cat. Two months later somebody shot and killed it. It was a Mountain Lion. They figure it wandered down one of the wooded water ways and ended up in the middle of the city. I really don’t like to be around any wild animal with claws, teeth, or fangs. They can just do what they do and I’ll do what I do. Aaaaa, that would be RUN. I do have a gun but it hasn’t been fired in 20 years and would be questionable as to whether it wouldn’t explode right in my face. I guess I could use it as a club as it is quite heavy.
Anyway I hope MM gets home soon. Pesky old bear would be in for it then. It’s pretty scary to see a monster bear up close and personal. My thoughts and prayers are for your safety.
Old Nebraska Dave
Date: May 08, 2010
You are definitely not a coward but a brave, cautious person. Stay safe. I would be unable to stay there alone. Hugs and prayers.
Date: May 08, 2010
I’ve had black bears in the yard more than once and they always left when I made noise or opened the door….I would freak out if it didn’t! Learn to shoot. That is my suggestion.
After seeing bears the first time, I was petrified to let my dog out for fear of him trying to chase the bear away… I understand your concern. Maybe you should let the wildlife people know about this bear that doesn’t scare.
Best of luck and be safe! ( I love your new site)
Date: May 09, 2010
There is no mistaking those pictures.
Your not being a coward but a concerned landowner. Stay safe!
Whitetail Woods
CVA Wolf Black Powder Rifle Give-Away!
Date: May 09, 2010
You were a lot braver than many people in that situation. Just please be careful. My wife’s mom (she used to be a winter caretaker in Yellowstone), suggested that you call Fish and Game and alert them to the bear. They should be able to take care of it. She said he may be just coming out of hibernation and is looking for something to eat. She also mentioned that they have poor eyesight (I don’t know if that helps or not, but I figured I might as well pass that along).
Please, keep everyone locked up and safe. Be careful!!!
Date: May 09, 2010
I’m freaked out for you way over here in South Dakota!! I cant imagine looking a bear in the eye!!
You are NOT a coward. Hope the bear was not entertained so find a bee hive to mess with!!
Date: May 09, 2010
In all of my black bear encounters, they’ve always run away from me as soon as they catch sight of me. If I encountered one that stayed like yours did, I’d be scared too! they can make a horrendous mess when they get in a house or car for food – then they keep coming back. i’m glad he left, and I hope he doesn’t come back!
Date: May 09, 2010
Sheesh! I probably would have peed on myself if that had happened to me!
I can’t imagine that bear not being scared off by all the noise you were making!
And Mountain Man not even there! Wow! You are one brave lady!
Yes, you’d better learn how to shoot a gun in self defense!
Date: May 09, 2010
Wow that is a scary encounter! If you dont want to learn how to shoot a gun, they sell bear mace, they use it a lot in Alaska, I am sure you could find it online. Good luck!
Date: May 09, 2010
you did more than I would have done. I am the same with guns-I’d probably shoot myself by the time I figure out how to shoot it.
Stay safe! Sounds like you have a wonderful neighbor.
Date: May 11, 2010
Maybe someone somewhere had fed that bear before? That would explain why he wasn’t really afraid of you?
Date: May 11, 2010
Oh my GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have been terrified, too! Can that neighbor teach you how to fire a hand gun or something before Mountain Man gets back? That is WEIRD that nothing scared him. He’s way too brave. We had a bear and cubs in our car once. Not good. I have to go search the rest of your blog to see if you say anything else about this!
Date: May 12, 2010
Ohmigoodness Sara. I would have been scared for my dogs too and would NOT have let them out!!! And you are not a chicken. Like everyone else mentions, not good that all your noise did not scare that bear. I hope MM will be home soon. I can’t imaging waiting for night to fall again after this horrible episode!!!
Date: May 12, 2010
I wpuld have killed over right then, I enjoy your blog, thanks kay
Date: May 16, 2010