Opposable Thumbs

Well, despite having opposable thumbs, this whole making the video camera talk to the computer business is quite the challenge.  It wasn't getting it on the blog I was worried about, it was getting it on the computer.  I managed it, but it wasn't exactly a breeze.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the rather freaky "bear in the backyard" video.  Apologies for the shaky bits and the longness of it.  I was about done with my computer fiddling tolerance and didn't get very far in learning how to edit the thing.

I took some of the advice in the comments and called Mass. Wildlife.  They just took down the report.  So I won't worry about bearfriend.  And I'll still hang out in the backyard when the kids play back there.  Because yes, that's their sandbox in the video.  Eep.

Comments

[M-H]

Yah, eep! Or wow! And people are scared to come to Australia beause of little iddy-biddy snakes and spiders? That was one impressive dude. Or dudette - I don't suppose you got close enough to see that detail. Well captured, anyway.

[Susanne]

Holy Crap!!! What the heck is s/he eating anyway?? That is rather unnerving isn't it?

[Thorny]

Eee-yah! That is kee-ray-zee!!!

I... oh, I just don't even know what to say to that. I think I need to lie down.

[Kelly]

Rather scary to have a bear in your back yard. It would sure freak me out!

[Norma]

I have to admit, he's a cutie. However......um. I think you know what I'm going to say. :)

[Carole]

It's great that you got footage! He looks all cute and cuddly but I think you got close enough.

[CarolineF]

Wow. I had to look down below to find out what he was eating. He's domesticated enough to know that opening a door often leads to food, eh? Yup lock the back door... I didn't know bears eat bird seed. I suppose he would stay away if there were humans in the back yard... I can't really tell how big he is in the photo but probably bigger than he looks.

[Laurie]

DH thinks you wussed out by not shearing him for his fiber? Me? I think you get Blogger Video of the Year award.

[Ruth]

I do believe a lock on the back door would be appropriate.

Yowza.

Cute, but ..... yowza.

[Jan]

Eep, indeed! Yikes.

[S.Kate]

Smoley Oaks! He even *looked* at you and went back to eating. Was your heart thumping out of your chest?

[Kat]

Wow, that bold bear would freak me out. At least the coyotes in Boston slink away when spotted.

[Tigger]

I thought the bear was really cool and I liked the close-up.

[Katherine]

I feel we should do something to scare away large predators from our yards and cities. Like shoot them with rubber bullets. Or blow an air horn. Whatever doesn't hurt them but does deter them. I don't think we should hurt them, and in principle they SHOULD be able to go where they want. But human-predator interactions can get ugly, so I think it's safest for both sides to stay distinctly apart.

So, that's my two cents. Can your wildlife folks give you advice on how to do this? It would be very bad if this bear made it a habit to visit your yard for snacks.

[Katherine]

Oh, and by the way, although my adult side says what I said above, my inner child says, "cool. bear in the backyard. want to watch the video again."

[Manise]

Great validating footage for the skeptics out there!

[stephanie]

Two words. Bear Bangers.

Do you have those in the states?

[wix]

Daaaamn!

[Carrie K]

Dang. Part of me is thinking that is too cool for words and part of me is freaked out. Rolling around on his back in a blissed out birdseed stuffed state? Wow.

[Diane E.]

As cool as your video is, I rather it not be my backyard. He'll be back...be careful.

[Chris]

Maybe the kids should play in the front yard for a while...

[Mary Lou]

I didn't know that bears like bird seed. At least, that's what I gather he/she is munching, based on the posts. How frightening is that? A bear in the back yard! I sure would stay with the kids while they played in the sand box!

[Knittingboykit]

borrow a dog from a friend, preferably a male dog--unneutered, if possible...(or an adult male friend--it has to be a GOOD frriend)...and get them to mark your territory--ie your yard. it might not totally dissuade the bears, but it's a step in the right direction. seriously!

[Frog Princess]

Great Googly Mooglies! My *sister* and her family live in MA! I have seen a coyote in her demi-rural backyard. What sector of the state are you in? Should I warn her? She's in Northy centrally MA. And she knits, too, so she deserves to be warned and her children to live.
The black bears aren't likely to hurt ya much, as you know, but even so. I'd not bother to put a lock on the door. I'd just put up siding and cover over where the door used to be. Bears are strong. A lock might not deter one who knows there is health-giving, nutritious and delicious seed inside.