New Cub Experence

[ricky racer]

Today I did something that I never thought I would do on my small farm in southern Michigan. I drove my Cub back to the woods behind the house to look for bear sign. Michigan has a healthy black bear population but its been over 100 years since they have been in the southern portion of the state. I've been watching the news reports of a male black bear making its way south. The first local report indicated the bear in Hartford, MI about a week ago. The next reports were from Sodus then Berrien Springs. Now the reports are that he's crossed the border into Indiana, right by my house. Sightings around Mud lake are only about a half mile south of my house. The Indiana DNR have verified that the bear is now in Indiana. It's the first wild black bear in the state in over 140 years. I think that's pretty cool.

[cub.bub]

Rick, I too have been following the Black Bear reports, it is a very rare event for this area.
But if I were to go a "Bear Hunting" I would have picked a tractor with a little more ground speed!

I'm starting to feel a little better, I may actually do some playing on the 140 today.
Bruce.

[Scrivet]

Bear hunting on a Cub ........There's gotta be a bunch of one liners in there somewhere!

[staninlowerAL]

Bear hunting on a Cub ........There's gotta be a bunch of one liners in there somewhere!

I was just thinking the same thing!!

[Crimson Tim]

That's great to see a species coming back to an area like that. Do hear that wolves are reestablishing in Michigan as well?

I have to admit, though, that you're welcome to as many of our black bear from central Florida as you would like. Our population is booming, such that there seems to be a news item about some sort of run in with problem bears about once a week. Some of these are in obvious places like near the Ocala National forest, but a surprising number are in not-very-far-outlying suburbs of Orlando. Bear are very adaptable, and the new, modern, urban bear seems to be thriving.
Fish & Game keep trying to relocate them back out to the forest, but the same ones keep coming back in to town. I haven't heard if they prefer the buses or maybe they're trying out SunRail?
In any case, it's gotten to the point where the state is considering re-opening a hunting season to try to get back to some sort of balance, though that is of course highly controversial.

If nothing else, that sounds like a wonderfully peaceful drive in the woods.

If you come across bear or bear sign, however, do respect them. They are not necessarily as harmless as people like to believe. They are extremely intelligent. They may be scavengers, but they are also opportunistic predators. And of course fiercely protective of their young.

[Smokeycub]

its been over 100 years since they have been in the southern portion of the state

That is pretty cool. Having said that, wild bears, wolves, and coyotes make me just a bit nervous. We've had a number of black bear sightings in NE Ohio in recent years. We've got coyotes and fox in abundance, hawks, wild turkeys, buzzards, and even a few eagles making a comeback. Non the less pretty cool!

[Stanton]

Ricky: YOU BE CAREFUL. A Cub cannot out-run an adult bear and neither can you.

[1541]

On June 10th there was a 168 lb male black bear hit and killed on the US 33 Lancaster bypass about 20 miles west of us.

http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/story/news/local/2015/06/10/black-bear-spotted/71001784/

[bob in CT]

They are within 15 miles West of me, but they have not crossed the Connecticut River yet. They are due North though so it is only a matter of time. That will put a damper on the blueberries unless I put a electric fence around them.

[outdoors4evr]

Don't have to outrun the bear, just have to be faster than its next snack!

[torchred89]

Today I did something that I never thought I would do on my small farm in southern Michigan. I drove my Cub back to the woods behind the house to look for bear sign. Michigan has a healthy black bear population but its been over 100 years since they have been in the southern portion of the state. I've been watching the news reports of a male black bear making its way south. The first local report indicated the bear in Hartford, MI about a week ago. The next reports were from Sodus then Berrien Springs. Now the reports are that he's crossed the border into Indiana, right by my house. Sightings around Mud lake are only about a half mile south of my house. The Indiana DNR have verified that the bear is now in Indiana. It's the first wild black bear in the state in over 140 years. I think that's pretty cool.

Ricky I must have came right by your house last week. I came up Route 31 going to Saint Joseph.

[iosco cub]

Ricky, WE are very familiar with are friends the black bear here in northern MI. especially in the last 3-4 years. I have personally lost two cornfeeders two bird feeders and a game camera. We seem to see them more early spring and early fall. There are folks here with pictures of them even in town. I have switched my camp side arm from a 22 to a 357mag because of a close encounter with momma and a couple of cubs. Greg

[ricky racer]

Ricky I must have came right by your house last week. I came up Route 31 going to Saint Joseph.

You probably passed within a half mile of my place. What brought to to St. Joe?

[Buzzard Wing]

The bears share the blueberries with me up at the rock farm in Maine. They are pretty discreet, I see evidence of them (scat) but never seen one there. A few years back one was eating the sunflower seeds at the neighbor's feeder, it was a tough winter and they were plenty hungry in the spring.

[DickB]

Granddaughter, out for a jog yesterday no more than 1/4 mile from here, comes across a bear. She demurred, the bear luckily ran on. Wife, some years earlier, not 100' from the house was greeted one morning by a bear that snarled at wife...cubs were nearby. "cubs" (lower case) are not like Cubs (Farmall sort) so don't get entangled...Momma Bear always knows best and looks out for her cubs. Consider steel cage on the Cub if you want to go bear-looking.